{
  "id": 7901625,
  "title": "APCOM opens nominations for grassroots impact awards",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/apcom-opens-nominations-for-grassroots-impact-awards",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-17T00:02:43.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/apcom-opens-nominations-for-grassroots-impact-awards/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Association of Practitioners of Community Media in Nigeria (APCOM) has initiated the APCOM Grassroots Impact Awards 2026, a national program dedicated to identifying, acknowledging, documenting, and elevating individuals, institutions, and communities making significant contributions across Nigeria's grassroots. APCOM President Abayomi Adejumo announced this groundbreaking initiative, emphasizing that recognition should be granted based on impact rather than prominence. The awards will focus on measurable achievements in various areas, including grassroots governance, community development, public service, education, healthcare, enterprise, innovation, and community journalism.\n\nAdejumo highlighted that community media practitioners are ideally positioned to uncover these stories. \"Nigeria's narrative is not confined to Abuja or our state capitals,\" he stated. \"It unfolds daily in local governments, wards, and communities. Community media is not merely a close reflection of these stories; it is deeply embedded in the evidence.\"\n\nUnlike traditional award ceremonies, APCOM plans to bring the recognition to the places where the impact is evident. Selected honorees will receive their awards in their offices, institutions, or communities. The association will document the stories behind these achievements, compiling them into the APCOM Grassroots Impact Compendium 2026. This comprehensive record will serve as a permanent national archive of outstanding grassroots contributions.\n\nNominations for the APCOM Grassroots Impact Awards 2026 are now open. Prospective nominees are required to submit their name, location, area of impact, and a concise account of their verifiable achievements. The selection process will be based on predefined criteria, ensuring that excellence is the minimum requirement and impact serves as the substantiating evidence.",
  "summary": "The Association of Practitioners of Community Media in Nigeria has launched the APCOM Grassroots Impact Awards 2026, a national initiative to identify, recognise, document and amplify individuals, institutions and communities making exceptional contributions across Nigeria’s grassroots. The APCOM President disclosed this in a statement made available to The PUNCH on Tuesday. Built around the…",
  "key_points": [
    "APCOM launches Grassroots Impact Awards 2026 in Nigeria",
    "Focus on measurable impact in governance, education, healthcare, etc.",
    "Nominations open, winners receive awards at local sites"
  ],
  "editors_take": "This initiative shifts recognition from prominent figures to impactful individuals and institutions at the grassroots level, empowering community media practitioners to identify and celebrate unsung heroes across Nigeria.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "APCOM opens nominations for grassroots impact awards",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/apcom-opens-nominations-for-grassroots-impact-awards-7904669",
        "published": "2026-09-17T00:20:47.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}