DevReporting, a development-focused media and cinematic platform, has unveiled the Development Reporting Africa Foundation (DRAF), its non-profit arm, and announced the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Folasade Ogunsola, a professor of medical microbiology, as the chair of its advisory board.

Samson Ademola, currently serving as DevReporting’s Project Manager and Associate Editor, has been appointed DRAF’s pioneer Executive Director.

Unveilling

The foundation was unveiled on Thursday, 29 October, at the University of Lagos, as part of a programme that also featured the premiere of “LG’s Billion in the Dark,” DevReporting’s investigative documentary examining the prolonged local government leadership crisis in Osun State, and a fundraising initiative to support the Foundation’s activities.

The event featured a keynote address by human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, and was chaired by veteran journalist and Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Dapo Olorunyomi.

DRAF is the nonprofit arm of Development Reporting Services Limited, publishers of DevReporting. It was established to strengthen development journalism, advance research, promote public accountability and foster partnerships that contribute to sustainable development across Africa.

The Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Mojeed Alabi, Team Lead and Editor-in-Chief of DevReporting.

Six-member advisory board

Apart from Mrs Ogunsola, five other distinguished Nigerians have been appointed to the Foundation’s advisory board. The board will be co-chaired by Olanrewaju Fagbohun, SAN, a Professor of Environmental Law, and former Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University.

Other members of the Advisory Board are Blessing Ahmed, Managing Partner of Blue Diamond Law Firm; Oluwole Alabi, an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist; Theophilus Abbah, Director of Daily Trust Foundation; and Mr Bolaji Abimbola, Managing Director of Integrated Indigo Limited.

The Advisory Board brings together expertise spanning academia, law, healthcare, journalism, strategic communication and development. Its members will provide strategic guidance and support the Foundation’s institutional development and partnerships.

Ademola appointed Executive Director

Mr Ademola brings over a decade of experience in programme management, research, journalism and media capacity development, including managing multimillion-dollar donor-funded initiatives across Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa.

He previously spent about eight years at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), where he managed programmes supported by the MacArthur Foundation, Gates Foundation and Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), including grantmaking to more than 25 media organisations.

Reacting to his appointment, Mr Ademola expressed appreciation to the Board of Directors.

“I am grateful for the confidence reposed in me to lead the Foundation. I accept this responsibility with humility, a strong sense of purpose and a commitment to building an institution that makes meaningful contributions to development journalism and sustainable development across Africa. I look forward to working with our Board, advisers, partners and other stakeholders to translate the Foundation’s vision into programmes that deliver measurable impact,” he said.

Mr Ademola, who served as Programme Manager and Associate Editor at DevReporting until his appointment, outlined the Foundation’s proposed programmes, including youth civic engagement through campus documentary screenings, training, mentorship and youth-led accountability projects across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

He explained that the fundraising initiative would help mobilise resources to support these programmes and other activities aimed at strengthening public-interest journalism and citizen participation in governance.

Foundation seeks partnerships

Building on DevReporting’s experience in investigative journalism, media capacity development and collaborative reporting projects, DRAF aims to strengthen the role of evidence-based journalism in promoting accountability and improving development outcomes.

The Foundation welcomes partnerships and support from institutions and individuals committed to public-interest journalism and sustainable development.

Full profiles of its leadership and Advisory Board members are available at https://thedraf.org/who-we-are/.

About Development Reporting Africa Foundation (DRAF)

Development Reporting Africa Foundation is a Lagos-headquartered nonprofit committed to advancing sustainable development across Africa through development journalism, research, capacity development, strategic communication, humanitarian action and institutional partnerships.