THE International Center for Investigative Reporting, (ICIR), reporter, Amos Abba has been shortlisted for the 2019 Thomson Foundation Young Journalist Award.

The award, in its 7th year, enables journalists aged 30 and under, from countries with a Gross National Income, GNI, per capita of less than $20,000, to send in their best stories.

His investigation involved going undercover to visit herbal doctors in Abuja who falsely claimed to have a cure for cancer as they extorted unsuspecting patients faced with the unpleasant treatment effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Amos entry was selected as one of the unique ones due to his expose into the alluring ‘faith’ of the cancer patients in the ability of the herbal drugs to provide a cure for cancer which unfortunately led to further health complications.

Stories shortlisted for the award were picked from Armenia, Ghana, Pakistan, Nigeria, South Africa, India and Sri Lanka, which had “won over judges at the foundation with their stories about putting all people first”.

The ICIR  reporter was shortlisted alongside 11 other under-30 journalists from across the world in the award which also included two other Nigerians—Oladeinde Olawoyin of Premium Times and Banjo Damilola of Sahara Reporters.

Others are Aamir Ali (India), Kushane Chobanyan (Armenia), Meiryum Ali (Pakistan), Sarita Santoshini (India), Ridwan Karim Dini-Osman (Ghana), Rubatheesan Sandranathan (Sri Lanka), Bukeka Silekwa (South Africa), Saurabh Sharma (India) and Julius Luwemba from Uganda.

The award enables journalists aged 30 and under, from countries send in their best stories that could revolutionalise their environment or the world.

Amongst the 12 journalists shortlisted, three finalists will be selected who would be flown to London where the winner will be announced during a gala awards ceremony at the end of November.

Amos was also named the second runner up in the best science report category of the Nigerian Academy of Science Awards in 2018.