Pelumi Salako

Pelumi Salako is a Nigerian writer, freelance journalist and documentary photographer whose works touch on development, security, human rights, global health, and climate change in Nigeria and across West Africa.[1] He has extensively covered queer struggles in West Africa, public health issues, ecological crises, and the herder–farmer conflicts in Nigeria.[2][3]

Education and Career

Based in Ilorin, Kwara State, Salako holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and International Studies from the University of Ilorin.[4][5] It was there that he honed his skills in journalism as a member of the local chapter of the Union of Campus Journalists, a Nigerian student-run media organization.[6][7] His writing and photography have appeared in international outlets including Al Jazeera, Reuters, Associated Press, The Guardian, The Independent, The Telegraph, National Public Radio (NPR), Foreign Policy, Mail & Guardian, and Internazionale.[8][9][10][11][12][13][14]

Besides journalism and photography, Salako also writes poetry, and his works have been published in various journals and platforms such as Brittle Paper, Agbowó, Palette Poetry and Jalada Africa.[15][16][17][18][19] His poetry collection, "Broken Things," was published in 2018, and he was also part of "Memento: An Anthology of Contemporary Nigerian Poetry" edited by Adedayo Agarau which featured Nigerian poets like Dami Ajayi, JK Anowe, Nome Patrick, Gbenga Adesina, I.S. Jones, Jide Badmus, Hussain Ahmed, Hauwa Shafii Nuhu among others.[20][21]

In September 2023, Salako was a victim of police highhandedness when he was arrested and detained by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force for being in possession of a laptop for which he could not immediately produce a receipt. He was however released the same day following the swift intervention of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism.[22][23][24]

Salako has received a number of recognitions for his works including the 2023 Future Africa Award for Journalism in recognition of his storytelling and impactful reporting, and the third prize of the 2020 Bloomsday Poetry Competition organised by the Embassy of Ireland in Nigeria.[25][26][27] He has also been selected as a fellow of the United Nations' Reham Al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship.[28]

References

  1. ↑ United Nations. "Pelumi Salako- Nigeria". United Nations. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  2. ↑ Salako, Pelumi (2021-03-27). "Igangan ablaze: How Nigeria's farmer-herder crisis is spinning out of control". Sahelien. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  3. ↑ Salako, Pelumi. "A future in jeopardy for Nigerian coastal communities facing rising seas". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  4. ↑ ""Pelumi Salako"". Women's Media Center. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  5. ↑ Otufodunrin, Lekan (2023-02-06). "'How I moved from campus journalism to international media space'". Media Career Services. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  6. ↑ "How a student-run media outlet is advancing journalism in Nigeria". International Journalists' Network. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  7. ↑ Otomewo, Oritsejolomi. "Communiqué 92: The campus rebels who became Nigeria's elite journalists". Read Communique. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  8. ↑ "Pelumi Salako". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  9. ↑ "Pelumi Salako". The Independent. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  10. ↑ Salako, Pelumi (2026-07-14). "'Give us his body to bury': a mother's six-year fight for justice for son killed in Nigeria's anti-police protests". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  11. ↑ Salako, Pelumi (2026-06-05). "Gunshots at 9am. Then they rounded up the children: how Chibok-style school abductions are spreading in Nigeria". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  12. ↑ Salako, Pelumi. "Pelumi Salako". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  13. ↑ "Pelumi Salako". AP News. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  14. ↑ "Pelumi Salako". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  15. ↑ Oyeleke, Damilola (2024-01-25). "Obasanjo's Internet - Pelumi Salako". The Culture Custodian. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  16. ↑ "A Desolate House | Poetry | Pèlúmi Sàlàkó". Brittle Paper. 2021-02-19. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  17. ↑ ""Song" by Pèlúmi Sàlàkọ́". Jalada Africa. 2020-12-04. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  18. ↑ "The Poet Recounts His Father's Death | Pèlúmi Sàlàkọ́". Agbowó. 2020-04-20. Archived from the original on 2021-07-30. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  19. ↑ Jalada (2020-12-04). ""Song" by Pèlúmi Sàlàkọ́". Jalada Africa. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  20. ↑ "Green Author Prize: WRR Publishes 8 New Nigerian Authors". Authorpedia. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  21. ↑ "Darlington Chibueze Anuonye in Conversation With Adedayo Agarau". Isele Magazine. 2022-09-15. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  22. ↑ Soaga, Olayide (2024-05-14). "Ilorin Like Prison: Young People's Experiences at the Hands of Rogue Police Officers in Kwara". Foundation For Investigative Journalism. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  23. ↑ Ojukwu, Daniel (2023-09-13). "BREAKING: Kwara Police Arrest Journalist for 'Possessing Laptop'". Foundation For Investigative Journalism. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  24. ↑ Ojukwu, Daniel (2023-09-13). "After FIJ's Intervention, Kwara Police Release Journalist With His Laptop". Foundation For Investigative Journalism. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  25. ↑ "Ibe Obasiota Ben Wins Bloomsday Poetry Competition Sponsored by the Embassy of Ireland, Nigeria". Brittle Paper. 2020-12-12. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  26. ↑ TFAA (2023-10-30). "Winners of the 17th Edition of The Future Awards Africa". The Future Awards Africa. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  27. ↑ Odeniyi, Solomon (2023-09-25). "PUNCHWoman, Osimhen, others shortlisted for Future Africa Awards". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  28. ↑ United Nations. "2025 Fellows". United Nations. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
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