Japheth J. Omojuwa

Japheth Omojuwa

Omojuwa delivering a paper at the Free University, Berlin
Born Japheth Joshua Omojuwa
3 October 1984
Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria
Residence Abuja, FCT, Nigeria
Education Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB)
Occupation Blogger, social media expert, mentor

Japheth Omojuwa (born Japheth Joshua Omojuwa on 3 October 1984) is a Nigerian blogger, public speaker, socio-economic and political commentator and social media expert. A columnist with The Punch newspaper, Leadership newspaper and Naij.com, Omojuwa's articles have appeared on CNN,[1] ThisDay and other platforms across the continent and beyond. His works have been repeatedly translated into several languages including various platforms for German,[2] French,[3] Portuguese and Greek audiences.

Career

In the course of his work, Omojuwa has spoken on economic platforms in Washington, London, Addis Ababa, Lagos, Accra, Cape Town, Abuja, Rio de Janeiro, Berlin, New York, Cologne, Dakar, among other cities around the world and across Nigeria. He has spoken in universities such as New York University, United States, Hertie School of Governance, Berlin, Germany, Catholic University of East Africa, Nairobi, Technical University, Dortmund, and several in Nigeria.

The leadership of the African Union invited Omojuwa in 2014 to be part of the Africa Re-imagination Creative Hub (ARCH) to fashion an agenda for Africa 2063 project. He participated as a panelist at a side event during the 2013 United Nations General Assembly in New York City where he spoke on the need to use data and facts as tools in activism and policy making.

His pieces have appeared on several online and print mediums including Metropole Magazine, Sahara Reporters,[4] BBC, The Financial Times, ThisDay and Naij.

On 28 March 2015 ex-president Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria was voted out and a new president Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in on 29 May 2015. Omojuwa was for a long time a thorn in the flesh of the Jonathan government and actively campaigned to have him voted out and Buhari voted in.[5][6] Many believe that one of the reasons Goodluck Jonathan lost the elections was because of the activities of the likes of Omojuwa, especially online[7]

Controversies

Omojuwa was involved in a protracted battle[8] with Arik Air after losing an iPad while onboard one of its domestic flights. This culminated in a breakdown of agreement between the two parties, with him claiming Arik was high-handed and careless while Arik maintained that the matter be settled as quietly as possible. Soon, himself and 26 others were banned from flying on Arik Air aircraft[9][10] in September of that year, a decision that was later rescinded when, about twenty-four hours after the list was released, the airline's website was hacked, with rumours flying around that pro-Omojuwa techies were the perpetrators or that he was personally involved, an allegation he denied.[11] In addition, a new iPad was purchased for Omojuwa.[12][13]

Awards and nominations

In 2012, YNaija named him one of the most influential young Nigerians under 35 in Business, Fashion, Media, Entertainment, Technology and Politics, with writer Ifreke Inyang describing him in particular as "king of the click."[14] Omojuwa was named by Credit Suisse Bulletin as one of the 50 Movers and Shakers of Africa in 2015.[15] In June 2016, Omojuwa was named the Best Twitter Personality Of The Year [16] in the annual African Bloggers Awards. The 2016 African Bloggers Awards were sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

International Visitors Leadership Programme

In August 2016, Omojuwa successfully completed the International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP) in the United States.[17] The International Visitors Leadership Programme, which started in 1940,[18] is a professional exchange program funded by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs,[19] and boasts of 35 current and 300 former Chiefs of State or Heads of Government as alumni.[20]

Endorsements

In August 2016, global Cognac brand Rémy Martin unveiled Omojuwa as a brand influencer for its One Life/Live Them campaign in Nigeria in recognition of his status as a public speaker, political expert, ideologist and mastermind [21]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1755 GMT (0055 HKT) 27 May 2015 (27 May 2015). "How Nigeria Landed Itself In #FuelScarcity Mess - CNN.com". Edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  2. ↑ "Berlin-Institut für Bevölkerung und Entwicklung: Interviews". Berlin-institut.org. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  3. ↑ "Le rédacteur Libre | Culture – Sport – Société – Education – Environnement – Politique". Leredacteurlibre.info. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  4. ↑ Omojuwa, Japheth J. "Nigeria: Before The Sweeping Sword Of Anger By Japheth J Omojuwa". Sahara Reporters. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  5. ↑ Category: encounter (13 June 2015). "Social media helped bring about change of govt – Omojuwa – Weekly Trust". Dailytrust.com.ng. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  6. ↑ "Social media will keep Buhari on his toes – Omojuwa | BusinessDay". Businessdayonline.com. 26 April 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  7. ↑ "Nigeria election: What are presidential priorities?". Al Jazeera English. 27 March 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  8. ↑ "Social media activist, Omojuwa, tackles Nigeria's Arik Air over missing iPad – Premium Times Nigeria". Premium Times. 12 July 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  9. ↑ "Arik Air Bars 27 People including Japheth Omojuwa & FAAN MD from Flying on its Aircrafts [sic]". Bella Naija. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  10. ↑ OMG Reporter · 26 September 2012 (26 September 2012). "Arik Air bans social critic, Japhet Omojuwa & 26 others from flying with airline – OMG Nigeria – Celeb Gists, Nollywood News". Omg.com.ng. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  11. ↑ "– Social Media Activist Omojuwa Denies Hacking ARIK AIRLINE Website Over Lost Ipad. Airline Replaces Lost Ipad". 234pulse.com. 22 February 1999. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  12. ↑ "To whom it may concern: Arik presents iPad to Japheth Omojuwa, "Full details soon," he says". YNaija. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  13. ↑ Eta, Phillip (2 October 2012). "End of a saga: Omojuwa receives new iPad from Arik Air –". DailyPost Nigeria. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  14. ↑ "New Media is where the future is at". YNaija. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  15. ↑ "Japheth Omojuwa, Nigeria, blogger". Credit Suisse Bulletin: 75. March 2015.
  16. ↑ "2016 Winners - African Blogger Awards". africanbloggerawards.com. africanbloggerawards.com. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  17. ↑ "AfricanLiberty.org Editor JJ Omojuwa Completes State Department International Visitors Programme". https://www.africanliberty.org. africanliberty.org. Retrieved 21 September 2016. External link in |website= (help)
  18. ↑ http://www.iie.org/en/Programs/IVLP/About#.V-KcYq3L9jY
  19. ↑ https://eca.state.gov/ivlp
  20. ↑ http://www.africanliberty.org/africanliberty-org-editor-jj-omojuwa-completes-state-department-international-visitors-programme/
  21. ↑ "Omojuwa, Arese Ugwu & Ali Baba are the New #OneLifeLiveThem Rémy Martin Influencers". https://www.bellanaija.com. bellanaija.com. Retrieved 9 August 2016. External link in |website= (help)
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