Education & Certifications
Motunrayo Alaka earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria, in 2003. She holds a Master of Arts (MA) in Diplomacy and Strategic Studies from the University of Lagos, which she completed between 2011 and 2013. Additionally, she is a two-time Stanford fellow, having been selected for the Stanford Draper Hills Fellowship at the Centre on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law in 2018, and later for the John S. Knight Journalism Fellowship in 2019–2020, focusing on communication, journalism, and related programmes.
Career & Expertise
Motunrayo Alaka is an accomplished professional with nearly two decades of experience in journalism, media innovation, investigative reporting, communications, and civil society engagement. She is highly regarded for her expertise in leading large-scale investigative projects and capacity-building initiatives. Her strategic focus on creating impactful programmes, particularly those addressing gender inclusion, education, and governance, has made her a notable advocate for media sustainability and social change. Alaka is also deeply committed to mentoring journalists and fostering cross-sector collaborations that advance transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s media landscape.
In her career, Alaka has served as the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) since 2019. Under her leadership, the organisation has grown significantly, with key programmes such as the Report Women! initiative, which has trained over 537 female journalists and produced 86 fellows. Prior to this, she spent a decade as the Centre Coordinator at WSCIJ, where she managed the organisation’s operations and spearheaded investigative reporting projects on education, women’s rights, and the oil and gas sector. Alaka also leads the Collaborative Media Engagement for Development, Inclusivity, and Accountability (CMEDIA) project, which involves 26 partner organisations, and coordinates the Media and Journalism (MAJ) cohort under the MacArthur Foundation’s On Nigeria programme.
Throughout her career, Alaka has trained over 7,000 reporters and facilitated the production of more than 1,000 investigative stories. Her work continues to influence the media’s role in promoting transparency, accountability, and social change, making her a leading figure in the Nigerian media industry.
Skill Utilisation
Alaka can speak about investigative journalism, cross-sector collaboration, media sustainability, and gender inclusion in media.
