Odimegwu Onwumere Wins 2025 Merck Foundation Award

Odimegwu Onwumere, a Nigerian writer and journalist, has been recognized with the 2025 Merck Foundation Media Recognition Award, as announced during a virtual ceremony held in Dubai on May 7, 2026. Onwumere earned second place in the highly respected "Mother" category for the West African region.

His award-winning work focused on stories addressing infertility stigma and women's empowerment, emphasizing the need for stronger healthcare across African communities. This achievement marks the fourth time Onwumere has received recognition from the Merck Foundation since 2020, further solidifying his reputation and commitment to impactful journalism.

His reports continue to highlight important social and health-related issues affecting ordinary people, particularly vulnerable groups within society. Expressing gratitude for the honor, Onwumere described the recognition as motivation to continue using journalism as a tool for positive change and public enlightenment.