Stephanie Busari

Stephanie Busari

Stephanie Busari (born 1977) is a Nigerian journalist recognized for exclusively obtaining the "proof of life" video of the missing Chibok schoolgirls, a pivotal moment in the Bring Back Our Girls campaign.
Her work contributed to negotiations with Boko Haram that led to the release of over 100 kidnapped schoolgirls.

Education

• Studied French and Public Media at Trinity and All Saints College, Leeds.
• Attended University of Rennes, France, for an Advanced Diploma Program.

Career

• Began at the now-defunct New Nation, a London-based newspaper.
• Worked at the Daily Mirror.
• Freelance journalist at BBC News.
• Joined CNN in 2008.
• Relocated to Lagos, Nigeria, in 2016 to lead CNN’s first digital and multi-platform bureau.
• Awards for CNN coverage of the missing Nigerian schoolgirls:
  • 2015 Peabody Award (team award).
  • 2017 Hollywood Gracie Award.
  • Outstanding Woman in the Media Award.
• Delivered a 2017 TED Talk: How Fake News Does Real Harm, with over 1 million views and translations into 37+ languages.

Awards & Recognition

• 2016 – Divas of Colour International Women’s Awards (Global Leadership).
• 2017 – Included in the inaugural Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) global list and inducted into the Hall of Fame.
• 2022 – African Woman of the Year, Pop Culture Africa Awards, for inspiring global achievements by African women.