MTN MIP 2023: Profile On The Seven Female Fellows

The second edition of the MTN Media Innovation Programme (MTN MIP 2) officially kicked off in May 2023 with the selected twenty fellows across the print, broadcast, and online spectrums.

Launched in 2022, the six-month media fellowship fully funded by MTN and done in partnership with the School of Communications, Pan Atlantic University is aimed at equipping the fellows with the skills and knowledge needed as both media practitioners and entrepreneurs.

Over 2000 applications were received for the 2023 edition with seven women making up the twenty selected fellows. Among the seven women is FabWoman founder, Anu Odubanjo.

In this post, we profile the seven outstanding women who made the 2023 cohort.

1. Amaka Okoye

Amaka Okoye is a seasoned and very determined journalist who has practiced in and outside of Nigeria. She has degrees in both Journalism and Maritime Administration and Management. She is currently a West Africa Correspondent for German Broadcaster, Deutsche Welle (DW). She has covered various beats on women and children, women’s rights and justice, illegal migration, sex trafficking, human angle reports, criminal justice, and documentaries on prisoners in Nigeria’s biggest prisons- Kirirkiri maximum and medium correctional centers.

Recently, she covered Conflict and Crisis extensively becoming one of the very few female journalists in Nigeria to have covered conflicts from the front lines and travelled through Nigeria’s hostile regions. She has covered most of the mass abductions by bandits up North, and being on ground in all of each coverage. She has traveled to the most volatile regions of the crisis regions; including returning to Chibok and Ngarranam recently to document first-hand experiences of the returned Chibok Girls, as well as parents still waiting for the return of their daughters. She also looked into the resettling of over 500 people displaced by the violent extremism and activities of the Boko Haram terrorists.

Amaka has covered humanitarian crises including the reality of internally displaced persons as a result of Boko Haram insurgency now scattered in several camps and has travelled to 29 states out of the 36 states in the country with the hope of traveling to all the states pursuing the most uncommon and untold stories. Amaka is a Fellow of the Prestigious Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism and a Fellow of the Young Africa Media Fellowship. She is also an Alumnus of the Thomson Reuters Foundation and was recently named among the Most Powerful Women In Journalism in Nigeria.

2. Anuoluwapo Odubanjo

Anuoluwapo Odubanjo is a writer, content strategist, and digital media professional. She started her career at Iconway Media in 2013 as a content writer, where she grew to become the managing editor in charge of three online platforms across the news, entertainment, and pop culture verticals.

She is currently building FabWoman, a digital media lifestyle website that leverages technology to educate, inform, and tell the stories of women. In her capacity as founder and lead strategist, she supports the growth of the platform as a leading destination for female-centric content, not just in Nigeria but across the world. She has also worked with brands and agencies across the FMCG, Finance, Media, Tech, and Non-profit industries to help them reach their campaign objectives and bring their branded content to life.

In 2019, she was headhunted by Opera News as a Content Specialist for their lifestyle category when they officially launched operations in Nigeria. She also worked briefly at Pulse Nigeria and at United People Global, a Switzerland-based non-profit organization, between 2021 and 2022. She was listed as one of the ‘Nine Top Women of Impact’ by Tawer Africa, commemorating International Women’s Day in March 2023.

Anuoluwapo is a graduate of International Relations from Obafemi Awolowo University and holds a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Lagos. With a knack for personal development, she has taken several certifications and has attended various workshops hosted by Google, British Council, Access Bank, Africa Check, and Ripples Nigeria.

She applied for the MTN Media Innovation Programme to sharpen her skills in media, communications, and technology, which will, in turn, make her more valuable in the digital industry.

3. Chinenye Anuforo

Chinenye Anuforo is a journalist with over 10 years of experience who is very versed in business reporting and economy, technology, gadgets reviews, telecoms as well as business policy reviews, among others.

She is currently, the ICT Editor, The Sun Publishing Limited publishers of Daily Sun, Saturday Sun, Sunday Sun, and Sporting Sun. Her passion for technology has led to various publications on emerging technologies, telecoms, and other ICT-related issues which were published in print and on her organisation’s website.

Prior to that, Chinenye was the Capital Market Correspondent of the same Newspaper for more than five years. She was also a contributor to TheEconomy Magazine, Nigeria’s most influential and respected monthly magazine, published by Economic Publications Limited a subsidiary of D.E.R Limited publisher of The African Economy, Banking & Finance magazines and Annual Meetings Daily.

She was an alumnus of Lagos Business School under the Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa, and currently running a programme ( MTN Nigeria’s Media Innovation Programme MTN-MIP2) in School of Media and Communications, Pan-Atlantic University Lagos.

She obtained HND (Mass Communication) from the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State in 2008. And was also trained in Capital Market reporting by the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) Academy, Nigeria. While in school, Chinenye was the Sub-editor of her Department’s bi-Monthly Newspaper titled The Dawn. She has professional certifications in business and financial reporting.
She has received several professional and capacity trainings on ICT organized by reputable companies like Google, Bloomberg, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), etc.
Chinenye is a native of Nnewi North, in Anambra State. She is married with four beautiful children.

4. Elizabeth Musa

Elizabeth Musa is a broadcast journalist who has extensive working experience managing radio and television projects.

She has masterfully served as a television producer and presenter for over five years, producing “Breakfast Central “, the first pan-African variety morning show which focuses on topical issues from across the African continent.

Apart from her impressive work producing on News Central Television’s prime-time show, Elizabeth hosts live events and television shows, especially the ones that are set out to showcase Africa in a positive light. Her goal is always to exert far-reaching effect in shaping culture.

She has a background in insurance, having worked for years as a Direct Sales Manager in one of the world’s leading insurance companies where she carted away recognition for being a diamond performer. In that world, Elizabeth is known for her dedication and proven results.

She has a track-record of working on high-impact projects with a focus on pushing the African narrative and influencing culture. Over the years Elizabeth has cultivated a broad range of competencies that can seamlessly merge into other industries.

Elizabeth Musa is also a fellow of the MTN Media Innovation Program at the School of Media and Communications at the Pan Atlantic University. This is a capacity-building program created to equip journalists with the needed skills to innovate and create in a fast changing digital ecosystem.

Behind the scenes or in front of the cameras, Elizabeth sees the world as her oyster and the media as an outlet.

5. Ezinne Alozie

Ezinne Glory Alozie holds a Bachelors degree in Library and Information Science, from Abia State University, Uturu.

She has 6 years of experience as a News Producer, Caster, and Reporter at Darling 107.3 FM, Owerri, Imo State. As a reporter, Ezinne has beats she covers which include; Ministry of Women Affairs Imo State; Ministry of Health Imo State; Imo State Police Command and NURTW Imo Chapter. She has also done couple of stories both on human angle and Social Justice, among others.

She has attended series of training with the BBC Media Action in 2021; did fact-checking and detecting misinformation (WABMA) in 2022, participated in the EU-SDGN project II/IMS-led Capacity Building on Digital/Multimedia Storytelling for Women Journalists with Institute for Media and Society (IMS) in 2023; virtual training on holistic security for Nigerian Journalists with Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) in 2023; and MTN Media Innovation Programme 2 (MIP-2) in 2023.

Ezinne is a team player, open and willing to learn at every given time. She uses her spare time to watch movies, cook and listen to good music.

6. Oluwaseun Efunnuga

Oluwaseun Efunnuga is a digital communication and marketing professional with a background in journalism as she studied Mass Communication at the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos.

Her passion for communications can be traced to her days as a student when she picked an interest in news writing and later became one of the best student News writers and Editor for the departmental newspaper and magazine.

She has been on the media and communications path since 2015 when she interned at the Nigerian Television Authority, Lagos before working as a Digital Content Writer at a digital agency.

Later on, she worked as a Public Relations Executive where she managed film and music brands handling their PR strategy, publicity, social media management, and media relations.

Driven by her desire for growth and globally relevant skills, Oluwaseun participated in the Digital Marketing Bootcamp by Digify Africa and leveraged her experience in content writing to become a Digital Marketing Specialist with interest in strategy, content marketing, and marketing analytics.

She currently works with a media company, Pulse Nigeria, as a Marketing and Content Associate where she supports the growth of the various media channels.

When Oluwaseun is not working, she helps professionals to achieve their career goals through CV writing, LinkedIn profile optimization, and career support services.

She is passionate about helping professionals get the best jobs and become more confident about their skills.

Oluwaseun doesn’t get tired of talking about how education and digital skills are the major requirements to reduce poverty in Nigeria.

She applied for the Media Innovation Programme to gain a better understanding of the media space and how to leverage technology in the industry.

7. Victory Wilson

Victory Wilson is a multi-award winning TV/Radio Host, Professional Voice Over Artist, Event Compere, Red Carpet Host, and Brand Influencer. She is a first-class graduate of Psychology, a Master’s degree holder in Industrial Relations and Personnel Management with a honed passion for media through training and various experiences from over 10,000 hours on live television/radio and Event Compere for High Profile events in Nigeria.

She is a certified media personality of the Pan Atlantic University School of Media and Communications and the Pro Emcees Academy, and her experience from years of hosting allows her to blend beautifully with kids and adults alike and produce quality shows.

Currently a Newscaster, Producer and Tv Host with Silverbird Television, the Broadcast Journalist uses media to inform, educate and entertain her viewers and listeners in a unique way that keeps them glued.

Her Tv/Radio shows and works in the media have won her six awards and numerous notable recognitions including, the 2023 Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) TV Presenter of the Year award, 2021 Scream Women Awards TV Presenter of the Year, 2022 & 2019 SON Media Personality of the Year, the Intellect Awards Presenter of the Year. Her Kids show, The Amazing Kids Show has won the 2021 Best Nigerian Kids Show. She is also listed in the Scream Awards 2023 Top 50 Young Persons in Madia, Nigeria’s top 20 OAPs by Radio Media Nigeria, and featured on Tush Magazine in 2022 as a Top Micro-Influencer and is currently one of the high-in-demand event comperés and brand strategists.

As a professional Event Comperé, Victory Wilson has hosted events for top international brands and award ceremonies, most recently, 2023 LAGOS STATE GOVERNORSHIP DEBATE, 2022 MBGN PAGEANT, THE GERMAN AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA’S LAUNCH OF GIESECKE DEVRIENT LAGOS OFFICE, 2022 WORLD OF GLAMOUR 3 DAYS GLOBAL EXHIBITION, 2023 SILVERBIRD MAN OF THE YEAR AWARDS, FOTON NIGERIA, THE BEATZ AWARDS, 25 UNDER 25 AWARDS, PROJECT NEXT MODEL AFRICA REALITY TV SHOW, HER EXCELLENCY CHIEF
MRS. BETTY ANYAWU AKEREDOLU, THE FIRST LADY OF ONDO STATE’S CORONATION AS ADA OWERE 1, to mention a few.

Victory Wilson as a professional Voiceover Artist and Brand Influencer has delivered projects for brands including Bournvita, Koolbox France, Cway Beverages, Jobberman, Silverbird Cinemas, and The Green October Event as a “Voice of god” to mention a few; her excellent delivery keeps them coming back for more.

As a Broadcast Journalist, She got featured in Burna Boy’s Grammy Award Winning track, “Way Too Big” off the album “Twice As Tall” She has also starred in famous TV series, including, NDANI TV’s “RUMOUR HAS IT Season 3”; “THE SMART MONEY WOMAN SERIES”.

Victory Wilson is a professional bubbly, spontaneous, and vivacious media personality that brightens every room she enters with her contagious happiness. She is fondly called THE STREET QUEEN with a goal to impact lives positively through media. While she lives to fulfill this goal, she believes that “Everyone deserves the best and should NEVER settle for less”.