Late Emmanuel Joseph Akile - File Photo

The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) has announced plans to establish an annual journalism award in honour of the late Eye Radio senior journalist and host of the flagship Dawn Show, Emmanuel Joseph Akile.

Akile passed away at Gudele Hospital in Juba on December 30, 2025, after a short illness, triggering an outpouring of tributes from colleagues, listeners, and leaders across the country.

The announcement follows a pledge made by CEPO on December 31, 2025 to honour the late journalist with a posthumous award in recognition of his distinguished career and contribution to journalism.

In a statement extended to the Eye Radio newsroom, CEPO said the award will be named the Emmanuel Joseph Akile Journalist Award, aimed at immortalising the celebrated radio presenter whose work left a lasting impact on public discourse.

“Mr. Emmanuel Joseph Akile is one of the national brave, creative, innovative and professional journalist in Eye radio. He influential journalism contributed strongly. His sudden death was a great loss for the national,” CEPO said.

According to the organisation, the first edition of the award will be held on 30th December 2026, marking the anniversary of Akile’s death, and will be recognised as the EJA Journalist Award for the Year 2026.

CEPO said the annual award will be highly competitive, bringing together journalists and media outlets from across the country to promote professionalism, dedication, innovation, and creativity in journalism; values Akile consistently demonstrated throughout his career.

The organisation added that the EJA Journalist Award for the Year will be non-partisan, non-religious, and gender sensitive, and will be contested through an independent panel of judges.

Akile was widely respected for his calm delivery, sharp interviews, and commitment to public interest reporting – qualities that made the Dawn Show one of the country’s most influential radio programmes. Through the award, CEPO says it hopes to inspire a new generation of journalists to uphold the standards he lived by.