Media Trust’s Habeebat Ajayi wins Outstanding Reporter award

Trust TV journalist Habeebat Ajayi has been honored with the Outstanding Reporter Award for her reporting on the 2026 Hajj. Ajayi received the prestigious accolade at the 10th Annual Hajj Lecture and Awards, an event organized by Independent Hajj Reporters in Abuja. The theme of the conference was "Exploring Business Opportunities in the Hajj and Umrah Ecosystem."

The gathering included government officials, media professionals, financial experts, and other stakeholders who explored Nigeria's potential in the global pilgrimage economy.

Ajayi expressed her gratitude for the recognition, acknowledging the responsibility that comes with covering the experiences of pilgrims. "I am deeply honoured and grateful to receive this Outstanding Reporter Award for my coverage of Hajj 2026. I receive this recognition with humility, knowing that journalism is not just about reporting events, but about telling stories that inform, connect and give people a voice," she said.

The journalist emphasized the privilege and responsibility she experienced while covering Hajj, detailing how it allowed her to document the stories of Nigerian pilgrims, including their healthcare needs, access to services, and spiritual journeys. Ajayi dedicated the award to Nigerian pilgrims, her editors, colleagues, and cameramen who supported her during the assignment.

She expressed her appreciation for her organization, her editors, colleagues, and cameramen for their support, and stated that the recognition would motivate her to continue telling impactful stories.

Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, discussed the projected growth of the global Hajj and Umrah economy, predicting it could reach $150 billion annually in the coming years. He attributed this growth to the increasing global Muslim population, expected to reach 2.2 billion by 2030. Yusuf urged Nigerian businesses and investors to capitalize on the opportunities in the pilgrimage economy, particularly in tourism, hospitality, healthcare, finance, logistics, and technology.

He identified tour operations, travel logistics, and integrated booking systems as areas with significant potential for Nigerian entrepreneurs.

Meanwhile, Senator Bala Na'allah stressed the importance of unity and collaboration among government agencies and private-sector players to maximize the economic opportunities associated with Hajj and Umrah. He called for greater collaboration between federal and state institutions and private investors to create a structured framework that would enable Nigerian entrepreneurs to meaningfully participate in the pilgrimage economy.

A financial expert, Aliyu Ali, emphasized the need for Nigerian businesses to embrace financial literacy, strategic partnerships, and innovative service delivery to fully benefit from the growing pilgrimage market.