Femi Owolabi
5B, Iyalla Street, Alausa, Ikeja,Nigeria
Summary
An award-winning journalist whose nearly one decade experience of immersive journalism practice has been dominated by investigative and data journalism, development journalism, and solutions journalism, who is now steering his commitment to improving the social condition into people-centered public policy, research and documentation.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Special Assistant, Policy Research & Documentation
The Governor, Ekiti State Government
11.2022 - Current
- Tracks and documents implementation of government's policies
- Conducts impact assessment/measurement of the derivative policies
- Coordinates a team of researchers and documentation experts to undertake far-reaching and inclusive research
Head, Investigations
Cable Newspaper Journalism Foundation
05.2017 - 11.2022
- Led a team of investigative reporters to help the organisation deliver its core mandate of building an active citizenry to promote democracy and development in Nigeria
- Developed investigative story ideas, supervised field research work, edited and published investigative reports
- Served as documentation/research officer for the organisation's Policy Radar Initiative (PRIN) project under the On Nigeria MacArthur Foundation Grant
- Used data and multimedia tools to deliver news in different story forms to appeal to an online audience
- Analysed and collected information through various modes such as personal interviews and news briefings to prepare news/investigative reports
- Conducted research, due diligence and wrote international, local and national news
- Delivered breaking news, features, interviews and exclusives
Head, Research & Investigations
Ripples Nigeria
03.2017 - 05.2017
- Responsible for the organisation's general research work and investigations
- Conducted investigative reports, research and analysis on the subject of anti-corruption, security and education
- Responsible for the planning, creation and development of the organisation's agendas and initiatives
Investigative Reporter
Sahara Reporters
02.2016 - 11.2016
- Pursued and developed investigative stories independently, covering broad range of topics with focus on anti-corruption
- Evaluated and followed up on news leads and tips, developing key story ideas
- Created digitally-optimised news content using of a range of multimedia tools
Features/Politics Reporter
TheScoop
07.2013 - 05.2015
- Created features and news stories around politics, coordinating images and layout to ensure proper presentation
- Wrote a weekly column
Education
Ph.D. - Politics & International Relations
Lead City University
Ibadan 12.2025
Master of Science - War & Strategic Studies
Lead City University
Ibadan 12.2022
Master of Public Administration - [Sustainable Development]
National Open University of Nigeria
Lagos 12.2022
Bachelor of Science - Political Science
National Open University of Nigeria
Lagos 12.2020
200 Credits Towards B.Eng in Chemical Engineering -
Federal University of Technology
Minna 2009
Skills
- Research
- Interview techniques
- Strategic planning
- Evidence gathering
- Analytical writing
- Public speaking
- Editing
Short Courses
- Humanitarian Response to Conflict and Disaster, Harvard
University, 2021 (via edX) - Terrorism and Counter Terrorism, Georgetown University, 2022 (via edX)
Awards
- Finalist, 2019 Free Pens for Democracy Award (France)
- Runner-up, Business and Economy category, 2019 PwC Media
Excellence Awards - Runner-up, Online Category, 11th Wole Soyinka Award for
Investigative Reporting - 2016 City People Social Media Journalist of the Year
References
- Chinedu Chidi, CEO, Law Mediacom Group | email:
c.chidi@lawmediacomgroup.com| phone: +234806005992 - Roland Olufemi Badru, Senior Lecturer, Department of Politics & International Relations, Lead City University, Ibadan | email: femmydamak@gmail.com| phone: +2348056413920
Timeline
Special Assistant, Policy Research & Documentation
The Governor, Ekiti State Government
11.2022 - Current
Head, Investigations
Cable Newspaper Journalism Foundation
05.2017 - 11.2022
Head, Research & Investigations
Ripples Nigeria
03.2017 - 05.2017
Investigative Reporter
Sahara Reporters
02.2016 - 11.2016
Features/Politics Reporter
TheScoop
07.2013 - 05.2015
Ph.D. - Politics & International Relations
Lead City University
Master of Science - War & Strategic Studies
Lead City University
Master of Public Administration - [Sustainable Development]
National Open University of Nigeria
Bachelor of Science - Political Science
National Open University of Nigeria
200 Credits Towards B.Eng in Chemical Engineering -
Federal University of Technology
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