NFM Founder Simbiat Bakare Shortlisted for 2026 Global Journalism Prize 

Summary: NFM founder and investigative journalist Simbiat Bakare has been shortlisted for the 2026 True Story Awards for the second consecutive year for her investigation into surrogacy exploitation and misinformation in Nigeria.

Simbiat Bakare, investigative journalist and founding director of Naija Feminists Media (NFM), has been shortlisted for the 2026 True Story Awards, marking her second nomination for the prestigious global journalism prize. She was previously shortlisted for the 2024 edition of the awards for her investigation into Odalo, a Nigerian Twitter-based romance scammer.

She earned her latest nomination for an investigative report titled “How Facebook misinformation, legal loopholes throw Nigerian women into surrogacy ditch,” which examines the exploitation of Nigerian women within the country’s largely unregulated surrogacy industry.

The investigation tells the story of Temitope Afolabi, a Nigerian woman who turned to surrogacy after her husband faced possible imprisonment over a N48 million debt resulting from a failed business deal. After unsuccessfully attempting to sell one of her kidneys to raise the money, Temitope chose surrogacy as a last resort. 

In Nigeria, surrogacy is becoming increasingly common, with public figures such as Nancy Umeh, Ini Edo, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie having used surrogate services. While the global surrogacy industry is valued at $27.9 billion, the United Nations has described the practice as a form of violence against women and girls.

Simbiat Bakare’s report investigates how misinformation on social media platforms combined with weak regulatory frameworks in Nigeria, exposes women to abuse, exploitation and legal uncertainty. The investigation also reveals how Facebook has become a hub for unregulated surrogacy arrangements, where women are recruited with misleading promises and left without adequate legal protection, medical care, or fair compensation.

Through survivor testimonies, expert analysis and documented evidence, the report led to tangible outcomes, including the removal of several Nigerian surrogacy-related groups on Facebook. It also sparked reactions from Nigerian and international organisations, with calls for stricter regulation and an outright ban on commercial surrogacy.

The True Story Award is a leading international journalism prize that promotes transparency, accountability, and press freedom worldwide. It recognises outstanding investigative and narrative journalism, with winners in each category receiving a $20,000 cash prize. The award forms part of the annual True Story Festival, a platform designed to foster dialogue and engagement between journalists and the public.