Irohinodua’s Ogunsona wins prestigious Mongabay Conservation Reporting Fellowship

By Ologeh Joseph Chibu

A reporter covering the Environment, Mr Samuel Ogunsona has won the prestigious Mongabay Conservation Fellowship.

He has represented Irohinoodua in various conferences on climate change and sustainable environment.

Ogunsona is a talented journalist with Irohinodua and within less than half a decade has achieved a remarkable milestone by being selected for the esteemed Mongabay Y. Eva Tan Conservation Reporting Fellowship programme.

Mongabay, a US-based environmental news organization renowned for its in-depth coverage of conservation and environmental issues, chose Ogunsona for this prestigious fellowship.

Ogunsona who hails from Irele Ekiti attended the Lagos State University.

In his response, the Managing Director of Irohinodua Mrs Omolade Adegbuyi said the prestigious award was a reward for hard work and personal commitment of the reporter.

“Irohinoodua is committed to effective coverage of environmental issues. This award will encourage Irohinoodua to do more in greater coverage of environmental issues across the world” Mrs Adegbuyi said.

This fellowship is designed to empower young and aspiring environmental journalists to cover critical environmental issues in biodiversity hotspots around the world.

Samuel Ogunsona’ selection is a reflection of his dedication and passion for environmental journalism.

He was chosen alongside five other talented journalists from different parts of the world, including Fernanda Biasoli Paredes from Brazil, Shradha from India, Kasereka Makuta, Lee Kwai Han, and Manuel Fonseca.

The fellowship programme, which attracts hundreds of applications, is highly competitive, and Ogunsona’s selection is a notable achievement.

According to Mongabay, the Y. Eva Tan Conservation Reporting Fellowship aims to build the capacity of young journalists to report on environmental issues that matter.

The programme provides opportunities for 12 journalists per year from tropical countries to gain valuable training, experience, and credibility that will help them advance their careers in journalism and communications.

In an online meeting with the selected fellows, Karen Coates, the Fellowship Editor, revealed that only six fellows were selected from a pool of 529 applications.

This shows the rigorous selection process and the high standards set by Mongabay.

Samuel Ogunsona’s journey to becoming a renowned environmental journalist is inspiring.

A graduate of Lagos State University, where he studied Zoology and Environmental Biology, Ogunsona’s passion for journalism was ignited during his internship with Journalists for Democratic Right (JODER).

He has since worked with reputable media organisations, including Irohinodua, The Crest NG, and the International Press Center, where he focuses on media monitoring and fact-checking.

His impressive work has earned him international recognition, including invitations to cover significant events such as the Biodiversity Conference in Canada, the World Climate Change summit in the UAE in 2023, and COP29 in Azerbaijan in 2024. He is also set to cover COP30 in Brazil later this year.

This fellowship will undoubtedly provide Ogunsona with the opportunity to further develop his skills and contribute to critical environmental conversations globally.