Journalist and Former Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity to the President, Office of the Vice President, Laolu Akande, OON; and Activist and Fiery Advocate for Good Governance, Aisha Yesufu, have been named as panelists at the 5th edition of the Frontier Discourse Annual Public Lecture Series and Awards holding in Abuja.
The lecture which has as its theme – “Politics of Convergence and Collisions; Navigating Power Struggles in Shaping Democracy” is promising to be a personality studded lecture and awards.
Organised annually by Pacesetter Frontier Magazine, Frontier Discourse serves as a platform to bridge the communication gap between African leaders and citizens, promote dialogue between the public and private sectors, review key policy issues, and recognize individuals driving Africa’s progress.
Recall that Prof. Udenta O. Udenta, Founding National Secretary of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) & Director General of the African Writers Institute, Abuja; and Dr. Ahmad Sajoh, Former Commissioner for Information, Adamawa State & Executive Director, FutureNow Initiative, will both speak at the lecture.
The event will begin with a red carpet at 10:30AM, followed by the main session from 11:30AM to 4PM, and will be streamed live across social media platforms.
Event partners include Human Development Center, Horizontal City Property Developers, LEAD Network Africa, One Stewart Ventures, AnchorNews Media and Otu Oka Iwu.
Seat reservations can be made here
About Laolu Akande
Laolu Akande is a highly accomplished communication expert with over 30 years of experience in journalism, media, and public relations. As a tested official spokesperson with extensive experience managing high-profile communication projects, Akande has built a reputation for clarity, confidence, and successful outcomes.
He has worked with and for international organisations, and government agencies, navigating complex communication environments and delivering key messages with precision and efficiency.
His expertise in crisis communication has yielded successful resolutions to sensitive issues and mitigated reputational risks.
Laolu Akande, a holder of the Nigerian national honours-Officer of the Order of the Niger, OON is currently the Editor in Chief of Empowered Newswire, an international news agency based in New York USA.
He had recently between 2015 and 2023 served as Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity to the President, Office of the Vice President in Abuja, Nigeria.
Previously, Akande was one of the longest serving African correspondents at the United Nations, and the only Nigerian journalist so far to have interviewed a sitting American President in the White House when he interviewed former President George W. Bush in 2003.
As an international journalist, Akande has covered the White House and the United Nations for several years.
He has also exclusively interviewed American Folk Hero, Colin L. Powell and former American President, Donald Trump, as well as several African leaders and Presidents.
Akande started his journalism career as a Reporter in 1989 writing for The Guardian titles in Nigeria and later moved over to the founding team of The News Magazine in 1993, where he became that magazine’s Senior Writer.
In 1995 he joined Nigerian Tribune first as Special Projects Editor and later became the Editor of Tribune on Saturday in 1997, before he relocated to the US in 1998.
His wide working experience includes a stint as a part time lecturer at the State University of New York Stonybrook University.
About Aisha Yesufu
Aisha Yesufu is an Active Nigerian Citizen and entrepreneur who tirelessly advocates for good governance, accountability, and transparency. With unwavering dedication, she champions the cause of justice and equity, unapologetically speaking out against injustices and promoting civic engagement.
She is a Co-convener of the #BringBackOurGirls movement, which brought global attention to the 2014 abduction of 276 schoolgirls by Boko Haram in Chibok, Nigeria
Aisha Yesufu played a key role in the 2020 #EndSars protests against police brutality, using her voice to push for police reforms and government accountability, earning her the nickname “Statue of Liberty” for her courageous stance
She was named one of BBC 100 Women 2020 a list of 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world for 2020.
Aisha Yesufu is a recipient of the prestigious Reagan Fascell Fellowship and Draper Hills Fellowship. Through her activism, entrepreneurship, and public speaking engagements, Aisha Yesufu continues to inspire and influence positive change in Nigeria and beyond.