“Concordia gave me a leg up from the start. I compiled a student portfolio and started a bilingual publication, Baobab Magazine, focused on the African diaspora in Montreal, and got a globally competitive degree that’s highly respected.”
As Bloomberg’s West Africa bureau chief, Nigerian journalist Yinka Ibukun covers 20 countries from her base in the Ghanaian capital of Accra, reporting on markets, commodities, governments, social issues and the fallout from COVID-19.
Bloomberg promoted the multilingual Ibukun after she moved from Lagos to Accra, thrusting the veteran writer into a position of heightened responsibility.
The post allows Ibukun to do what she does best: tell stories that need to be told. “I want to amplify stories from my part of the world,” she says, “bringing to global attention the struggles and successes, so everyone can see people doing great work or facing incredible challenges.”
Proudest moment
“I submitted a group of feminist activists for Bloomberg’s 50 Most Influential People in 2020. Their coalition did amazing work in the movement against police brutality in Nigeria (#EndSars). They made the list and that made me proud.”
Professional challenges
“Covering cases of injustice toward people living in poverty. For example, at a Lagos slum demolished at dawn, I came across a woman surrounded by wreckage from the razed shacks. She had faced down a bulldozer to save a freezer so she could keep selling her drinks. I described her encounter at the beginning of a feature on demolitions. It’s being powerless in the immediate moment, yet producing stories you hope will touch policy-makers to be kinder.”
The Concordia factor
“Concordia gave me a leg up from the start. I compiled a student portfolio and started a bilingual publication, Baobab Magazine, focused on the African diaspora in Montreal, and got a globally competitive degree that’s highly respected.”
Valued instructor
“Jack Branswell, for the opportunity he gave me. I chose to cover Africa as a beat for the Reporting 101 class. Covering Africa in Montreal didn’t seem practical, but he didn’t dismiss my idea, he supported me.”
Words of wisdom
“Think about what you want so when the opportunity arises, you recognize it. And don’t be afraid to ask for the tools and opportunities to get there.”