The Guardian Energy Correspondent, Kingsley Jeremiah has won the Sanlam Financial Journalism Award in Johannesburg, South Africa. Jeremiah, at the 48th edition of the international award emerged the first runner up in the African Growth Story category, which according to the organisers recognises exceptional journalists who, through vibrant journalism, have played an instrumental role in telling the story of economic growth and development on the African continent.

Open to journalists practising in Africa, Sanlam also noted that the African Growth Story prize recognises stories covering significant trade and investment developments on the continent.

The organisation added that entries for the category should cover the growth of the continent on topics including investments, infrastructure and economic development.

The Lifetime Achievement Award was bestowed to Dr Thami Mazwai, former editor of Sowetan, founding member of the South African National Editors’ Forum and an advocate for grassroots entrepreneurship.

Established by Sanlam in 1974, the awards recognise exceptional financial journalism on the African continent. This year the judging panel received a total of 155 entries from journalists from across the African continent, compared to 89 received last year, Sanlam said.

The chair of the independent adjudication panel, Prof. Nixon Kariithi, was joined by Ms Paula Fray, who retires from the panel after serving for nearly 10 years, Prof. Ylva Rodny-Gumede, Mr Ulrich Joubert, Mr Charles Naude and Mr Musa Zondi, all based in South Africa, as well as Ms Angela Agoawike of Nigeria, Ms Aggie Asiimwe Konde of Uganda, Mr Rayborn Bulley, in Ghana, Mr Tom Indimuli, Kenya and Ms Emily Brown of Namibia.