Nalova Akua is a freelance journalist who writes for a variety of outlets, such as The Guardian, Al Jazeera, Columbia Journalism Review and The Associated Press. He reports on a range of topics from conflicts and politics to science and health.
Akua said that winning the ICFJ Elliott Award opened doors for him. “My stint at The Economist opened me a window of opportunities into other reputable news websites. I would later win more awards or be shortlisted for others thanks to the stories I wrote for these outlets,” he says.
Originally from Cameroon’s Northwest Region, he’s currently based in Yaoundé.
This interview has been edited.
How have you been involved with ICFJ over the years?
Winning The Michael Elliott Award for Excellence in African Storytelling. I won the award in 2022 for spotlighting the devastating effects of an invasive plant on Cameroon's Lake Ossa. My winning entry for BBC Future Planet, “The Invasive Weed that Traveled the World,” examined how a fishing community in Cameroon is racing to save Lake Ossa, one of the country’s largest, from an invasive plant that thrives in warm freshwater. I explained in the story the importance of the lake for the local communities and the ecosystem, how its plight is connected to climate change, and the creative ways community members are trying to save it.
What was the biggest outcome from participating in the program?
The first significant outcome from participating in the program was my participation in a two-week customised internship at The Economist headquarters in London. This permitted me to see how one of the biggest newsrooms in Europe operates, and most importantly, drink from the fountain of knowledge of its experienced journalists and editors. This helped me improve my craft greatly. Proof of this, after the internship, I succeeded in making more inroads in the journalism industry by beginning to write stories for The Guardian, The Associated Press, Columbia Journalism Review and EL PAÍS.
What is something impactful you have worked on since participating in an ICFJ program that you are proud of and would want to highlight?
My stint at The Economist opened me a window of opportunities into other reputable news websites. I would later win more awards or be shortlisted for others thanks to the stories I wrote for these outlets. For instance, I was part of the El País team (10 in all) that won the 2025 edition of the Saliou Traoré Prize for Journalism in Spanish about Africa, awarded annually by Casa África and the EFE Agency for a yearlong investigation tracing the origins of artefacts looted in Africa currently exhibited in European museums. I was shortlisted for the BBC Komla Dumor Award in 2023; Shortlisted for the True Story Award in 2024; shortlisted for the United Nations Reham Al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship in 2024; Shortlisted for the UN Dag Hammarskjöld Journalism Fellowship in 2024; and won four national awards which can be accessed here.
Why is it so important right now to provide the kind of support to journalists that ICFJ does, especially in Africa?
It's important because it is a kind of platform that exposes the works and potential of African journalists which would otherwise have remained in the shadows. The prize money and the professional mentorship as well as interactions with colleagues around the world also constitute a great boost to winners.
Why did you choose to become a journalist?
Growing up as a child, I had a lot of passion for journalism – always listening to the radio even in the bathroom or on the farm. But I felt the urge even more because of my curious and inquisitive nature. I was the kind of person who was always curious to know happenings around me and why these things always happened the way they did. Family members, friends and acquaintances always told me I would make a good lawyer or journalist because of my inquisitive nature. I was the lone student journalist in my secondary school between 2008-2012 – always feeding the assembly with news around the campus and village. So, being a journalist today is simply the fulfillment of a childhood dream and passion. In fact, I'll still choose the profession even in my afterlife. I've named my two kids after two renowned BBC journalists who inspired me: Jonathan Izard and Marion Marshall. More will follow.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to an aspiring journalist?
To trust every little journalistic step they take; to never rest on their laurels – keep striving to greater heights by reading extensively – novels and the works of other journalists. Build a solid network of trustworthy sources. I live and work on this maxim by Reuters: "A story is a depiction of a journey. In a story we follow a character or a series of characters on a journey as they pursue something up against certain obstacles."
*ICFJ’s Michael Elliott Award is celebrating its ten-year anniversary. You learn more about the program here, apply here and make a donation to support the program here.