Laila Johnson-Salami
{{short description|Nigerian Journalist}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Laila Johnson-Salami
| birth_date = 3 December 1996
| birth_place = Ibadan, Nigeria
| nationality = Nigerian
| education = University of Westminster
| occupation = Journalist
| employer = Arise News
}}
{{Cite web |title=Changing the narrative one conversation at a time. |url=https://lailajs.com/ |access-date=2023-02-26 |website=lailajs.com |language=en}}Laila Johnson-Salami (born 3 December 1996) is a Nigerian journalist. She has worked with Spice TV, Nigeria Info FM, [https://wazobiamax.ng Wazobia Max TV] and is now a Correspondent at Arise News. In 2022, she picked up inaugural UNDP/UN Women International Women’s Day Award for Media and Entertainment category{{Cite web |title=Arise TV’s Laila Johnson-Salami Wins Int’l Award – THISDAYLIVE |url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2022/03/06/arise-tvs-laila-johnson-salami-wins-intl-award/ |access-date=2022-07-22 |website=www.thisdaylive.com}} and was nominated for the 2022 Gatefield People’s Journalist for Africa Award.{{Cite web |date=2022-02-06 |title=Gatefield’s People Journalism Prize for Africa 2021 Nominees |url=http://gatefield.co/gatefields-people-journalism-prize-for-africa-2021-nominees/ |access-date=2022-07-22 |website=Gatefield |language=en-US}} She is known for her work in promoting gender equality, youth empowerment, climate action and social inclusion. She is a co-founder of We Rise Initiative, a nonprofit organization focused on women emancipation and a founding member of Feminist Coalition.{{Cite web |title=Nigeria's Women Are a Powerful Collective. How Are They Changing History? |url=https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/nigerian-women-history-change-feminist-coalition/ |access-date=2022-07-22 |website=Global Citizen |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Maclean |first=Ruth |date=2021-03-12 |title=In Nigeria, ‘Feminist’ Was a Common Insult. Then Came the Feminist Coalition. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/12/world/africa/nigeria-feminist-coalition.html |access-date=2021-12-01 |issn=0362-4331}}
Early life and career
Laila was born in Ibadan, Nigeria to Abayomi Salami (father) and Diana Yeside Johnson (mother).{{Cite web |date=2019-05-18 |title=LAILA JOHNSON SALAMI: My mum was the first feminist I ever knew |url=https://thenationonlineng.net/laila-johnson-salami-my-mum-was-the-first-feminist-i-ever-knew/ |access-date=2021-12-01 |website=The Nation Newspaper |language=en-US}} Her grandfather, Lekan Salami was a chief, businessman, sports administrator and politician and her aunty, Caroline Lee Johnson is a British actress.{{Cite web |last=Coker |first=Mide |date=2018-09-17 |title=Laila! Laila! Laila! – On Politics, Media and the Future of Nigeria |url=https://culturecustodian.com/laila-johnson-salami-story/ |access-date=2021-12-01 |website=The Culture Custodian (Est. 2014.) |language=en-US}} Laila was raised in Nigeria and the UK where she received education and earned a bachelor’s degree in Politics and International Relations at the University of Westminster.{{Cite web |date=2020-09-05 |title=‘A woman alone has power but collectively women have an impact’ |url=https://businessday.ng/bd-weekender/article/a-woman-alone-has-power-but-collectively-women-have-an-impact/ |access-date=2021-12-01 |website=Businessday NG |language=en-US}}
In 2016, she co-founded We Rise Initiative, an NGO focused on liberating women.{{Cite web |title=Rising against Sexual Violence – THISDAYLIVE |url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/12/16/rising-against-sexual-violence/ |access-date=2022-07-22 |website=www.thisdaylive.com}} She returned to Nigeria from the UK in 2017. In 2018, Laila co-hosted a first-of-its-kind show, On the Couch with Falz and Laila where they interviewed presidential aspirants for the 2019 elections.{{Cite web |date=2018-08-20 |title=Watch Presidential aspirant Mr Olasubomi Okeowo Controversial Interview With Falz And Leila |url=https://guardian.ng/life/update-presidential-aspirant-mr-olasubomi-okeowo-pulls-out-after-controversial-interview-with-falz-and-leila/ |access-date=2022-07-22 |website=The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |title=Presidential aspirant wey yab Nigerians don withdraw |work=BBC News Pidgin |url=https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-45244534 |access-date=2022-07-22}}{{Cite web |last=AfricanGlitz |title=Yele Sowore, Nigeria 2019 Presidential Aspirant sits “On the Couch with Falz & Laila” to discuss Nigeria |url=https://africanglitz.com/2018/09/24/yele-sowore-nigeria-2019-presidential-aspirant-sits-%e2%80%9con-the-couch-with-falz-laila%e2%80%9d-to-discuss-nigeria/ |access-date=2022-07-22 |language=en-GB}} In May 2019, Laila joined Arise News as a co-host of the channel's prime time programme -The Morning Show. She went on to co-host the afternoon programme News Day. Since 2021, Laila has worked as a field correspondent at Arise News reporting on the environment, Healthcare and international affairs. In 2021, Laila produced and presented a wildlife conservation series on Arise News in partnership with international NGO WildAid called Go Wild – a pioneer wildlife series in Nigerian media.{{Cite web |title=How Nigerian Laila Johnson-Salami has built a media career on what matters – About Her Culture |url=https://aboutherculture.com/how-nigerian-lalia-johnson-salami-has-built-a-media-career-that-matters/ |access-date=2022-07-22 |language=en-US}} In 2022, the UNDP/UN Women International Women’s Day Award committee described her as “A rising star in media and journalism who is changing the narrative around gender equality, youth empowerment, climate action and social inclusion, one conversation at a time.”
She is a Founding Member of the Feminist Coalition, an organisation championing equality for Nigerian women.
Awards
- 2022 UNDP/UN Women International Women’s Day Award for Media and Entertainment{{Cite news |date=March 7, 2022 |title=ARISE TV’s Johnson-Salami Defeats Mo Abudu, Others to Win International Women’s Day Award |url=https://www.arise.tv/arise-tvs-johnson-salami-defeats-mo-abudu-others-to-win-international-womens-day-award/ |access-date=July 22, 2022}}
- 2022 Gatefield People’s Journalist for Africa Award (Nominee){{Cite news |last=Ugwu |first=Chidi |date=6 February 2022 |title=Gatefield Unveils 2021 Nominees People Journalism Prize For Africa |work=Independent |url=https://independent.ng/gatefield-unveils-2021-nominees-people-journalism-prize-for-africa/ |access-date=22 July 2022}}
- 2021 Future Awards Prize for Journalism (Nominee){{Cite web |date=2022-02-06 |title=Seven journalists nominated for Future Awards Africa |url=https://mediacareerng.org/2022/02/06/seven-journalists-nominated-for-future-awards-africa/ |access-date=2022-07-22 |website=Media Career Services |language=en-US}}
References
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Category:Alumni of the University of Westminster