UNILAG don, Akiyode-Afolabi named 2022 human rights defender by Soyinka centre

A lecturer in the Faculty of Law at the University of Lagos and human rights lawyer, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, has bagged the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism award.

Akiyode-Afolabi, who is also the founder of Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) and former Public Relations Officer of the Obafemi Awolowo University Students Union Government was named the ‘2022 Human Rights Defender Award’ and would be decorated at the 17th edition of the Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting presentation ceremony scheduled for Thursday December 8 in Lagos.

The Executive Director of WSCIJ, Motunrayo Alaka, conveyed the information to Akiyode-Afolabi in a letter dated November 23 2022.

The letter titled, ’17th Wole Soyinka Centre Award Nomination for Honorary Award’, reads partly, “Dear Dr Abiola Afolabi Akiyode. It is my pleasure to announce to you on behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Wole Soyinka Centre for investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) of the organisation’s decision to honour you with the 2022 Human Rights Defender Award, at the Seventeenth Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting presentation ceremony

“This year, the award event will hold as part of the Amplify in-depth Media Conference and Awards which will include the Amplify In-depth Media Conference and annual award. The conference, themed to-depth media and democratic governance, will hold on Thursday 8th and Friday 9th December from 10am to 2:30pm while the award event is scheduled for Friday 9th by 3pm at the NECA House, Hakeem Balogun Street, off Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos.

“The search committee for the award came up with an overwhelming recommendation of your many efforts to fight abuses of human rights in Nigeria, and in Africa; your consistency in defending human rights in general and the rights of girls and women in particular. The fight for equity in Nigeria has been a swim against the tide in many aspects and this award comes to honour your bravery and acknowledge the huge movement for change that you lead.”