Japheth J. Omojuwa

Japheth Joshua Omojuwa (born 3 October 1984) is a Nigerian writer, 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] This Day and other platforms. His works have been translated into German,[2] French,[3] Portuguese and Greek.

Japheth Omojuwa
Born (1984-10-03) 3 October 1984
Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria
EducationFederal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB)
Occupation(s)Media entrepreneur, public speaker, author, social media influencer.

Career
Omojuwa (right) at the Halifax International Security Forum 2017

Omojuwa has been a regular guest at several conferences and symposiums.

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. He was also appointed as a board member of Halifax.[4]

Omojuwa's pieces have appeared on several online and print mediums including Metropole Magazine, Opinion Nigeria, Sahara Reporters,[5] BBC, The Financial Times, ThisDay and Naij. In 2019 Omojuwa published the book Digital: The New Code of Wealth.

Controversies

Omojuwa was involved in a protracted battle[6] with Arik Air after losing an iPad while on board one of its domestic flights in July 2012. 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and 26 others were banned from flying on Arik Air aircraft[7][8] in September of that year, a decision that was later rescinded when, about twenty-four hours after the list was released, the airline's website was hacked, with rumours flying around that pro-Omojuwa techies were the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.[9] In addition, a new iPad was purchased for Omojuwa.[10][11]

On 4 March 2017 South African border police authorities held Omojuwa alongside a Nigerian student for several hours. He was released after intervention from Nigerian authorities.[12] In a tweet he wrote that "South African border officials are holding me because of my Nigerian passport".

In February 2016, Omojuwa delved into an intense controversy with Ben Bruce on Twitter when the latter criticized President Buhari for his statement about Nigerians being unwelcome in Britain because of crime.[13]

Omojuwa's PR firm, Alpha Reach, reportedly hired around forty Nigerian influencers as part of a campaign to promote the release of Alex Saab, a Colombian businessman fighting extradition to the United States on money laundering charges.[14]

On 14 April 2021 a former Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili, petitioned Nigeria’s acting Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali, requesting him to investigate Omojuwa for alleged fraudulent use of her name and identity as a director of his PR firm, Alpha Reach Limited. Mrs Ezekwesili’s request followed Omojuwa's claim that she consented before enlisting her as a director of the PR firm, allegedly paid to promote a social media campaign for the release of Venezuelan businessman Alex Saab.[15][16][17][18]

Awards and nominations

In 2012, YNaija named him one of the most influential young Nigerians under 35, with writer Ifreke Inyang describing him as "king of the click."[19] Omojuwa was named by Credit Suisse Bulletin as one of the 50 Movers and Shakers of Africa in 2015.[20] In June 2016, Omojuwa was named the Best Twitter Personality Of The Year in the annual African Bloggers Awards.[21] The 2016 African Bloggers Awards were sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

International Visitors Leadership Programme

In August 2016, Omojuwa completed the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) in the United States.[22] The International Visitors Leadership Programme, which started in 1940,[23] is a professional exchange program funded by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.[24][25]

British Council Chevening Fellowship

Omojuwa was in 2019 awarded a British Council Chevening Fellowship,[26] leading to a Master's degree in Behaviour Change at the University College London.[27]

Halifax International Security Forum

In July 2021, Omojuwa was appointed to the board of Halifax International Security Forum,[28][29] making him the first Nigerian and African to sit on the board of the global think-tank.[30]

Endorsements

In August 2016, global cognac brand Rémy Martin announced Omojuwa as a brand influencer for its One Life/Live Them campaign in Nigeria.[31]

See also

References
  1. "How Nigeria Landed Itself In #FuelScarcity Mess". CNN.com. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  2. "Berlin-Institut für Bevölkerung und Entwicklung: Interviews". Berlin-institut.org. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  3. "Le rédacteur Libre". Leredacteurlibre.info. Archived from the original on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  4. "Nigeria's Omojuwa appointed board member of global think-thank Halifax". 19 July 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  5. Omojuwa, Japheth J (14 December 2012). "Nigeria: Before The Sweeping Sword Of Anger By Japheth J Omojuwa". Sahara Reporters. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  6. "Social media activist, Omojuwa, tackles Nigeria's Arik Air over missing iPad – Premium Times Nigeria". Premium Times. 12 July 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  7. "Arik Air Bars 27 People including Japheth Omojuwa & FAAN MD from Flying on its Aircrafts [sic]". Bella Naija. 26 September 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  8. 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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. "– 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.
  10. "To whom it may concern: Arik presents iPad to Japheth Omojuwa, "Full details soon," he says". YNaija. October 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  11. Eta, Phillip (2 October 2012). "End of a saga: Omojuwa receives new iPad from Arik Air –". DailyPost Nigeria. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  12. vanguard (9 March 2017). "Coming after Abike Dabiri with a sledgehammer". Vanguard News. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  13. Ejiofor, Clement (27 February 2016). "Buhari's criticisms: Ben Bruce replies Omojuwa". NAIJ.COM. NAIJ.COM. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
  14. Silverman, Craig (9 April 2021). "Why Do A Bunch Of Nigerian Twitter Influencers Want This Alleged Money Launderer To Go Free? They're Being Paid". BuzzFeed News. Five sources with knowledge of the Saab campaign said that 40 Nigerian influencers, which have more than a million followers in total, were recruited to participate by at least two employees of Alpha Reach, a PR firm run by Japheth "JJ" Omojuwa.
  15. "Fraud: Ezekwesili submits evidence against Omojuwa to IGP, demands prosecution". Punch Newspapers. 16 April 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  16. "Omojuwa: Omokri begs Ezekwesili to withdraw fraud petition from IGP". Punch Newspapers. 17 April 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  17. "Ezekwesili writes IGP, requests probe of Omojuwa for alleged forgery". 16 April 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  18. "Update: Oby Ezekwesili petitions the police against Omojuwa Japheth for forgery, fraudulent misrepresentation and fraudulent use of her name and particulars". Linda Ikeji's Blog. 16 April 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  19. "New Media is where the future is at". YNaija. 28 February 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  20. "Japheth Omojuwa, Nigeria, blogger". Credit Suisse Bulletin: 75. March 2015.
  21. "2016 Winners". africanbloggerawards.com. African Blogger Awards. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  22. "AfricanLiberty.org Editor JJ Omojuwa Completes State Department International Visitors Programme". africanliberty.org. africanliberty.org. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  23. http://www.iie.org/en/Programs/IVLP/About#.V-KcYq3L9jY
  24. "IVLP | Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs". eca.state.gov. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  25. "AfricanLiberty.org Editor JJ Omojuwa Completes U.S. State Department's International Visitors Leadership Programme". africanliberty.org. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  26. "Omojuwa joins Halifax board as first African member". guardian.ng. Guardian Nigeria. 21 July 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  27. "Nigeria's Omojuwa joins Halifax as first African board member". pulse.ng. Pulse Nigeria. 21 July 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  28. "Nigeria's Omojuwa appointed board member of global think-thank Halifax". www.premiumtimesng.com/. PremiumTimes. 19 July 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  29. "Omojuwa appointed to the board of Halifax International". businessday.ng/. BusinessDay. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  30. "Nigeria's Omojuwa becomes board member at Halifax". punchng.com. Punch Newspaper. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  31. "Omojuwa, Arese Ugwu & Ali Baba are the New #OneLifeLiveThem Rémy Martin Influencers". bellanaija.com. bellanaija.com. 9 August 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
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