HumAngle

Obidah Habila Albert, an alumnus of the third cohort of HumAngle’s Accountability Fellowship, is among the 15 Nigerian journalists selected for the Digital Public Infrastructure Journalism (DPIJ) Fellowship, which will run from October 2025 to April 2026. 

After receiving over 200 applications, 45 candidates were shortlisted, and 15 finalists emerged from 14 media organisations, including The Guardian Newspaper, Premium Times, Foundation for Investigative Journalism, and TheCable.

Organised by the Ghana-based Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) in partnership with Co-Develop, the fellowship is a flagship initiative that aims to strengthen public awareness and participation through journalism, promoting the adoption of Digital Public Infrastructures (DPIs) and Digital Public Goods and Services (DPGS).

Obidah, who is excited about his selection, said he applied for the opportunity because it aligns with his curiosity about technology’s impact on everyday life and how their stories could be more effectively documented.

“By the end of the programme, I want to understand DPI and DPGs better and tell stories about them. I hope my stories will drive conversations and help more people and policymakers in Nigeria and beyond to pay attention and take action,” he said. 

During his fellowship with HumAngle, Obidah reported extensively on conflict and peacebuilding efforts in Nigeria’s North East, as well as the rising cost-of-living crisis affecting vulnerable communities. His experience, he said, deepened his commitment to reporting stories that highlight the human dimensions of development and policy issues.

According to Sulemana Braimah, Executive Director of MFWA, the DPIJ Fellowship is a strategic investment in shaping informed media narratives around inclusive design, implementation, and the uptake of DPI development in areas such as policy, governance, and utility. 

The selected fellows and their newsrooms will receive grants to support reporting projects, as well as editorial mentorship, training, and access to resources on DPIs and DPGS. Each fellow is expected to produce at least six original stories before the end of the fellowship on issues relating to inclusive digital identification, digital payments, data exchange, and other digital safety issues. Fellows will also join a growing network of alumni across West Africa.

Last year, HumAngle’s Investigations Editor, Ibrahim Adeyemi, was selected for the West Africa cohort of the same fellowship, where he produced several stories exploring the intersection of DPIs and national security.

Following its call for applications for a three-day intensive fellowship on reporting conflict and missing persons issues in Nigeria, HumAngle, in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), has selected 10 middle-career and senior journalists from across the country. 

The selected fellows were drawn from media organisations like Daily Trust, Reuters, Premium Times, DW, African Independent Television (AIT), and others. 

“We received over 200 strong applications during the two-week application window,” commented Hauwa Shaffii Nuhu, HumAngle’s Managing Editor. “After a rigorous shortlisting and interviewing process, the final 10 emerged.”

The selected participants are expected to arrive in Abuja on Nov. 3, ahead of the three-day fellowship program scheduled to be held from November 4 to 6, 2025. 

Over the years, the ICRC has continued to support missing persons in Nigeria by tracing and facilitating reunions while also providing psychological and economic support, especially to those affected by conflict. HumAngle has also carried out extensive work on the missing persons crisis in Nigeria, particularly in the northeastern region, documenting thousands of cases across various local governments in Borno state through its Missing Persons Dashboard. 

While focused on deepening the understanding and reporting of the missing persons crisis in Nigeria, the training also aims to equip middle-career and senior journalists with the skills to report on conflict issues thoroughly through a trauma-informed lens. 

During the 3-day fellowship, the fellows will participate in sessions on human-centred conflict reporting, ethical frameworks in journalism, psychological well-being for reporters, and more. These sessions will be facilitated by experts from HumAngle and the ICRC.  By the end of the training, fellows are expected to have gained deeper insights into the scope and dynamics of the conflict reporting landscape in Nigeria. 

When Jibrin Kolo Adamu talks about how the HumAngle Accountability Fellowship changed his life, his eyes light up with purpose. “The fellowship was impactful because I am currently working because of the skills I acquired from it,” he said. 

He added that “I learnt the art of human storytelling, and it helped me to win several grants and partnerships for my organisation. I now lead advocacy programs because of the HumAngle training.”

Jibrin is one of many young journalists and advocates from Borno State who have passed through the HumAngle Accountability Fellowship. The fellowship program was launched in 2022 with support from the MacArthur Foundation to promote transparency, accountability through storytelling, and community-driven advocacy initiatives. Over the past three years, five cohorts have been trained, with fellows drawn from the northern, central, and southern federal constituents of Borno state.

For many of them, the fellowship was a turning point.

Halima Bawah, a fellow from central Borno, said the training gave her the courage to start her own organisation. “I launched an advocacy group promoting renewable and sustainable climate action solutions. Now my company provides climate-smart solutions, recycling plastic waste, and offering consultations to other organisations,” she explained proudly.

Rukkaya Ahmed Alibe, who works with a radio station in Maiduguri, the capital city of Borno State, said the fellowship transformed her broadcasting career. “I have integrated human-centred storytelling into my radio programs. It has made my work more impactful and connected to the people. I now produce stories that give voice to local communities,” she said.

Another alumnus, Abubakar Mukhtar Abba, from central Borno, shared how the fellowship inspired his journalism journey. “I had no background in journalism, but the fellowship gave me everything in six months. I am now a freelance journalist reporting important stories about the humanitarian crisis in the region. My stories are driven by the question of accountability and how it affects the lives of ordinary people. All thanks to HumAngle,” he said.

The fellowship aims to build a new generation of journalists and advocates who use storytelling to demand accountability and amplify community voices in conflict-affected areas.

Speaking during an alumni roundtable session held on Oct. 11 in Maiduguri, Angela Umoru-David, HumAngle Foundation’s Director, said the engagement was an opportunity to see how far the fellows have come. “Engaging with the alumni was an opportunity to experience first-hand the impact the fellowship had on the participants. We have achieved exactly what we hoped for: a network of young people pushing locally-driven solutions and demanding accountability,” Angela said.

According to Angela, many alumni are now leading organisations, winning international fellowships, and pursuing advanced studies abroad. “We have an alumnus pursuing a PhD in security studies in China, another starting a waste management and environmental protection company, and many others representing their communities on global platforms,” she added.

The stories of progress from the fellows are not limited to Borno State alone. Across Adamawa and Yobe, the fellows have similar stories. During a similar roundtable held in Yola, the Adamawa state capital, in September, fellows said HumAngle had been a major influence on how their careers are blossoming currently, expressing their willingness for collaborations in the future.

“The support HumAngle gives us goes a long way,” Habila Albert, a member of the second cohort of the fellowship noted. Fellows from Damaturu in Yobe also highlighted stories of collaboration within each other.

Salma Jumah, Senior Programme Officer of the Foundation, noted that the fellowship’s success reflects the power of knowledge and collaboration. “The learning session with the Accountability Fellows has shown us that they have built a strong network and a remarkable trail of impact. Hearing from participants across all cohorts, we’ve seen significant accomplishments and stories of change that speak to the strength of this community,” Salma said.

From classrooms to radio stations, and from local advocacy groups to international platforms, the fellows of the HumAngle Accountability Fellowship continue to inspire change and promote accountability and transparency in both private and public sectors across northeastern Nigeria.

HumAngle has just been announced winner of the Illicit Financial Flow category in the 2025 West Africa Media Excellence Conference Awards (WAMECA) for our investigation into The Internet Fundraising Marathon Behind IPOB’s Armed Struggle. Kunle Adebajo, HumAngle’s former Investigations Editor, who authored the story, also emerged as the West Africa Journalist of the Year. It is the second time in three years that a HumAngle journalist will receive the honour.

The announcement was made during an awards ceremony in Accra, Ghana, on Saturday evening, Oct. 11, with several journalists from across Africa in attendance.

WAMECA is an initiative of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and is currently in its eighth edition. The award has been described as West Africa’s biggest and most prestigious journalism award.

Two of our reports had been shortlisted under the same category. The MFWA said it received a total of 793 entries from more than 600 media outlets across 15 West African countries, with 335 of those entries coming from Nigeria. The shortlist of 26 had come from these entries, with Nigerian media dominating the list, including TheCable, Premium Times, Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), Daily Trust, and the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR).

The other HumAngle report that was shortlisted was by Al’amin Umar, Climate Change Reporter. Al’amin’s work focuses on the complex intersections of environmental change, conflict, and sustainability efforts. He was a 2024 participant of the Oxford Climate Journalism Network, as well as a 2025 grantee of the Earth Journalism Network’s Biodiversity Media Initiative.

His shortlisted report, ISWAP’s ‘Tax’ System is Bleeding Farmers Dry in Northeastern Nigeria, investigated how terrorists from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have been bleeding farmers dry in Borno, northeastern Nigeria, through an illegal taxation system. The report was done with support from the Pulitzer Centre. 

Kunle, whose report won the award, was HumAngle’s Investigations Editor until October 2024, and now sits on the Advisory Board. His work for HumAngle covered conflict alongside its many intricacies and fallouts. He also writes about disinformation, the environment, and human rights. He’s won many journalism awards, including the 2021 Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Journalism, the 2022 African Fact-checking Award, and the 2023 Michael Elliott Award for Excellence in African Storytelling.

The judges noted an improvement in the quality of entries received this year, as well as more diversity in the countries represented.

They said the winning story was “bold, data-driven, and unflinchingly relevant. The story by HumAngle in Nigeria stands out for its extraordinary synthesis of digital forensics, conflict analysis, and accountability reporting. Through meticulous open-source intelligence and cross-border research, the reporter traced how diaspora money or diaspora-led crowdfunding and cryptocurrency networks were financing violence in Nigeria’s South East… This investigation does more than say money is moving; it actually shows how it moves, who moves it, where it goes, and what it buys…”

HumAngle had won the environmental reporting category of the award in 2023 with our first interactive story, All Die Na Die: At The Heart Of Nigeria’s Soot Problem. Merging audio and visuals, the story showed the genesis and process of illegal oil bunkering in Rivers State, Nigeria, and the extent of the resultant soot problem in the state, showing its effects on water, the soil, and even air quality. The author of the investigation, HumAngle’s former Interactive Editor, Temitayo Akinyemi (FKA Muhammed Akinyemi), was also awarded Journalist of the Year. 

Commenting on HumAngle’s winning the award for the second time in three years, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Ahmad Salkida, said it was a testament to the commitment and excellence with which our journalists approach their profession. 

“Both Kunle and Al’amin continue to personify the excellence that HumAngle stands for and the conviction upon which the organisation is built,” he said. “The conviction that journalism is powerful enough to influence history and shape perception and understanding. HumAngle is proud to have won this award again and will continue to be dedicated to our mission. I am also hopeful that this recognition will translate to even more impact, policy change, and wider understanding of terror financing and the magnitude of the insecurity issues in Nigeria’s South East.”

Accepting the award, Kunle said he was deeply honoured. “I stood on this stage in 2019 to receive a similar award,” he reminisced.”Between then and now, I think my craft has improved significantly… I want to thank the MFWA for their consistent support, for not just awarding journalists, but also making us feel special. I wish you more resources and willpower to continue to do this.” 

For half a decade, HumAngle has been pushing against the silence, documenting the multiple conflict situations in Africa, amplifying voices long forgotten, and holding power to account. Founded with the conviction that journalism in Africa must be more than headlines, HumAngle has grown into one of the continent’s most trusted mission-driven newsrooms and advocacy hubs.

Our reporters have trekked into displacement camps and risked reporting trips to ungoverned spaces to spotlight forgotten communities under siege, investigated the funding streams that fuel extremist violence, and exposed the environmental toll of unregulated mining. Our advocacy efforts have sparked policy conversations, guided humanitarian initiatives, and compelled authorities to release arbitrarily detained citizens. Our data tools, like the HumAngle Insecurity Tracker, have become indispensable for researchers and aid groups monitoring Nigeria’s insecurity crisis.

Yet behind the headlines, the story of HumAngle’s rise is incomplete without the contributions of the shared services team whose names rarely appear on bylines. These are the architects who merge technology, creativity, and other support services to redefine journalism and advocacy. 

Over coffee cups, midnight coding sessions, and quiet moments of resilience, they have contributed to the rise of a newsroom that is not just surviving but setting standards. 

Mapping truth with Mansir

When conflict displaces thousands in the Lake Chad Basin, Mansir Muhammed doesn’t just rely on official reports — he turns to the sky. 

“I see myself leading the development of a full-fledged unit within HumAngle that integrates OSINT, GIS, and AI at scale,” he said.

As Senior Specialist in GIS, OSINT, and Emerging Tech, Mansir has elevated HumAngle’s investigations. His maps documenting mass displacement across northern Nigeria shape the understanding of the region’s topography. His OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) analyses on extremist propaganda have informed security stakeholders across West Africa. And the AI-powered HumAngle Tracker dashboard he helped build is now a vital resource for visualising patterns of violence across Nigeria. 

It comes as no surprise that he won the Sigma Awards in 2024 for groundbreaking investigative innovation.

Breaking boundaries: the XR dreamers

Five years ago, HumAngle’s reporting was text, photo, and video. Today, it’s immersive in many aspects. Slip on a headset at one of our exhibitions, and you might find yourself walking through a reconstructed village destroyed by insurgents or sitting inside a displaced person’s tent as their story unfolds around you or walking through the relics of war.

This leap is thanks to the XR team. 

“We’ve been building a platform that will allow easy creation of experiences/tours from 360 cameras that are fully immersive in headsets, but can still be viewed from phones/laptops. This is like Twine (Twinery) but for VR and will take audiences through the lens of the people at the centre of these stories, having them in their shoes. The goal, like with all HumAngle storytelling, is to create emotional resonance that leads to positive and effective action in society,” says Michael Abia, one of HumAngle’s XR developers.

Designing the future

HumAngle has never shied away from aesthetics. Whether through striking illustrations by Akila Jibrin, accompanying stories of climate displacement, or powerful infographics showing the spread of violence, the Creative & Innovation Desk has ensured that information is disseminated in the most visually appealing way to evoke emotions.

“By consistently producing compelling illustrations and animations, I help bridge the gap between complex issues and public understanding. Strong visuals not only complement the written word but also enhance the overall impact of our storytelling, ensuring that our work resonates with both local and international audiences,” said Akila, HumAngle’s Senior Illustrator.

Storytelling in motion — the multimedia editor

If HumAngle is known today for its crisp explainers, powerful documentaries, and podcasts that echo across the continent, much of the credit belongs to its multimedia editor and his team.

From scripting and editing to directing productions, the multimedia team ensures that every piece of audio-visual content meets international standards. Flagship products like our monthly podcast The Crisis Room, Vestiges of Violence (VoV), and the HumAngle Index have become staples in our storytelling arsenal, and several investigative podcasts have raised the bar of what can be achieved with audiovisual storytelling.

“I’m a visual storyteller, and that core will remain as strong tomorrow as it is today. In the next two years, I want to keep making documentaries while pivoting into filmmaking, whether realism or fiction. As long as I’m showing stories, my heart will stay unshaken,” said Anthony Asemota, the Multimedia Editor.

The goal is simple. We want our stories to stay with you long after you’ve closed the browser or left the screening room.

Speaking the people’s language

For many across Northern Nigeria, the first point of connection with HumAngle is through the voice of Rukayya Sa’eed, who leads the Hausa version of VOV—Birbishin Rikici.

“The localisation project shows that my work is important. If I continue to put in more effort, I believe the HumAngle Hausa platform can become even more visible and relevant,” Rukayya said.

Aliyu Dahiru Aliyu, with support from Isah Samaila, Al’Amin Umar, and Rukayyah, are driving HumAngle’s localisation initiatives, where most of the stories we tell will not only be in Hausa but also in more local languages spoken in the Sahel. This will ensure that grassroots communities are not just subjects of reporting but participants in it.

Guardians of the digital frontline

As HumAngle’s influence continues to grow, so have the risks. Cyberattacks, surveillance attempts, and disinformation campaigns have targeted the newsroom, though a few times compared to other newsrooms in the region, but the threats are likely to grow with growth. 

“You’ll never see my work in a byline,” Attahiru Jibrin, HumAngle’s Digital Infrastructure & Security Lead, said. “But you’ll feel it if I fail.” 

Evidence into action

At HumAngle, journalism meets policy in the hands of the Human Security & Policy Analyst, Abdussamad Ahmad Yusuf. 

“Contributing to impact within the humanitarian, civic, and media landscape through evidence-based programming will reposition HumAngle as a leading organisation in the field of security and peacebuilding. My work will also help build a stronger portfolio in climate crisis, human security, and social impact,” said Abdussamad.

In the future, the young professional sees himself situated within the HumAngle mission, leading research projects, strengthening the organisation’s Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) systems, and contributing to stakeholder engagement while building expert-level recognition in human security, peacebuilding, and conflict analysis within the West African & Sahelian sub-regions. 

Turning vision into breakthroughs

Damilola Lawal, HumAngle’s Creative & Innovation Manager, helps to transform bold ideas into groundbreaking projects that redefine how stories of conflict, resilience, and justice are told across Africa. 

By coordinating professionals across XR, AI, and animation, while fostering a strong design culture, she helps ensure HumAngle continues to explore new ways of blending technology with journalism. 

From reach to influence

Shade is the driver of HumAngle’s digital voice and reach. As Audience Growth & Engagement Editor, she charts the strategy that connects HumAngle’s journalism with millions across Africa and the diaspora. From curating powerful newsletters to building dynamic online communities and amplifying advocacy campaigns. Her expertise blends editorial insight with digital innovation—ensuring HumAngle is not only heard but felt in policy spaces, donor circles, and grassroots communities alike.

“I am particularly interested in ideating and designing immersive products like interactive websites, VR and XR tours. I would also like to have transcended from audience engagement to something that aligns with my goals of immersive experimentation,” said Shade.

Building reach, one click at a time

Visibility is survival for independent media. The IT & SEO Officer ensures that HumAngle’s online publications scale.

“In the next two years, I see myself becoming a versatile leader in SEO. By mastering new SEO skills and enhancing our digital strategies in HumAngle, I hope to contribute to making HumAngle have a strong online presence,” said Samir Sheriff. 

Caring for the storytellers

Finally, there is the lead psychologist.

“My job is to make sure every staff member’s well-being and resilience are met and prioritised through the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) and wellness activities. This approach not only strengthens our internal capacity but also extends to external civic actors and ensures that everyone is prepared to engage communities and demonstrate healthy practices in their daily activities,” said Chioma Onyemaobi.

More than a newsroom, a movement

Five years in, HumAngle has produced exposés on extremist violence, human trafficking, and displacement. It has used data to predict crises before they spiral, created XR experiences that make conflicts tangible, and launched podcasts that give voice to those often erased. Our stories have led to policy debates, influenced aid distribution, and empowered communities.

Behind all this is a team whose names may not appear in bylines, such as HR, Finance and Programme’s teams, but whose fingerprints shape every story and every advocacy. They are the cartographers of truth, the engineers of trust, and the guardians of the well-being of HumAngle.

This article is not only a celebration of their work but also a standard for what it means to be part of this mission. Some have exceeded expectations, others are striving to meet them, but together they remind us of one truth: HumAngle is not just a newsroom – it is a movement for justice, resilience, and change.

Support Our Journalism

Kin yi aure da wani soja wanda kuka gina rayuwa da shi kuma kuka haifi ’ya’ya shida. wata rana, an tura shi yaki ba sake dawowa ba.

Shekaru da yawa bayan haka, yayin da barazanar tayar da kayar baya ta fara bayyana a cikin garinku, ɗanku ya taka bam da ya fashe. Ba ku da tabbas ko zai tsira, kuka garzaya da shi asibiti a babban birnin tarayyar Najeriya, da fatan ba shi damar yin rayuwa.

Bayan shekaru goma, har yanzu ba za ku iya komawa gida ba. Rikicin ya ci gaba da yaduwa. Yanzu, ana fitar da ku daga sansanin da kuke zama inda kuka zauna tsawon shekaru. Me zaku yi? Ina za ku je?

Mai Gabatarwa: Rukayya Saeed

Marubuciya: Sabiqah Bello

Muryoyin Shiri: Sabiqah Bello

Fassara: Rukayya Saeed

Edita: Aliyu Dahiru

Furodusa: Alamin Umar

Babban Furodusa: Anthony Asemota

Babban Mashiryi: Ahmad Salkida

Ke uwa ce mai yara takwas, kina rainon ‘ya’yanki a sansanin ‘yan gudun hijira dake babban birnin tarayyar Najeriya bayan tserewa mummunan harin da kungiyar ta’addancin Boko Haram ke kaiwa.

Ta yaya zaki iya tinkarar barazanar rugujewar sansaninku, da kama danki, da kuma kwace baburan acabar da ki ka siya don samun abin rike rayuwa bayan duk kokarin ki na ganin kun samu rayuwa mai kyau na neman ya ci tura?

In a bid to deepen local peacebuilding efforts and also confront the growing threat of online extremist propaganda, HumAngle Foundation, sister organisation of HumAngle Media, on Wednesday, June 25, brought together 15 civil society actors for a multi-stakeholder roundtable discussion in Kaduna, North West Nigeria. 

The event is part of the organisation’s “Advancing Peace and Security through Journalism” project, which aims to equip journalists and civil society groups with tools to strengthen civic accountability and reduce conflict triggers.

With support from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), the Foundation had earlier, in April, trained 15 journalists from across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones during a three-day workshop in Abuja. The April training focused on conflict-sensitive reporting and innovative storytelling tools.

At the Kaduna roundtable, Angela Umoru-David, Director of the Foundation, introduced the participants to the HumAngle Freedom of Information (FOI) platform. Launched in 2024, the platform simplifies and facilitates the process of demanding accountability from government institutions.

“It is not just about asking what money was spent on,” Angela said. “It’s about probing how inclusion is budgeted for. Is there a ministry responsible? How do [ministries, departments, agencies] use their funds? What are the policies around gender inclusion and mainstreaming? These are the questions civil society actors should ask.”

She explained that HumAngle’s headquarters in Abuja is strategically placed to support FOI submissions on behalf of organisations working at the grassroots. Participants were also given a walkthrough of the platform’s interface and practical tips for navigating it.

The next session on fact-checking extremist content online was led by Aliyu Dahiru, who heads HumAngle’s Extremism and Radicalisation desk. He explored the strategies used by extremist groups for propaganda, radicalisation, and recruitment, particularly through social media platforms. 

“In Northern Nigeria, Facebook is the dominant platform used by extremist groups,” Aliyu said, highlighting how extremists exploit emotional appeals and information overload to spread false narratives and incite violence.

He cited injustice, poverty, lack of opportunity, and ethno-religious mistrust as key drivers of radicalisation in the region. Aliyu encouraged civil society organisations (CSOs) to monitor local Facebook and WhatsApp groups for misinformation, train community members to detect fake and radical content, and partner with social media influencers to push counter-narratives.

“You can also document and share harmful content with us,” he added. “At HumAngle, we fact-check, analyse, and monitor. If you share with us, we will help verify the claims.”

Aliyu introduced the participants to practical verification tools such as InVID and Google Reverse Image Search for authenticating videos and photos.

The event concluded with a roundtable discussion moderated by Salmah Jumah, HumAngle Foundation’s Senior Programmes Officer. During the discussions, participants exchanged insights on extremist campaigns they have witnessed and the emerging challenges around the use of new media in conflict contexts.

While commending HumAngle for the initiative, Zainab Ibrahim, a participant who works with the Kaduna State Corporation, said that the roundtable reminded her that the spread of disinformation on violent extremism is not limited to social media. “Even the mainstream media is guilty of that,” she said, pledging to be more mindful in her coverage of sensitive issues. 

Another participant, Hadiza Ismail, noted that she learned more about the growing influence of artificial intelligence in fuelling confusion and spreading fake content. “AI is here to stay, fortunately and unfortunately,” she noted, pointing out that AI-generated images and videos are often circulated by older people who may struggle to distinguish between real and fake visuals. 

Hadiza said she is committed to contributing to community-level sensitisation to bridge this generational knowledge gap and reduce vulnerability to misleading content.

The roundtable reaffirmed HumAngle Foundation’s commitment to empowering local actors with the knowledge and tools necessary to counter extremism and foster inclusive, sustainable peacebuilding in conflict-affected regions.