Fisayo Soyombo – A Journalist Par Excellence

Blessing Enenaite Featured 17/06/2020

Fisayo Soyombo is a journalist par excellence. He is well known for his undercover reporting. His investigations have won him many awards over the years. This article is a personal note to the “dare-devil journalist”.

Journalism is one field I loved and adored although I preferred to study Businesses Administration at Delta State University, Abraka. I excelled academically (second class upper wasn’t too bad for a young graduate).

Despite my desire to study Business Administration as a student, my heart always yearned for reporting news. Hence, I built my zeal to be a writer. From just penning down short stories in a notebook as a teenager, I wrote for magazines in my school.

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Upon graduation, I had this burning desire to be a writer. I never relinquished the dream. Settling for jobs other than writing was only a means of survival. Not a way to kill the zeal.

Opportunities abound but channeling my efforts towards that path was another hurdle. Gradually, I got little writing jobs which boosted my ego and gave me a light to the path I wanted in life.

Calling myself a writer was what I yearned for beyond penning down stories on Facebook. Obviously, I wanted something more professional. I thought it would be a smooth ride but I have met many gridlocks along the way.

Turning my hobby into a job sounded cool. It made me live on fantasy land. I admired a lot of persons who were excelling on the path of their dreams, especially writers cum journalists.

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One of those persons whom I have come to admire greatly is Fisayo Soyombo. As he said some days ago, “Success will earn you two extreme relationships. Many will love you passionately, undeservedly. But many will also hate you fiercely; pure envy. To the first, embrace them with humility. And the latter, accept them with equanimity. Then chase your dreams with even more defiance.”

Success will earn you two extreme relationships. Many will love you passionately, undeservedly. But many will also hate you fiercely; pure envy.

To the first, embrace them with humility. And the latter, accept them with equanimity. Then chase your dreams with even more defiance.
— 'Fisayo Soyombo (@fisayosoyombo) June 13, 2020

Fisayo’s statement got to me with a smile. My smile made me realize how greatly I have come to admire this great journalist. This great journalist pursued his dreams despite not having a university degree in journalism.

He has ascribed his journalism education to what he learnt working under Jahman Anikulapo at The Guardian. From working as an intern, he later completed his Youth Service under the wing of, whom he considers a mentor.

Soyombo will always jump at any opportunity to appreciate Jahman Anikulapo for his kindness and mentorship at The Guardian. He regards those who have helped him to where he is today.

There is a need to say that Fisayo (I prefer to call him by his first name) is a very simple person. When I wanted a mentor as a writer, I searched but got them passively.

In early 2013, I reached out to Mr Jahman Anikulapo about my desire to be a writer. Perhaps, work in The Guardian, too. His response was simple. He has resigned from his position but he still encouraged me. Mr Anikulapo gave me the number of the Arts Editor at that time, Anote Ajeluorou.

I felt I had a set back considering the fact that I envisaged my dreams were getting some push-ups. Nevertheless, I still met with Mr Jahman, that same year when ASUU had its six month strike. I just had to be effective in my own way.

Meeting with Jahman Anikulapo at Freedom Park made me realize I have more work to do. I was 19 years old and in 300 level. I walked with my dreams and hoped to achieve them some day.

Seven years after, my passion for writing has not diminished. I have inked my pen on some sites and made some cash, however little, from doing what I love. Whenever I hear of Fisayo’s name on any award nomination, I scream his name like we were jointly nominated. That is how I have grown to admire this man who is making Nigeria proud.

From his days at The Cable, Fisayo proved that he has carved out a path for himself. He has always known what he wanted. All he needs is just the opportunity to fly. I dare say that Fisayo is a goal-getter. This he proved when he went into undercover reporting.

His three-part investigation that exposed the rot in the Nigerian prisons and the judiciary system in 2019 marveled me. He disguised himself with the pseudonym Ojo Olajumoke. After his cover was blown in the prison, Fisayo was tortured till help came his way.

His boss at The Cable, Simon Kolawole, praised the dare-devil investigative journalist. He recalled the process of Fisayo’s journey to the prisons for his investigations. He also wished him all the best as his three-part investigation on the rot in the prisons bagged him a One World Media awards nomination.

The ever enthusiastic Fisayo came out of the prison, stating that it was Ojo Olajumoke that was tortured. Not him, Fisayo. Quite hilarious, I must say.

I never knew Fisayo was that defiant and fearless. He endangered his life just to get what he wanted; first-hand information. His love for investigative journalism is never in doubt. He also worked with International Centre for Investigative Reporting and Sahara Reporters after he left The Cable in 2017.

Fisayo is the recipient of the African Media Initiative awards, Maritime Economy category (December 2016). He won the Nigerian Investigative Reporter of the Year, Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting (December 2016).

He has won the Hans Verploeg Newcomer of the Year category, Free Press Awards, Netherlands (October 2016). He is also a joint winner of the People Journalism Prize For Africa, 2019.

His recent nomination is for One World Media investigative journalist of the year 2020. Fisayo Soyombo is the only African among the ten journalists that made it to the longlist. I was excited when I saw that his name made it to the shortlist.

On June 18, the winners will be announced via an online ceremony. This is to wish Fisayo all the best. Until last week, I never knew of his struggles at the start of his journalism career. I was dazed when he talked about them.

I saw a man who has been through a lot in life. Yet, his fire keeps burning. I laughed at intervals as he gave me instances of his challenges when he started out his career. Fisayo is a beacon of hope. He is definitely not in the same position he was some years back.

I celebrate with Fisayo on his nomination for One World Media awards. For me, he is a worthy winner.