Sam Omatseye
Born: June 15, 1961 Profession: Poet, Novelist, Playwright, Journalist Origin: Delta State, Nigeria Award: National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM), 2019
Education
- Government College, Ughelli (1973–1979) — West African School Certificate
- Federal School of Arts and Science, Victoria Island, Lagos — Higher school education
- University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) (1980–1985) — Bachelor of Arts in History
Career
- 1985–1986: NYSC — Taught English and literature at Aminu Kano Commercial College, Kano
- 1987–1988: Reporter-researcher at Newswatch magazine
- 1988: Staff writer at African Concord magazine
- 1989: Deputy political editor, Concord Newspapers
- 1990: USIS Fellow; worked at Kansas City Star
- 1993: Managing Editor, Abuja Bureau of Concord Newspapers
- 1995: Editorial page editor, ThisDay newspaper
- 1996: Deputy editor, Sunday Concord
- 1998–2006: Media & journalism lecturer, Metropolitan State College of Denver; guest lecturer at University of Colorado and University of Denver; technology journalist at RCR Wireless News
- 2006–Present: Chairman, Editorial Board, The Nation Newspapers; author of weekly column In Touch
- Frequent university speaker and media commentator
- Former TV host: Standpoint on TVC; current host: The Platform on TVC
Awards
- 1991: Nigerian Media Merit Award — Best Reporter
- 1992: Gordon N. Fisher Fellowship for Journalists in The Commonwealth (University of Toronto)
- 1997: Alfred Friendly Press Fellowship (Rocky Mountain News)
- Association of Black Journalists Award — Feature Writing
- Co-winner, Scripps Award Prize for Deadline Reporting
- Finalist, The Denver Press Club Prize
- NMMA: Best Reporter, 3× Columnist of the Year, 3× Finalist
- DAME: 4× Winner for Informed Commentary
- 2011: First to win NMMA and DAME in the same year
- 2015: Honorary Fellow, Nigerian Academy of Letters
- 2019: Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary International
- 2019: National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM)
Books
Essays
- Beating All Odds: Diaries and Essays on How Bola Tinubu Became President
Columns
- In Touch, Journalism as National Narrative
- A Chronicle Foretold
Novels
- Crocodile Girl
- My Name Is Okoro
Poems
- Mandela's Bones and Other Poems
- Dear Baby Ramatu
- Lion Wind and Other Poems
- Scented Offal
Plays
- The Siege (Written to mark Wole Soyinka’s 80th birthday)
Criticisms
Omatseye has drawn national attention and critique for provocative views expressed in his column In Touch. He has written on sensitive historical and cultural issues including:
- The legacy of Chief Obafemi Awolowo
- The role of Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu during the Nigerian Civil War
- The literary stature of Chinua Achebe, in response to Orji Uzor Kalu
- The Southern Kaduna crisis
References
(To be added)