Emmanuel Ukudolo l Friday, September 29, 2017
IKEJA, Lagos, Nigeria – For the first time in history, the Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ) will be led by a PhD holder, courtesy, Mr. Akinreti Olalere Qasim who was tonight elected chairman of NUJ, Lagos State, the most vibrant chapter in NUJ.
Akinreti PhD, an Assistant Director in Voice of Nigeria(288 votes), defeated his rival, Mr. Adeleye Ajayi, of News Agency of Nigeria, NAN(272 votes). Abiola Beckley of African Independent Television, AIT(282 votes) however defeated Innocent Anaba of Vanguard Newspaper(275 votes) to emerge as Vice Chairman. Candidates for other positions were returned unopposed.
Akinreti Olalere Qasim was born 10th October, 1967. He obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 1979 from the Seventh Day Adventist Primary School, Ibadan. By 1985, he got his West African School Certificate , WASC from Loyola College. Two years later, in 1987, he got the Higher School Certificate(HSC) from Oduduwa College Ile ife.
He was later admitted into University of Ibadan and graduated with a B.ED Special Education (Communication and Language Arts) in 1991.
Two years later, he was admitted into Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos and came out with a Post Graduate Degree, PGD Journalism in 1993. At a time when virtually nothing is known about online journalism in Nigeria, he saw the future and proceeded to Nottingham Trent University Nottingham,UK and came out MA Online Journalism in 2003 and became the first Nigerian at home to have a degree in that field.
His desire for knowledge knew no bounds. Upon his return to Nigeria, he proceeded to Babcock University, Ilishan Remo, Ogun State, where he obtained Mphil Mass Communication (Broadcasting) in 2015. He rounded up his educational pursuit with a PhD from thesame university in 2017.
A very lively fellow, humble to the core, Akinreti Olalere Quasim has myriads of professional qualifications. They include: Certificate Challenges of 21 st Century Journalism(2008); Certificate Digital Media Production , Rhodes University South Africa, 2008; Certificate Human Rights Reporting(2007) ; Certificate Media leadership Academy , US (2006); Certificate Train The Trainers Course (Media), Poynter Institute of Media Studies, Florida ,US(2006);Certificate World Bank Institute (Media Leadership Training)(2006);Certificate Internet Broadcasters Course, Caldecott /Singapore Media Center , Singapore(2000); Certificate Effective Public Relations (Chattered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (1995) ;Certificate Effective News Writing(1994) and Certificate Computer Appreciation and Desktop publishing , BM Computer School ,Lagos(1994).
Major Career Milestones
He was Promoted Assistant Director News,Voice Of Nigeria(2015);Media Consultant To Ford Foundation on Public Presentation of a film on Female Reproductive Health(2015); Co – Arthur a book on The Enduring legacies of Alhaji Kayode Jakande(2014);Media Consultant Communication For Change, CFC,2nd Broadcasters Forum on Cassava Revolution in Nigeria on behalf of The Dutch Government – (DADCO & IFDC)(2014);Adjunct Lecturer for ( Advance Writing Skills ) Pan Atlantic University , Lagos(2012); Adjunct lecturer of New Media @ Lagos state University School of Communication ,Lagos(2012);Co- Author a book on a Handbook Online Journalism/Multimedia Journalism For African Journalists(2011) ;Media Advisor Community Life Project, (An NGO on Community related issues ) (2011);Media Consultant UNDP Governance Democracy Development project 1 (2011 General Election Media Project)(2011);Co – Authored Online Journalism and Multimedia Handbook for African Journalists(2011); Nigeria Community Radio Coalition (2011);Highway Africa Media Team at Rhodes University South Africa (2010); Till Date – Adjunct lecturer Nigerian Institute of Journalism , Lagos(2009); External Examiner Mass Communication Lagos state Polytechnic , Lagos(2009);Media Team Oxfam& Panos Institute West Africa to the 1st Africa – EU Conference in Portugal(2008);Recipient Davis Foster Africa Journalists Award(2006); Poynter Media Fellowship Award(2006);Nigerian Online Journalism First Award , Nottingham Newspaper,U.K.(2003);Commonwealth Broadcasting Association Fellowship Award , CBA Training Award , Singapore(2000).
Awards
Akinreti Olalere Qasim has won numerous awards. In 2006, he won Davis Foster African Journalists Award. He also won the Poynter Institute Of Media Studies Fellowship thesame year. In 2005, he received Award of Excellence On Online Media Tools from Lagos state polytechnic, followed by U.K. Media Training Award in 2003. Married, Akinreti Olalere Quasim also got the NYSC Commendation Award from Sokoto State Government in 1991.
