Lekan Otufodunrin, journalist and media career development specialist is the Executive Director of Media Career Development Network, Nigeria’s foremost media mentoring and coaching organization. He was former Managing Editor, Online and Special Publications of The Nation Newspapers and still writes a weekly opinion column for the paper
With over 35 years meritorious experience in the profession which earned him commendations for outstanding performances, Otufodunrin, a former Sunday Editor of The Nation, has worked for various media organisations, including The Punch Newspapers where he was Group News Editor, City Editor, and Group Political Editor.
A passionate media trainer and counsellor, he has organised and facilitated various impactful media training programmes for all categories of journalists in Nigeria and in Africa which has enhanced the careers of participants. Through Media Career Development Network, www.mediacareerng.org he has regularly provided insights, resources, media career mentoring, coaching, and networking opportunities for journalists to maximize the potential of the profession across the continent and beyond.
Among others, he has trained and mentored journalists for Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, Lagos, the International Press Centre, and International Centre for Investigative Reporting, Abuja, ActionAid Nigeria, Nigerian Union of Journalists, Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism, United Nations Women, United States Consulate, Lagos, Code for Africa and Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism.
In furtherance of his media career development work, Otufodunrin has a number of very practical and media industry-relevant books to his credit which include Wisdom for Journalists, Purpose-Driven Journalism, Excelling in Journalism, Reporter Extraordinaire, Journalism of My Life, New Age Journalism (Conversation with my daughter) and The Journalist You Ought to Be. He recently launched a Daily Work Affirmation for Journalists series on Twitter which promotes adherence to the ethics of journalism and other best practices in the profession.
He has bagged numerous awards for his professional practice and media career development work from media training departments of Polytechnics, Universities, Institutes, and media organisations. Otufodunrin has four student journalists awards named after him and he is a Board of Trustees member of the National Union of Campus Journalists.
He holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from the University of Lagos, and a Certificate in Advance Digital Writing from the School of Communication, Pan Atlantic University, Lagos. Otufodunrin is presently an Associate Lecturer at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, and a Professional External Examiner at the Department of Mass Communication, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos. He was an adjunct lecturer at the Mass Communication Department of the University of Lagos and has offered Master Class training and lectures at other top universities in Nigeria.
A member of the Nigerian Union of Journalists and Nigerian Guild of Editors, Otufodunrin is a fellow of some international media fellowships, including, Thomson Foundation, Cardiff, UK, Poynter Institute (School for Journalists), Florida, USA, and Bloomberg Africa Leadership Initiative.
He is the President of Journalists for Christ, a Governing Board member of Journalists against AIDS, Secretary of the Africa Region of the World Association for Christian Communication, and a Member of the Board of Trustees of Media Associate International (Africa).
