Abdallah el-Kurebe emerges as President of PAAJ, set to drive agricultural journalism and media collaboration across Africa

[dropcap]J[/dropcap]ournalists from across Africa, under the Pan African Agricultural Journalists (PAAJ), have elected Abdallah el-Kurebe, the Registrar of the Society of Digital Newspaper Owners of Nigeria (SDNON) and Editor-in-Chief of ASHENEWS, as their new President.

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A seasoned journalist with extensive experience in agricultural reporting, el-Kurebe emerged unopposed, reflecting broad confidence in his leadership.

Alongside him, Beene Mujala (Zambia) was elected Treasurer, while Amadou Jallow (Gambia) assumed the role of Assistant Secretary.

Announcing the election results on Tuesday, Dawda Bayo, Chairman of the PAAJ Electoral Committee, confirmed that:

– Jean Baptiste Musabyimana (DRC) defeated Somalia’s Daud Abdi Daud to become Vice President.
– Pojoley Essonana (Togo) edged out Uganda’s Williams Moi to secure the position of Secretary-General.

El-Kurebe previously served as PAAJ’s Vice President (2022–2024) before stepping in as Acting President (October 2024–February 2025) following the resignation of Jefferson Massah.

His leadership has been instrumental in strengthening agricultural journalism, fostering regional media collaboration, and advocating for greater engagement in food security and climate resilience reporting.

As the founder of ASHENEWS, a platform specializing in agriculture, science, health, and environmental reporting, el-Kurebe has built a reputation for impactful journalism and media advocacy.

His new role as PAAJ President is expected to drive:

– Stronger regional integration among agricultural journalists.
– Professional development and capacity building.
– Enhanced coverage of agricultural policies, innovations, and challenges across Africa.

With a proven track record and extensive media leadership experience, Abdallah el-Kurebe’s tenure promises to elevate the role of journalism in shaping agricultural transformation across the continent.