Nasiru L. Abubakar, a renowned journalist in Nigeria, was honored with the 2016 Editor of the Year Award. This prestigious award, known as the Dele Giwa Prize for Editor of the Year, recognized Abubakar's dedication and exceptional leadership at Daily Trust, one of Nigeria's most influential national newspapers. The award highlighted his years of experience in Nigeria's demanding media landscape. Abubakar's career in journalism spans over two decades, during which he has held various positions, including stringer, reporter, and editor.
Abubakar's early life and education played a significant role in shaping his career. Born on September 4, 1977, in Kaduna North Local Government Area, Kaduna State, he began his formative years in northern Nigeria. He pursued formal studies in Mass Communication, earning a Higher National Diploma (HND) from Kaduna Polytechnic. Abubakar furthered his education at Bayero University, Kano (BUK), where he obtained a Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) in Mass Communication and another PGD in International Relations and Diplomacy.
Abubakar's professional journey in journalism began in August 2000 as a stringer for Weekly Trust. He gained early exposure at ABG Group and briefly interned with the Kaduna State Media Corporation (KSMC). By 2004, his dedication and talent led to his appointment as a permanent staff member at Daily Trust. Abubakar's role evolved over the years, and he assumed the position of Acting Editor for Aminiya, a Daily Trust sister publication, in 2012.
In 2014, Abubakar advanced to Deputy Editor at Daily Trust, a critical role that demanded significant input into news selection, content direction, and fact verification. His leadership skills and journalistic expertise prepared him for senior leadership within the organization. In January 2016, he was appointed the substantive Editor of Daily Trust, a position that placed him at the helm of one of Nigeria's most influential national newspapers.
As Editor of Daily Trust, Abubakar was responsible for coordinating a diverse team of reporters, sub-editors, and feature writers. He made critical decisions about news coverage, upheld the publication's rigorous journalistic standards, and guided its daily operations through complex news cycles. Abubakar's exceptional leadership and commitment to editorial excellence earned him the 2016 Dele Giwa Prize for Editor of the Year.
The 2016 Nigeria Media Merit Awards Recognition also honored Daily Trust newspaper with the Babatunde Jose Prize for Newspaper of the Year. This dual recognition solidified Abubakar's reputation within the Nigerian media community and served as external validation of his strategic vision and consistency in news production. In September 2019, Abubakar was elevated to Managing Editor at Media Trust, overseeing a wider array of editorial operations.
Abubakar's career trajectory continued to evolve, and in September 2020, he resigned from his Managing Editor position, marking the end of a long and impactful tenure with Media Trust. He assumed a new role as Editor-in-Chief at Dateline Nigeria, an online publication, on December 1, 2020. Abubakar's leadership at Dateline Nigeria focuses on reporting news with a public interest mandate, upholding verification standards in a fast-paced digital environment.
Key points
- Nasiru L. Abubakar received the 2016 Dele Giwa Prize for Editor of the Year.
- Abubakar has held various positions in journalism, including stringer, reporter, editor, and Managing Editor.
- He is currently the Editor-in-Chief at Dateline Nigeria, an online publication.
