Ijeoma Nwogwugwu, Stella Din, Kadaria Ahmed named among 25 most powerful Nigerian female journalists

October 2, 2021 8:25 am

WiJAfrica has unveiled its 2021 list of “Most Powerful Women in Journalism” in Nigeria, with Ijeoma Nwogwugwu, Stella Din Jacob and Kadaria Ahmed topping the list.

WiJAfrica, a global gathering of leading women in the media, said it worked with several industry watchers, publishers, and journalism instructors to produce the list.

The organisation identified the criteria used in the selection to include “the impact of her work on national affairs in the past year, influence in the media industry in the past year, efforts in holding leaders to account in the past year and contribution to advancing social and political consciousness among Nigerian youth in the past year”.

For the second year running, Nwogwugwu, Arise TV MD, was named as the most powerful female journalist in Nigeria.

WiJAfrica highlighted her role in the #EndSARS protest which brought the nation to a standstill in October 2020.

“Nwogwugwu’s Arise News is the undisputed champion of #endsars reportage in the year 2020. She was one of a few media chiefs who quickly noted that the growing movement of young people against police brutality would become a global campaign for change,” the organisation said.

“She rallied her organization to provide uninterrupted coverage of history in the making, as most major cities in Nigeria were at a standstill.

“Arise News moved from a middle-of-the-road player into a news juggernaut, with its digital newsgathering generating tens of millions of views and comments from young Nigerians becoming politically conscious for the first time.

“Nwogwugwu brings to journalism something that is rare but not impossible– a combination of traditional journalistic pedigree on the one hand, and strong appeal to generation Z on the other.”

Jacob, director of News at TVC, moved up four places this year to become the second most powerful female journalist in Nigeria.

“Jacob’s leadership as Director of News at TVC was feared to have suffered some serious setback after the station was looted and set ablaze by marauding crowds, in the aftermath of the Lekki Tollgate shooting last year,” WiJAfrica said.

“However, she proved her detractors wrong by going back on air within 72-hours, using a makeshift studio and continuing reportage from the 36 states and the FCT. This singular feat saved hundreds of jobs in the news division and ensured that Nigerians continued to receive critical news and information during the tense period following the #endsars protests.”

Kadaria Ahmed, who holds the number three spot, was described as “one of the most outstanding women journalists in Nigeria who is never afraid to call leaders to account”.

“She often takes unpopular positions online and in different fora, debating tricky national issues that most people would rather avoid,” the organisation said.

Other women on the list: