Victoria Ogechukwu Ujam, a WikkiTimes reporter, has been selected alongside nine other journalists for the 2025 Solutions Journalism West Africa Fellowship by Nigeria Health Watch.
Ms. Ujam was chosen from over 100 applicants across 10 West African countries, including Ghana, Liberia, and The Gambia. The four-month fellowship is designed to build the capacity of journalists in solutions-oriented health reporting that focuses on effective responses to public health challenges in communities.
Running from July to November 2025, the fellowship includes immersive training, expert mentorship, editorial support, and peer learning sessions. Selected fellows are expected to produce and publish two in-depth, solutions-focused health stories addressing issues such as maternal health, reproductive rights, immunisation, and vaccination.
“Solutions Journalism brings balance. The news often focuses on what’s not working, but people also need to hear about what is working,” said Vivianne Ihekweazu, Managing Director of Nigeria Health Watch.
The fellowship is part of Nigeria Health Watch’s commitment to strengthening health reporting in West Africa and fostering journalists who can drive meaningful conversations in their communities through evidence-based storytelling.
Ms. Ujam’s selection adds to her growing profile as a journalist focused on accountability, governance, and social justice. She has contributed to several investigative reports with WikkiTimes, particularly on health, governance, and election transparency in Nigeria.
She participated in the Centre for Collaborative Investigative Journalism report on Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election. She also partook in the GREPS Fellowship 2024, in addition to reports on misuse of public funds and healthcare access in underserved communities. She also participated in the Radio Masterclass on Solutions Journalism training.
With this fellowship, Ms. Ujam aims to deepen her reportage on community health issues and promote solutions journalism within Nigerian newsrooms.
“I am honored to be part of this fellowship. It’s a unique opportunity to tell stories that don’t just expose problems but also amplify the responses making a real difference,” she said.
