By Eric Elezuo
His is an avalanche of legacies of excellence, dedication, focus and integrity rooted in journalism. He has smashed barriers and made an indelible marks on humanity, especially in the practice of celebrity journalism.
In a chat with Ovation Media Group, the multi-award winning journalist, who doubles as the Executive Editor and Group Managing Director, Naija Standard Newspaper, George Elijah Otumu, shared his inspiring story of dedication, passion and success, and how the likes of the iconic journalist, Dele Momodu, motivated his career choice.
Excerpts:
WHAT INSPIRED YOU INTO CELEBRITY JOURNALISM IN NIGERIA?
I got inspired into celebrity Journalism by Wolf Blitzer of CNN, Chief Dele Momodu (editor-in-chief/CEO, OVATION International Magazine & Boss Newspaper), Mayor Akinpelu (publisher/editor-in-chief; Global Excellence Magazine) and Kunle Bakare (editor-in-chief/CEO, National Encomium Magazine). Their brand of society reporting, style of media reportage, social networking and upwardly-mobile A-List image they represent often blow my mind, at any day and any time.
CAN YOU TAKE US THROUGH YOUR MEDIA CAREER JOURNEY?
I started my media career over 30 years (three decades ago) with the then TODAY’S CHOICE Magazine, Oregun road, Ikeja, Lagos State (owned by Coker Onita) as an entertainment reporter directly under Halim Mohammed, a vibrant editor. My colleagues there then in the office were: Kunle Rasheed, Tunde Moshood Jnr., Otunba Femi Davies and many more. From there, I got a higher media call to The WEEK Magazine on Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja, Lagos State where I was the Society Editor. Later, I was offered an editorial job in The Source Magazine on Elmina Crescent, Ikeja, Lagos State as a Society Writer under then Victor Ogenne. I was made the Head, Crime & Investigations, National Daily Newspaper. I resumed an editorial role in then FAME Weekly Magazine as the first Foreign Correspondent in Ghana, to become Foreign Bureau Chief in South Africa. While in Accra, Ghana, I lived on Kaneshi-being the longest street then. For survival in Ghana, I picked up a reporter job with Daily Graphic-the most circulated and biggest national newspaper in ‘Kwameh Nkrumah’ country. Later, I got employed on return to Nigeria as the Society Editor for INSIDER WEEKLY Magazine, Ogba, Lagos. As a journalist, so tasty for higher editorial challenges, I was offered a Senior Writer job with the then TEMPO WEEKLY Magazine where my exclusive society stories glaze the cover regularly. When I was called upon to pick up a Deputy Arts & Features Editor in the then National LIFE newspaper, I didn’t hesitate under Eric Osagie’s editorship. As time progressed, I got a job offer under Louis Odion as Deputy Features Editor for NATIONAL LIFE Newspaper on Allen Avenue, Ikeja Lagos State. After some years, The Scroll Magazine owned by Janet AFOLABI (a CNN African Journalist of the Year Award Winner in Business category) appointed me Editor of the publication. And in turn, Dupe Ashama, publisher of FOCUS Magazine, a unique monthly British publication offered me a job as Editor for Nigeria which I accepted. Later, I got a job as an Editor, Arts & Society for AFRICA TODAY Magazine, another London based monthly news journal publication.
I was later offered a Society Writer job in Sunday Vanguard Newspaper co-anchoring ‘The Sunday People’ with Sam Umukoro, a center-spread all gloss 8 pages pull out. My colleagues there then were late Amadi Ogbonanaya (Entertainment Editor), Frank Meke (Tourism Editor) under the editorship of Kunle Oyatomi. Then, I was appointed the pioneer editor-in-chief to NAIJA STANDARD NEWSPAPER in Nigeria. After I have successfully turned around the fortunes of the online news medium into a major media national relevance in the country, I was sent to the United States office in Texas as the first American Foreign Bureau Chief. I remained focused. Consistent in news reportage. The Board of Directors of the company were pleased to elevate me to the position of America Senior Investigative Editor. Not once did I rest on my oars as I believe the higher you climb the ladder of success, the higher the responsibilities. Under my editorship, I introduced the first time edition of our newspaper in French, Arabic and Spanish editions which attracted a larger audience and made history.
WHAT ARE THE HEIGHTS OF MEDIA ACCOMPLISHMENTS AROUND THE WORLD?
The heights of my media accomplishments are numerous and evergreen. I have won over 80 media awards around the world. Let me highlight some of them here below: I won the 2025 Global Recognition WORLD CLASS Journalism Award in the United States ( a keen media competition that had 45,000 entries from reporters in 100 countries. The first feat by any African journalist in history). I received 2025 Doctorate Degree in Investigative Journalism as Doctor of Letter (D. Litt) from Crown University, Delaware, United States. I won the MBE Best African Editor in the World in Manchester 2016. I became the Winner of NMNA Most Consistent Nigerian Editor in the Diaspora in 2018. I received the Most Outstanding African Editor of the Year in Brussels, Belgium in 2015. In 2019, I won the ‘Nigerian Most Celebrated Society Editor of the Year Award’…the list is endless.
WHO ARE YOUR ROLE MODELS IN JOURNALISM AND HOW HAVE THEY POSITIVELY IMPACTED YOU?
As listed above, the likes of Chief Dele Momodu, Mayor Akinpelu, Kunle Bakare, Wolf Blitzer, Clarkson Majomi are my media heroes. The desire to stand out from the crowd, have unlimited access to public figures, newsmakers, celebrities in the corridor of power in a bid to bring the news behind news to the fore so that everyone can be introduced into the life, power and styles of public office holders inspired me into celebrity Journalism.
HOW DO YOU INTEND TO TAKE AFRICAN JOURNALISM TO THE END OF THE WORLD?
My plans to take African journalism to the end of the world is to focus on stewardship of public office holders, remain consistent in ensuring our editions are regularly in English, French, Arabic and Spanish editions to positively protect African image to the rest of the world.
WHAT ARE THE REFORMS YOU HAVE INTRODUCED AND BROUGHT INTO YOUR NEWS PUBLICATION ALL THE WAY FROM NORTH AMERICA?
For the first time, under my editorial leadership in the North America, I introduced the first ever international online news medium with publication in English, French, Arabic and Spanish editions which attracted a larger audience from the Espanol, Muslim, Christian and Black American communities. On record, no other news medium has rivalled that media achievement.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR AFRICAN CELEBRITY JOURNALISM?
My plans for African celebrity journalism is to take Society, Entertainment, Business, Style; Arts and Political stories from a general interest angle in a breezy, editorial prose, fluid reportage across the continent.
WHAT DOES STYLE, ELEGANCE AND POISE MEAN TO YOU?
Style, elegance and poise to me means: practicing what you preach by carrying yourself in honour, reporting news from the eyes of an experienced celebrity journalist who has seen it all from Africa to Asia, Europe to United Arab Emitates (UAE) and to the United States of America.
CAN YOU LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR AN UPCOMING SOCIETY AFRICAN JOURNALIST LOOKING UP TO YOU?
My message to an upcoming society African journalist is to keep eyes laser-focused in getting scoops relating to the high and mighty, confirm the stories to avert litigation, speak to each participant mentioned in the story before the publication goes to bed to give them their rights to fair hearings.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME
The pleasure is mine…
