IPI Nigeria announces endowment prize at UniAbuja in honour of late treasurer, Rafat Salami

The International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria has announced plans to establish an annual endowment prize at the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) in honour of its late treasurer, Rafat Idris Salami, who passed away on 20 December 2024.

The decision was confirmed by Musikilu Mojeed, president, IPI Nigeria, during the opening of the 2025 Institute’s Conference and Annual General Meeting held on December 2, 2025.

In a statement on Friday, Mojeed said the prize would help instil in journalism students the values that Salami embodied throughout her career, including integrity, courage and selfless service.

He recalled Salami’s dedication at the organisation’s inaugural conference last year, describing how she participated actively despite being ill.

He asked members and guests — including Vice President Kashim Shettima and Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation — to observe a minute of silence in her honour.

Mojeed said the national committee of the Institute would work with the University of Abuja, Salami’s alma mater, to ensure that young journalists are continually inspired by her legacy.

Before her death, Salami served as assistant director, digital media, at the Voice of Nigeria. She previously worked as a news editor and correspondent in Lagos and held the position of secretary at the FCT Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists.

Ruth Tene, Assistant Editor, Agric/Solid Minerals/INEC

Ruth Tene is an award-winning journalist with over 15 years experience in developmental reporting across several newsrooms, as a reporter, editor and other managerial roles. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from the University of Maiduguri among several other certifications

She has attended several trainings and certifications both locally and internationally and has been recognized for her impactful work in humanitarian reporting, receiving the Gold Award for Humanitarian Services from the Amazing Grace Foundation. She is also a recipient of the Home Alliance Fellowship, reflecting her commitment to fostering a more humane, safer and more sustainable planet.

An active member of professional journalism bodies, Ruth is affiliated with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), and the Agricultural Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ACAN), where she continues to advocate for excellence, ethical reporting, and development-focused journalism.

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