As we reflect on our journey at PUNCH Media Foundation (PMF) in the past year, we are proud to share the milestones that brought us closer to our vision of building a just, inclusive, and thriving civic space evinced through active public engagement, transparency and accountability, good governance, and free enterprise. From forging partnerships with esteemed organisations like the US Consulate, Agora Policy, and Wild Africa Fund to winning awards for excellence in journalism, the year 2024 was a testament to the power of collaboration and accountability. Stay tuned and be inspired by our 2024 story.
Partnerships that Drove Impact
Our PUNCH HealthWise project, dedicated to reporting critical health, gender and environmental issues, achieved remarkable impacts in the past year, thanks to the support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Also, the reach and engagement generated through our collaborations with PUNCH Newspapers made 2024 truly amazing. Our active participation in the various events celebrating PUNCH at 50 further added vibrancy to the milestone celebration. In a separate initiative, PMF partnered with the United States Consulate, Lagos, to train over 20 editorial cartoonists, reaffirming our commitment to fostering excellence and innovation in the media ecosystem.
Additionally, our collaboration with the Wild Africa Fund in the past year led to the publishing of 5 reports which advocate the preservation of endangered species. These reports generated over 162K page views besides the 47.9K reactions and engagements generated on social media.
Another significant partnership in 2024 was with Agora Policy. This initiative involved collecting and processing data on elected and appointed local government officials across Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT, to promote transparency and accountability in local government administration. Together, these efforts underscore PMF’s dedication to driving meaningful impact within Nigeria’s civic space.
Moments of Pride: Awards and Recognitions
PMF’s commitment to excellence is evident in all aspects of its work. In 2024, its flagship project, PUNCH HealthWise, received multiple awards for outstanding reporting on health, gender, and environmental issues. Among these honours was the Lagos State Best Health Reporting Award (Print Category), won by PUNCH HealthWise Editor, Angela Onwuzoo. The organiser explained that Onwuzoo was adjudged the best in the category for promoting “health awareness and community well-being”.
Other prestigious awards included the Global AMR Media Award, the DAME Awards, and the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Awards, highlighting the significant local and global impact of PMF’s journalism on development. These achievements were driven by in-depth reports such as Harvest of deaths: Ogun community where mothers, newborns die during childbirth, Disease outbreak looms in Lagos schools where students use dirty toilets, lack water, and Pregnant women exposed to livestock feed risk babies with antibiotic resistance.
Telling Stories that Improve Lives
Apart from the awards won, the accountability stories published by PUNCH HealthWise in the year generated 13 remarkable reactions from critical stakeholders. One notable example is the story, “Dying by the Dozens: Ogun Communities’ Perilous Quest for Clean Water Across Benin Republic’s Borders,” published in April. This report moved the Border Communities Development Agency of the Federal Government to drill a borehole, providing clean water to five long-neglected communities in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State. 
Similarly, our report, Eko Meat Van: How butchers deliver dirty, contaminated meat to Lagos markets, prompted the Lagos State Government and its concessionaires to refurbish old vans used to transport meat from abattoirs to markets. This critical step enhanced food safety and hygiene standards across the state.
One stakeholder captured the essence of this impact, saying: “I want to thank PUNCH HealthWise for the report which opened the eyes of the government to the poor state of the vehicles, the poor hygiene practices in the abattoir, and the bad road inside and outside the abattoir that contributed to damaging the vehicles.”
Our Voice and Presence in the Media Space
PMF published over 3.1K stories in the year 2024 under the PUNCH HealthWise project. It also published 41 video podcasts and 49 infographics under its multimedia projects. These contents, covering critical topics such as HIV/AIDS, maternal and neonatal health, air pollution, and gender-based violence, collectively garnered about 2.9 million page views, 807.2K impressions, and 4.5K reactions across social media platforms.
Inspiring Awareness and Advocating Change
Every year, we commemorate key UN days that align with our focus areas. 2024 was no exception as notable days including World AIDS Day, World Environment Day, World Blood Donor Day, and 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence were marked with impactful campaigns. Through specially designed fun-fact carousels and video podcasts, we brought critical issues to the forefront, sparking meaningful conversations and awareness. These days were more than mere observances—they became platforms to inspire action and advocate for lasting change. From shedding light on AIDS prevention strategies to promoting sustainable environmental practices, our efforts aimed to educate and engage communities. Together, we turned awareness into action, reinforcing our commitment to creating a healthier, more sustainable future for all.
Breaking New Frontiers
In a bid to drive more impacts on health, gender, and environmental issues through in-depth journalism across Nigeria, PMF initiated Project FOCUS (Fostering Opportunities and Change through Unique Stories) by engaging 24 reporters from the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria and four media consultants. The project hopes to enhance the coverage of critical but underreported issues across Nigeria by leveraging the expertise of newspaper reporters from various parts of the country thus ensuring a representative reportage of developmental realities across the country.
P-CHARP with a Difference!
To close the year on an impactful note, PMF held the second edition of its PUNCH Community Health Awareness Programme (P-CHARP) on Tuesday, 17 December 2024, at Ibafo, Ogun State. This impactful event shows PMF’s unwavering commitment to promoting health education and wellness in underserved communities across Nigeria. About 400 participants, including pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, young men and women, and the elderly, benefited from various medical tests such as checks for blood pressure, random blood glucose (RBG), stress levels, hepatitis, and malaria. Apart from the generous relief packs, fruits and food handed to the community dwellers, nursing mothers and children also received special complimentary packs from our partner, LiveWell Initiative.
Conclusion
As we step into the New Year, we carry forward the momentum of the successes of 2024, inspired to reach new heights. Many thanks to our impact-driven donors, value-adding partners, selfless volunteers, unrelenting staff, and forward-looking management for the much support we got in the year 2024. Without you, we would not have come this far. Together, we will continue to shine a light on issues that demand attention, foster meaningful partnerships, and drive sustainable social change.
