By Olugbenga Adebamiwa
SHOLA OSHUNKEYE is a celebrated Nigerian journalist whose distinguished career spans over three decades of impactful reporting, editorial leadership, and pioneering human-interest storytelling across West Africa.
Renowned for blending sharp investigative skills with deep compassion for the human condition, his work has significantly shaped investigative and feature journalism in Nigeria and beyond.
Born on April 20, 1956, in Ilesa, Osun State, Oshunkeye’s path to journalism was as unconventional as it was inspiring.
Trained as a Science Technologist at the University of Lagos, he spent 17 years in Nigeria’s Federal Civil Service at the Ministry of Science and Technology.
In 1989, seeking a more dynamic and socially engaging career, he enrolled at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Ogba, for a one-year postgraduate diploma designed for graduates from other disciplines.
During his industrial internship, Oshunkeye met Mike Awoyinfa, the pioneer editor of Weekend Concord, Nigeria’s first Saturday newspaper.
His very first human-interest story, a feature on social behavior was published as a two-page center spread, marking a bold and promising debut in professional journalism.
From that point, his rise was swift. He joined Weekend Concord in 1989 as Senior Correspondent, became Deputy News Editor in 1991, Assistant Editor in 1992, and Associate Editor in 1994.
After the military proscribed the Concord Press during the June 12, 1993, election crisis, he edited Weekend Classique before returning to Weekend Concord.
In 1999, he was appointed Editor, leading one of Nigeria’s highest-circulating newspapers at the time.
In 2001, Oshunkeye resigned from Weekend Concord to join TELL Magazine as Associate Editor, Abuja Bureau Chief, and State House Correspondent, covering President Olusegun Obasanjo between 2001 and 2005.
He later rose to Senior Associate Editor, gaining a reputation for incisive investigative reporting and authoritative coverage of national affairs.
His career reached another milestone in 2005 when he joined The Sun Publishing Limited as General Editor. Over the years, he served as Editor of The Spectator, General Editor for Magazines, and General Editor for the West Coast operations.
In 2013, he was appointed Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Sun Publishing Ghana Limited, steering the company until his retirement in 2016.
In 2006, Oshunkeye’s work gained global attention when he emerged the overall winner of the prestigious CNN African Journalist of the Year Award, chosen from 1,530 entries, for his landmark report “Niger’s Graveyard of the Living”.
The story, a powerful exposé on the famine crisis in Niger Republic, sparked widespread humanitarian action and remains a reference point in African crisis reporting.
After retirement, he founded The Crest Publishing and Entertainment Company Limited, where he serves as President/CEO.
He is a Fellow of The Poynter Institute for Media Studies, an alumnus of CNN’s International Professional Programme, and a participant in the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Programme.
Beyond formal titles, Shola Oshunkeye is a mentor, columnist, and thought leader, contributing to various Nigerian media outlets and actively engaging audiences through Instagram and LinkedIn.
His legacy is defined by relentless dedication to truth, mastery of narrative craft, and an enduring commitment to using journalism as a force for positive change.
