Dr Suleiman Mainasara Yar`Adua
CHairman
Suleiman M. Yar’Adua, PhD has almost two decades of
experience in teaching and research in Mass Communication. He holds a Ph.D. in Mass Communication, an MA in Mass Communication, an MA in Development Studies, a Post Graduate Diploma in Development Studies, and a BA (Hons) in Mass Communication. He has served as the Head of the Department of Mass Communication, the Pioneer Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Communication, the Pioneer Director of BUK FM (Campus Radio Station) and BUK TV, and the Deputy Project Leader of the Mac Arthur Grant Implementation Committee at the Bayero University, Kano. He is a member of various university committees, including the University Management Committee (UMC), and several professional associations at local and global levels, such as the Association of Communication Scholars and Practitioners of Nigeria (ACSPN), the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN), and the UNESCO Scientific Committee for Media and Information Literacy (MIL ALLIANCE). His research interests include Investigative Journalism, Peace Journalism, and Development Journalism.
He has published numerous scholarly publications both locally and internationally. He has a considerable presence in Open-Source Journals and Research Gate. He has attended several International Conferences on Investigative Journalism, such as the ones held in South Africa in 2017, Germany in 2019, Dubai in 2022 for the CABSAT conference, Uruguay in 2022 for the World Press Freedom Day Conference, Spain in 2022 for the World News Media Congress, Washington DC in 2022 for the International Anti-Corruption Conference, and Taiwan in 2023 for the World News Media Congress.
Ajibola Amzat
Member
Ajibola Amzat is the Africa Editor at the Center for Collaborative Investigative Journalism, CCIJ, a Michigan-based non-profit newsroom that convenes and leads global investigations.
Until November 2022, he was the managing editor at the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, ICIR where he led several investigative projects funded by National Endowment Democracy, NED; Institute for War and Peace Reporting; McArthur; Centre for Democracy and Development, and others.
He had previously worked with The Guardian newspaper, the flagship of Nigerian print journalism, and rose to the position of Features Editor before joining The ICIR in 2018.
After a compulsory one-year National Youth Service, he started his journalism career in 1998 with Mid-week Spring, a community newspaper in Osogbo, Osun State, covering courts and education.
He also worked as an energy correspondent with Nigeria Energy Digest, publisher of a specialised magazine in the oil and gas sector between October 2006 and July 2007 when he later joined The Guardian as a general assignment senior reporter.
He also freelanced for online newspapers in South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the USA.
A graduate of Mass Communication University of Lagos (Unilag), Amzat obtained postgraduate degrees in Journalism and Media Studies at Rhodes University, South Africa, and Data Journalism at Columbia School of Journalism, New York in the United States. He also bagged a master’s degree in International Law and Diplomacy at the University of Lagos and completed an MBA at the Quantic School of Business and Technology, Washington DC
He specializes in Investigative and Data Journalism.
Adenike Aloba
Member
Adenike Aloba is the Program Director of The Interactive Initiative for Social Impact (IISI), a civic technology organisation using interactive media and technology to influence practices and policies that empower vulnerable and underserved groups. She is the immediate past Managing Editor for Dataphyte, the data journalism program of IISI, pioneering data journalism as an accountability tool in Nigeria, transmitting socioeconomic data into actionable data-driven insights that help citizens and policymakers make informed decisions.
Over the years, she has delivered technology-powered media and development solutions through the development and execution of cut-through-the-clutter projects/products resulting in contemporary, culturally conscious media products that combine digital innovation and media strategies to great effect.
Her areas of expertise include Data for Development, Press Freedom, Media and Terrorism, Illicit Financial Flows, Gender Equality/Representation, Diversity and Inclusion, and Digital Disruption.
Rosemary Olufemi
Member
Rosemary is a communication and media development practitioner with nine years of experience in project management, media development, advocacy, and investigative data and fact-checking journalism. She has led projects at the intersection of community radio, peace and conflict management, and investigative journalism bordering on human rights, peacebuilding, anti-corruption, good governance, and sustainability. She has coordinated advocacy campaigns focused on migration, gender-based violence, illegal detention, and extrajudicial killings across Africa. Working with organisations like International Center for Journalists, International Centre for Investigative Reporting, Institute for Media and Society, she has supported the training of more than 500 journalists from across Africa and coordinated the grantmaking for hundreds of investigative reports published across African media platforms.
Rosemary holds a master’s degree in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, a bachelor’s degree in International Studies and Diplomacy, and a diploma in Mass Communication. She serves as a non-executive director at Dataphyte, Nigeria’s foremost data journalism platform.
Justina Mboho
Publisher
Justina is the Publisher of The Jurist Newspaper. She has been a judicial correspondent with Premium Times, People`s Gazette, and Nairametrics. She has also been a development correspondent with The African Newspage platform, reporting on Health, education and SDGs.
She is the author of a number of investigations around the rule of law and accountability.