Renowned global visual journalist and Senior Photo Editor at Channels TV, Sodiq Adelakun, has been appointed jury member for the prestigious 2024 World Press Photo contest.
The World Press Photo, established in the Netherlands over 68 years ago, is a revered non-profit organization celebrating the finest in photojournalism and documentary photography worldwide.
Adelakun’s selection to the African jury, among the six continental bodies, comprising five members each, marks a significant recognition of his prowess in visual journalism.
He will play a pivotal role in assessing this year’s submissions, focusing on photographs and stories captured in Africa. The winning selections will subsequently be presented to a global jury.
Expressing his gratitude, Adelakun said, “I’m honoured to have this opportunity to represent my country, most especially Africa, in such a time where impactful visual journalism needs to be resuscitated for budding visual journalists.”
He further added, “I look forward to seeing innovative inclusion of African stories, most especially stories that can elevate and put Africa on the pinnacle.”
Adelakun, previously a photojournalist at Punch Newspaper and a contributor for AFP, has nearly two decades of experience in visual storytelling.
His appointment marks a notable milestone as the second Nigerian photojournalist to be honoured with the World Press Photo Prize and the first Nigerian winner to serve as a jury member since the contest’s inception.
Leveraging his extensive expertise, Adelakun will contribute to the deliberations of the African Jury in South Africa.
The collaborative review process across regional juries and the global jury, conducted online and offline over six weeks in January and February 2024, will culminate in the global jury’s announcement of the final winners.
The 2024 World Press Photo Contest, currently open for entries until January 2024, embraces diverse storytellers and narratives from across the globe.
The competition offers prizes up to €6000 and a worldwide travelling exhibition, promoting the multifaceted richness of visual journalism.
