THE Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), has appointed Motunrayo Alaka as Executive Director of the organisation.
In a statement signed by the Board Chairman, Ropo Sekoni, he disclosed that the appointement was as a result of a board decision made on September 19, 2019 at the board meeting.
The board noted that her promotion was long overdue, highlighted Motunrayo’s long service and her unalloyed loyalty during the organisation’s long thick-and-thin growing period.
The board also said her efforts were central to the organisation’s many successes as a reference point in the promotion of journalism and the media for the enrichment and consolidation of democracy in Nigeria and beyond.
Prior to this appointment, Motunrayo served as the pioneer Centre Coordinator since December 2008.
As the cordinator, she provided strategic leadership for WSCIJ’s programmes and managed relationships
with the organisation’s stakeholders.
According to the statement, she grew the organisation from its initial two programmes
– the annual award and lecture, to more than 10. Sekoni added that she was the pioneer Programme Manager of the Wole Soyinka Investigative Reporting Award from 2005 to 2006 having been a key member of the team that commenced the initiative in 2005.
Motunrayo has over 14 years’ experience in journalism, media strategy and programme development and is passionate about issues of collaboration, ethics, inclusion and sustainability especially as they relate
Among other endeavours, Motunrayo Alaka has served on award boards for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) International Media and Information Literacy Award Committee and the British Broadcasting Corp. Service Trust.
She is currently a fellow of the 2019-20 class of the prestigious John S. Knight Journalism Fellowships at Stanford University in California, United States.
WSCIJ is the pioneer organization focused on promoting investigative reporting in Nigeria.