Femi Asu of Nigeria’s Punch Newspaper has won the winner of the Ecobank Economics & Business Award at the 2015 CNN MultiChoice African Journalist.

This was revealed in a statement made available to *Ceoafrica* by African Press Organisation on behalf of Ecobank. The award was presented to him by Ecobank Group Head of Corporate Communication,s Richard Uku at a gala ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi, Kenya on Saturday.

Richard Uku said: “The Ecobank Economics and Business Award recognises the excellence of journalistic reporting in this important field, and we are delighted to present the award to Femi Asu for the talent he has exhibited. Ecobank is pleased to be a long-time partner with CNN and MultiChoice in the promotion of excellence in African journalism.”

The judging panel, which selected the entry from among many others spanning 39 nations across the African continent, said: “This is a story about how the lack of stable electricity supply harms small businesses in Nigeria.

 Femi Asu focused on an issue not particular to Nigeria but to many African countries. With detailed examples, the author demonstrates how businesses are severely affected including in some cases closing down with huge consequences on the country’s economic development. The piece is well written with the reader taken on a journey that highlights the issue with affected individuals and businesses.”

Commenting on his achievement, Femi Asu said: “I am so delighted to be the recipient of the Ecobank Economics & Business Award in this year’s CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards. It means a lot to me, and I appreciate Ecobank’s effort towards boosting the fortunes of business journalism in Africa by sponsoring this award category.”