Japheth Omojuwa is a Nigerian blogger, author, public speaker, socio-economic, political commentator and social media expert. A columnist with The Punch newspaper, Leadership newspaper and Naij.com, Omojuwa's articles have appeared on CNN, ThisDay and other platforms across the continent. His works have been repeatedly translated into several languages, including various platforms for German, French, Portuguese and Greek audiences.
Career
He has been a regular guest at several conferences and symposiums. The leadership of the African Union invited Omojuwa in 2014 to be part of the Africa Re-imagination Creative Hub to fashion an agenda for Africa 2063 project. He participated as a panelist at a side event during the 2013 United Nations General Assembly in New York City where he spoke on the need to use data and facts as tools in activism and policy making. His pieces have appeared on several online and print mediums including Metropole Magazine, Opinion Nigeria, Sahara Reporters, BBC, The Financial Times, ThisDay and Naij.
Controversies
Omojuwa was involved in a protracted battle with Arik Air after losing an iPad while onboard one of its domestic flights in July 2012. This culminated in a breakdown of agreement between the two parties, with him claiming Arik was high-handed and careless while Arik maintained that the matter be settled as quietly as possible. Soon, himself and 26 others were banned from flying on Arik Air aircraft in September of that year, a decision that was later rescinded when, about twenty-four hours after the list was released, the airline's website was hacked, with rumours flying around that pro-Omojuwa techies were the perpetrators or that he was personally involved, an allegation he denied. In addition, a new iPad was purchased for Omojuwa. On 4 March 2017 South African border police authorities held Omojuwa alongside a Nigerian student for several hours before releasing after intervention from Nigerian authorities. In a tweet on his popular Twitter handle @Omojuwa he listed his crime to be ''South African border officials are holding me because of my Nigerian passport'. In February 2016, Omojuwa delved into an intense controversy with Ben Bruce on Twitter when the latter criticized President Buhari for his statement about Nigeria's being unwelcome in Britain because of crime.
Awards and nominations
In 2012, YNaija named him one of the most influential young Nigerians under 35 in Business, Fashion, Media, Entertainment, Technology and Politics, with writer Ifreke Inyang describing him in particular as "king of the click." Omojuwa was named by Credit Suisse Bulletin as one of the 50 Movers and Shakers of Africa in 2015. In June 2016, Omojuwa was named the Best Twitter Personality Of The Year in the annual African Bloggers Awards. The 2016 African Bloggers Awards were sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
In August 2016, global Cognac brand Rémy Martin unveiled Omojuwa as a brand influencer for its campaign in Nigeria in recognition of his status as a Public speaker, Political expert, Ideologist and Mastermind.
