Laolu Akande is an award-winning Nigerian journalist, editor, lecture, scholar and the current Senior Special Assistant (Media and Publicity) to the Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. Prior to his being named as the VP's Spokesperson, Akande was reporting for Empowered Newswire, a US-based news agency. He has also worked with top media companies like Guardian Newspapers, Philadelphia Inquirer, Daily News of Philadelphia and the News Journal of Delaware.
We'd be seeing Laolu Akande's biography, date of birth, age, early life, family, parents, siblings, spouse, education, entertainment career, net worth, houses, cars, social media handles and everything else you'd love to know about him.
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Laolu Akande Profile
Before we continue, here's a quick rundown on Laolu Akande's profile and a few things you'd love to know about him:
Full name: Laolu Akande
Date of birth:
Age:
Nationality: Nigerian
Education: University of Ibadan (UI)
Spouse: Ola Ahconde
Occupation: Journalist
Religion: Christianity
Net worth:
Laolu Akande Biography, Date Of Birth, Early Life, Family And Education
Laolu Akande was born in Ibadan, Oyo State. He had his primary education at Omolewa Nursery and Primary School. After obtaining his First School Leaving Certificate, he enrolled at the Loyola College, Ibadan, after which he proceeded to the Oyo State College of Arts and Sciences, Ile Ife, where he completed his A-Levels.He subsequently gained admission to study at the prestigious University of Ibadan (UI), graduating in 1990 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. Akande also holds a master's degree in Communication and Language Arts from UI.
Career
Laolu Akande's journalism career can be traced back to his schooldays at the Oyo State College of Arts & Science, Ile-Ife through the University of Ibadan. In 1989, while still at UI, he joined the Guardian Newspapers as a reporter, where he covered education. His intelligent and incisive coverage of the 1992 ASUU strike exposed the impasse between the Federal Government of Nigeria led by the former head of state, General Ibrahim Babangida, and the striking lecturers.
Akande was a founding member of The News magazine team in 1993 as Senior Writer, and also Tempo publication when the then military government banned The News for its staunch pro-democracy stance and reportage. He remained with The News and Tempo until 1995 when he joined the Nigerian Tribune as a Special Projects Editor.
In 1998, he was forced into exile to the United States after his story, 'Who wants Diya dead?' was published. Prior to his publishing the content, he never knew that the Abacha junta will declare Oladipo Diya a coup plotter.
While in the US, he worked with Newsday as an Assistant Editor. He wrote regular columns for two U.S. based award-winning news websites, Chatafrik.com and Nigeriaworld.com. He also freelanced for Daily News of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Inquirer and the News Journal of Delaware.
In 2004, he founded Empowered Newswire, a New York-based independent news agency reporting on Nigeria and Africa news from the US & North America.
Laolu Akande was officially appointed by the President, Muhammadu Buhari to be the Senior Special Assistant (Media and Publicity) to the vice president, Yemi Osibanjo and he assumed office in September 2015.
Awards and Recognitions
Laolu Akande is a Fellow of the Tribune Minority Editorial Training Program, METPRO.
In 1989, he won the Writer of the Year Award of the J.C. International at the University of Ibadan.
He has also won the Obafemi Awolowo University Department of English's Reporter of the Year Award.
He is regarded as the only Nigerian journalist to have interviewed a sitting American president in the White House when he interviewed former US President George W. Bush, at a White House African Reporters Roundtable. He has also interviewed prominent personalities, including Bill Gates, Colin Powell, Wole Soyinka and President Donald Trump.
Social Media Handles
You can connect with Laolu Akande on:
Twitter @Akandeoj
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