By Blessing Iriaka In the grand theatre of Nigerian journalism, few names shine as brightly and consistently as Motunrayo Alaka. A woman of vision, conviction, and unmatched determination, she has carved a distinct path in the world of investigative journalism, leading not just with titles but with integrity and purpose.  Her journey reminds us that success is not a sprint, it is a marathon paved with consistency, sacrifices, and dreams too loud to ignore. The Spark from Secondary School Motunrayo's story began long before press passes and global fellowships. As a young student in secondary school, she found her first love, journalism.  It was during her time in the school press club, mentored by a teacher who also worked with the Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation, that she learned the basics of news writing.  That early exposure left an imprint on her heart. The press club wasn’t just an extracurricular activity, it was the compass that pointed her future. A Deto...

By Innocent Sunday Okeke  The recent coordinated attempts by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu to pressure Governor Alex Otti into defecting from the Labour Party to the All Progressives Congress (APC) should be condemned in the strongest terms. This desperate ploy is not just an assault on Governor Otti’s administration but a brazen insult to the collective will of Abians who voted for a new direction after enduring over two decades of failure, deception, and outright betrayal under the leadership of these same men and their cronies. It represents the clearest indication yet that the old political order, sensing its own irrelevance, is determined to use every weapon at its disposal; blackmail, manipulation, and propaganda, to pull Abia back into the cesspool of corrupt governance.  These men, whose records in public office are littered with scandal and ineptitude, are now arrogantly attempting to dictate the direction of a government that has been perfor...

  Every profession has its pathfinders, men and women whose footprints in the sands of time show others the way. In journalism, a field built on courage, curiosity, and commitment to the truth, veterans are not just professionals, they are living legacies. Welcome to the maiden edition of “Knowing the Veterans”, a weekly series I’m incredibly passionate about. Each weekend, we’ll profile one veteran journalist, both living and late, whose work, journey, and wisdom continue to inspire the media industry. This is not just a tribute, it’s an archive, a mentorship resource, and a window into the souls of those who have held the line for journalism in Nigeria and beyond. Why did I start this? Because stories matter and the stories of our veterans need to be told, not only in passing comments at media gatherings but in documented, inspiring detail. I want young and aspiring journalists to learn from those who came before their struggles, innovations, sacrifices, and triumphs. ...

 On the 14th of April 2025, the Office of the Governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Electronic and Creative Media, in collaboration with Africa Check, convened an intergenerational dialogue in Owerri, Imo State.  Themed “Amplifying Youth Voices and Accelerating Action Against Disinformation and Misinformation”, the event was held at Hotel the Copperfield and brought together journalists, bloggers, social media influencers, and security agencies including the Nigerian Police, Civil Defence Corps, and the Nigerian Correctional Service. The event served as a timely intervention in the era of digital misinformation, bringing stakeholders together to discuss practical ways to curb its spread.  One of the key facilitators, Dr. Ngozi Chuma-Umeh, Associate Professor of Law at Imo State University, highlighted the dangers and legal implications of misinformation and disinformation. She reminded participants, especially media professionals, of the risks of libel, slander, and defa...

Have you ever stared death in the face,not because you committed a crime, but simply because you were trying to make ends meet? This is Emmanuel Godwin’s story. A Bolt driver in Owerri, Imo State.  A hardworking Nigerian youth, one of the countless young men who have refused to go into crime, who’ve chosen to sweat rather than scam, who rise every morning with hope in their hearts and a steering wheel in their hands. On the night of April 3rd, 2025, around 8:02 p.m., at the Chukwuma Nwaoha roundabout in Owerri, Emma’s only crime was not having cash on him. That’s it. Stopped by a Nigerian Army officer allegedly attached to the 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze, Emmanuel was asked to "find money" a coded phrase for “bribe me or face trouble.”  But Emma had no cash. As an Uber/Bolt driver, he explained that he could make a transfer instead. But the soldier refused. Apparently, he wasn’t in the mood for mobile banking, he wanted raw cash. Emma tried to reason with him, to show that h...

By Blessing Iriaka The sixth edition of the Report Women Fellowship, a flagship initiative of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), officially commenced on April 2, 2025, with a powerful call to action: to elevate women’s leadership in newsrooms and society at large. The three-day training brought together 12 exceptional female journalists selected from a competitive pool of 160 applicants across diverse media platforms in Nigeria. According to the organisers, the core objective of the fellowship is to improve the leadership status of women in news, within newsrooms, and across broader societal structures.  Since its inception in 2014, the Report Women Fellowship has consistently empowered female reporters with the skills, confidence, and strategic tools to ascend to top-tier leadership positions within the media industry. Speaking at the opening session, the WSCIJ management emphasized that the focus of this 6th edition is to equip participants for C-suite ...