About Betty Abah

Betty Abah, 33, has worked as a journalist since she was at the University of Calabar. She has contributed to various magazines  in Lagos (TELL, NEWSWATCH, THE VOICE) and has been a recipient of numerous professional fellowships including the Alfred Friendly Press Fellowship.

Betty Abah was born on March 6, 1974 in Otukpo Benue State of Nigeria and obtained a degree in English and Literary Studies from the University of Calabar in 1999. While in school, she served as literary editor of Quill, her departmental magazine, deputy editor of Malabor Watch, a publication of the Student Union Government of her university and served as pioneer chairperson of the university branch of the National Association of Campus Women Journalists.

Until recently, Abah worked as a senior writer with TELL Magazine where she was correspondent and head of women and children’s desk with Hallmark Newspaper and as reporter/researcher with Newswatch Magazine, all in Lagos, Nigeria.

 

Her writing has won her awards such as Literary Artist of the Year Award by the English And Literary Students Association (1999); National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)’s State Honour’s Award (Ogun State) and the Travel/Tourism Reporter of the Year award by the Nigeria Media Merit Award, 2003. In 2006, she was awarded the Alfred Friendly Press Fellowships, a six-month reporting fellowship which places young journalists from developing countries in American newsrooms. It saw her reporting at the Rocky Mountain News in Colorado, USA.

In the course of the fellowship, Abah received two other fellowships-the John Knight Health Reporting Fellowship (which saw her undergoing training on health reporting at the Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention, CDC, in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, and the Kaiser Family Foundation Fellowship (which entailed health reporting training at the Canadian Broadcasting Cooperation, CBC, Toronto) and reporting the International AIDS Conference in Toronto, Canada, last year.

 

After a six-year spell in main stream journalism, Abah recently resumed with the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth, Nigeria as project officer and currently presents “Tobacco and You” as part of a tobacco control initiative by the NGO.

Comments

[Audu Ochogwu]

Tobacco is consumed in various forms, ranging from cigarettes, cigars, pipes, snuff and simply rolling up the shreds of dry leaves in papers and puffing them
Tobacco consumption in any form is harzardous to the health of everyone from womb to grave, putting enormous burden on health services. It impoverishes consumers and their families and the entire nation. Pack in tobacco

[Philip Jakpor]

I want to state here that though Tobacco and You is a mass enlightenment programme, it is blazing the trail among several initiatives to confront the wicked tobacco multinationals.Thumbs up Betty!

[Audu Ochogwu]

Congratulations Betty for the Laurels you have won and more are yet to come.
We, your well wishers are so proud of what you are doing.
You are not confronting anyone or multinationals, but a lifestyle that put millions of people at risk of serious health conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, asthma and cause enviromental pollution should be discouraged by all. "Tobacco and you" is the best radio program to be aired in recent time in Nigeria

[Mubla Nak]

Betty,
A co-worker here at the Orange County, Ca. Public Health Dept forwarded this link to me. After listening to you on-line regarding the hazardous effects of tobacco aka "cancer stinks" in NIgeria, I couldnt hesitate but to extend my support and profound gratitude to you.
Hey, since my expertice is in communicable diseases and tobacco cessation feel free to holla at me.

Regards!

[victor emeruwa]

This is a great initiative. who is the genius that initiated this project? I believe this can be replicated in other African countries. Thump up for a great job!

[Louis Ebodaghe]

Betty,

Congratulations on a wonderful and profound program, that creates public awareness about the health hazards of smoking and second-hand smoke. This will go a long way in preventing and reducing the number smoking related illnesses and deaths.

Best wishes!

Louis Ebodaghe
Atlanta, Georgia

[Judith Abraham]

Betty dearie, i had always known that you will soar very high in life. I remember how we use to all gather for NACWOJ meetings at UNICAL. God rewards faithfulness, so keep it up. The reward for good work is more work so prepare for more tasks ahead. Bravo

[Abah James]

hey Betty, you're doing a great job out there...BRAVO! But I want you to extend your good works back at home. Thanks

[Iduh John]

Hey Betty, you are doing a great and wonderfuljob for the populace. Keep it up. But I want you to extend your good works back at home. Remeber us when thy kingdom come.

[Jasper----------Edo]

Betty, what a wonderful work! Alas, may God crown your furhter effort with success. I love to see more of this beautiful work.