•Quadri is News Editor, Chiejine-Odita Assistant Political Editor
IBRAHIM QUADRI
In a major move to reposition its publications, make greater impacts in promoting a better society through responsible journalism and improving offering to teeming readers, the management of Champion Newspapers Limited, CNL, has appointed Mr. Sopuruchi Onwuka as the Editor of Daily Champion and redeployed Mr. Ugo Amadi as Editor, Weekend Champion and Champion Online.
Also, Deputy News Editor and Lagos State Correspondent, Mr Ibrahim Quadri, has been elevated News Editor while Chinwe Chiejine-Odita, formerly News Editor, becomes the Assistant Political Editor.
Mr. Onwuka brings more than two decades of experience in business reporting, energy journalism, editorial management, and policy analysis.
His appointment, which took effect on April 15, marks a significant return for Onwuka, a seasoned journalist whose career has been closely linked with Champion Newspapers over the years.
Before his latest appointment, Onwuka served as Managing Editor of Oracle Newspapers Limited, where he built a reputation as a respected news manager and industry analyst.
Over the course of his journalism career, he has covered critical news beats in the Nigerian media industry, including oil and gas, power, aviation, maritime, commerce, judiciary, and informal markets. His work has also taken him beyond Nigeria, with coverage of international events and conferences across several continents.
He has participated in numerous and specialized training programmes sponsored by leading organizations in the energy and media sectors.
Widely regarded for his analytical depth and strategic approach to journalism, Onwuka has developed strong expertise in energy sector reporting, business and financial journalism, investigative reporting, newsroom leadership, and media enterprise development.
He has attended professional training programmes organized by the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Seplat Energy Plc, the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.
He also participated in media training programmes hosted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, the Initiative for Policy Dialogue and the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP.
Onwuka holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, where he graduated with Second Class Honours (Upper Division). He also obtained a Postgraduate Certificate in Media and Communications as well as another Post Graduate Certificate in Media Enterprise Leadership from Pan-Atlantic University.
Apart from Champion Newspapers and Oracle Newspapers, Mr Onwuka also had stints at Today’s Publishing Company Limited, publishers of The UNION, and Post Communications Limited, publishers of National Post.
He also served at the Government House Press Centre in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, during his National Youth Service Corps programme between 1999 and 2000.
He is a member of both the National Association of Energy Correspondents and the Nigeria Union of Journalists.
Meanwhile, Champion management has redeployed Mr Amadi from his previous role as Editor, Daily Champion to Weekend Editor.
Amadi, a seasoned journalist and energy analyst with over two decades of media experience, cut a niche in covering Nigeria’s Oil and Gas sector, ICT and brands. He will now oversee the weekend edition, Energy sector and the newspapers’ digital platforms.
Prior to the new role, Amadi also served as Business Editor and Head of the Energy Desk at Champion Newspapers. In that capacity he led coverage of energy, oil and gas, renewables, investments, government policy, and solid minerals.
His reporting has focused on breaking down complex policy decisions for investors and highlighting commercial opportunities across the energy value chain.
“His write-ups provide in-depth analysis, insightful opinions, informed projections, and data needed by operators, investors, and entrepreneurs in the industry for business decisions,” a statement from the company noted.
Amadi’s career began during his National Youth Service Corps with the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, in Ilorin, Kwara State in 2000, where he was assigned to cover the office of the Deputy Governor. He joined Champion Newspapers as an Advert/Media Specialist in 2005 and rose through the ranks.
He was assigned as Energy Reporter in 2013, becoming Head of the Energy, Oil & Gas Desk between 2014 and 2017; served as Business Editor and later appointed Editor, Daily Champion.
He holds a Master’s degree in Communications Studies from Lagos State University, a Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations and Strategic Studies from the same institution, and a Higher National Diploma in Mass Communication from the Institute of Management and Technology, IMT-Enugu.
He also holds a Certificate in Advanced Writing and Reporting Skills and a Master’s in Oil & Gas Reporting from the School of Media, Pan Atlantic University, Lagos.
Amadi has covered major local and international energy conferences and is a recognized voice in Nigeria’s energy reporting space. Beyond journalism, he has been in active leadership in the Association of Energy Correspondents of Nigeria (NAEC).
Amadi’s commitment to leadership and team management, energy industry expertise, networking and professional communication, analytical, critical thinking and performance excellence has contributed to growth and reputation of Champion Newspapers.
Mr Quadri obtained Ordinary National Diploma (OND) from Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State between 2000-2002 and got his Higher National Diploma (HND) in Mass Communication from the same institution between 2004 to 2006.
He had his Industrial Training at Eko FM/ Radio Lagos in 2001. Upon completion of his higher education, he went for his National Youth Service Scheme, (NYSC) at Islamic Centre, in Enohia, Afikpo North Local Government of Ebonyi State between 2007 to 2008.
He joined the Champion Newspapers in 2011 and has been covering both the Lagos State House and the State House of Assembly.
Quadri has attended several professional trainings and workshops which included, ‘Legislative Communication and Citizenship Engagement,’ ‘How to report and connect with the people,’ ‘Professional Ethics in Journalism and Political Reporting,’ ‘Feature Writing and Political Reporting,’ ‘Budget Planning and Tracking,’ among others.
In addition, the Assistant Political Editor, Mrs Chinwe Chiejine-Odita is a graduate of Dramatic Arts (2nd Class Honours) from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, (UNN) in 1987. She also has a post graduate Diploma in Journalism from Times Journalism Institute, Iganmu, Lagos (1991).
She started her career as a Capital Market and Finance Correspondent with Business Times, a business weekly journal in The Daily Times Stable in 1992. She worked there for about three years and left in 1995 to join a Public Relations Company.
She left Corporate and Financial Communications Ltd, to join a Marketing Communications Firm, Media Monitoring Nigeria Ltd where she worked in the Client Services Department.
In 2001, she veered off into banking and was in the Marketing and Business Development Unit of Intercontinental Bank/Access Bank until 2012.
She has authored several books and successfully published one ‘’Please Let Us Grow’’ in 2021.The book makes a passionate appeal to responsible adults to put an end to child abuse, child rape and molestation in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. It advocates very stiff penalties for offenders.
During her career, she had opportunities to attend several courses and trainings which further helped to develop her. These include Promoting Capital Market in Africa.
National Workshop on Financial Journalism: Effective Reporting of Nigeria’s Capital Market, organized by The Nigerian Stock Exchange in October, 1992; Trends and Development in the Media Advertising Scene; Emotional Intelligence in Relationship Management and Selling Skills and Relationship Management among others.
In 2023, in pursuit of her love for writing and editing, she joined Champion Newspapers Ltd as an editorial staff and served as News Editor until her recent redesignation as Assistant Political Editor of the Newspapers.
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