By Henry Akubuiro
With close to three decades of media practice in Nigeria and the United States, George Elijah Otumu has made a name for himself in the media industry. Currently the Executive Editor and Group Managing Director of Naija Standard newspaper, he is a three-time National President of the Nigerian-American Press Association, NAPA. In this interview with Saturday Sun, Otumu, who has worked in more than 10 media houses in Nigeria as a reporter, assistant editor and editor, juxtaposes media practices in Nigeria and the US, saying there is a wide disparity between both countries. He shares his view on living, reporting and managing a popular Black media organisation in America.
You’ve been the Foreign Bureau Chief in USA of Naija Standard, America Senior Investigative Editor, and now as Executive Editor and Group MD, you have had accelerated growth as a journalist in the US. What does this mean to your journalism career?
This means that hard work, detailed to news stories, reporting events in our environment from the prism of human angle, being passionate about serving as a voice to the voiceless, ensuring that African journalism in the world stands tall – not a push over by the Western media any day, any time and holding African leaders accountable for their stewardship in office are our watchword since ‘real power belongs to the people’. As Africans, it is expedient of us to tell our African stories the African way.
Let me further explain that Naija Standard is officially registered in Nigeria by the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC. And this same news medium is officially registered and licensed by the Secretary of State in the Government of Texas officially with Registration Certificate as an International Online Newspaper.
After almost 15 years publication in the United States, with active branches in the United Arab Emirates, Australia, Zambia; Trinidad & Tobago, we are now regarded as the most read international online news medium in various government circles in the United States, in the African Union and ECOWAS communities.
Naija Standard is the number one African newspaper in North America, followed by millions on all social media platforms around the world, with headquarters in Nigeria. In the entire North America, we are the only officially registered Africa online news medium in active editorial responsibilities. And in our editorial team are several, award-winning reporters, correspondents who work undercover churning in great stories.
What challenges did you encounter initially as a journalist relocating to the US from Nigeria?
Initially, it was difficult to break even, bearing in mind that the Western media is saturated for decades with negative news about Nigeria and Africa. And more testy because we hardly find any Nigerian or African newspaper fully registered by the Government of the United States. After our registration by the Government of the State of Texas, it took us a period of six years to break even, challenge the Western press on its wrong news reportage on Nigeria and Africa.
What differences have you noticed in media practice in Nigeria and the US?
In the United States, journalists are given training on the latest media tools, technology, data analysis and Google analytics to be able to excel in covering news stories, conducting exclusive interviews and going live on news publication without a delay. Also, these American journalists regularly pitch for story ideas, well paid to cover stories with good salary payment. They are given quality health insurance coverage. Freedom of the press is guaranteed as well.
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees freedom of the press, meaning the government cannot restrict what the press publishes or the public can access. This freedom is a cornerstone of a democratic society, enabling the public to be informed and hold their leaders accountable. It also allows for a diverse marketplace of ideas and encourages public discourse.
In Nigeria, most journalists struggle on their own to go after news stories since they are hardly paid good salaries or Basic Transport Allowance as and when due. They risk their lives in conducting interviews under the most inhuman conditions. The unlucky ones lose their lives, yet have no health insurance coverage. Most journalists are deficient in the use of modern media technological tools since their employers don’t make such press tools accessible. An irony of the situation is such that most stories covered and reported by these Nigerian journalists are hailed by a section of the Western media and re-published.
What would you regard as the Nigerian media industry’s impact in America?
I must confess that, with the regular exclusive interviews, human angle and feature stories being done by the American editors of our news medium in North America, we have raised the flag of the Nigerian press with pride with our stories centred around the good, bad and ugly sides of the Nigerian community in the United States. We have consistently countered false news on Nigeria by members of the Western media. Consistency. Honesty. Facts are the keys we have used in ensuring the power and style of journalism of the Nigerian media is positively felt in America.
Part of your job is coordinating all the branches of the publication around the world for your company. How challenging is this?
It is very challenging. I must confess that, since relocation to the United States as America Foreign Bureau Chief at first, I have had to be on many conference calls with other line editors and the Board of Directors of the company where we had to debate several news story ideas, media projects, deadlines and ensure we bring everything to completion. And now, after being promoted the Executive Editor and Group Managing Editor of this publication, coordinating this news medium’s branches around the world is surely not a small feat.
I am confident that, with our team of other editorial leadership led by our Group Managing Editor, Samson Shoaga, who had been editorially coordinating the Nigerian Headquarters, Zambia, UAE offices before now, we will certainly take Nigeria and Africa journalism to the end of the world. Journalism is my life, and I derive maximum satisfaction from the profession.
Could you briefly walk us through your media adventure?
I started journalism as a society reporter close to three decades ago with the now rested TODAY’S Choice Magazine owned by Coker Onita. I worked with the then National Interest Newspaper. I worked as a reporter in the defunct TEMPO Weekly Magazine, published by ICNL, under Babafemi Ojudu, Bayo Onanuga and Kunle Ajibade.
I was hired as a Society Writer in the then INSIDER Weekly Magazine, under the editorial leadership of Osa director. I worked for the WEEK Magazine as its Society Editor in its Adeniyi Jones office, Ikeja, Lagos. I was the Head, Investigations & Crime for National Daily Newspaper in Ikeja, Lagos. Under then Victor Ogenne as the Editor, I was the Society Editor for The Source Magazine in Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos covering Back-of-the-Book. Also, I was hired as a Deputy Features Editor of the now rested National LIFE Newspaper under Louis Odion. Later, I was employed in Sunday Vanguard Newspaper as a Society Writer under the editorial leadership of Kunle Oyatomi. I worked side-by-side with my good friends Ogbonna Amadi, Frank Meke and many others.
I was hired as the Nigerian Editor of FOCUS Magazine, a news magazine in London, owned by Dupe Ashama. I worked as the Arts & Features Editor for AFRICA Today Magazine in Nigeria. In the course of my career, CNN African Journalist award winner, Janet Mba Afolabi, employed me as then Editor of The Scroll Magazine. Later, I became the Editor-in-Chief of African Mail International Magazine, an all-gloss, monthly publication in Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos.
Under Billy Adedamola and Mayor Akinpelu, I was employed as the first Foreign Correspondent of the now rested FAME Weekly Magazine in Ghana, Foreign Bureau Chief, in South Africa. While in Kaneshi, Accra, Ghana; to pay my bills; I was hired as the first Nigerian working for Daily Graphic Newspaper – the biggest national newspaper in Ghana as a Foreign Correspondent.
What’s the secret of Naija Standard newspaper’s progress?
The editorial team of our news medium ensured that all our news contents are based on facts. We don’t do blackmail. We are not biased in our news reportage as we balance all sides of our news content, with a right of reply for anyone who still has other issues to say. We ensure we diversify in our news gathering, brainstorm on story ideas in Nigeria and across the world, especially on stories regarding Nigerians in the Diaspora.
What’s your plans for African celebrity journalism and expansion for Naija Standard in Europe and the world?
Naija Standard has maintained its African society celebrity journalism in the United States in the last 15 years by ensuring top black American/African celebrities who are leaders in various sectors of the United States economy grace the lead, cover, news stories of our publication. Our next plan is to take African celebrity journalism to the highest level in the world. Remember, America is the oldest democracy in the world, and journalism here in the United States is the highest form of news media practice. We intend to re-introduce special publications in French, Spanish, Arabic editions side-by-side with our English edition in the next couple of months. This will involve special interviews with African celebrities, black American employers and Spanish public officials. Plans are on presently to have additional editorial offices in Austria, Canada and France.
Interestingly, you have just been licensed as a Certified Human Resources Consultant by the U.S. Institute of Diplomacy & Human Rights in Washington DC, USA. What does this mean to you?
It means that every news item I cover, I should do so from the angle of human rights, ensuring that we defend the rights of the oppressed, the masses and people of Nigeria, either back home or in the Diaspora. Don’t forget: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a milestone document in the history of human rights, in its 30 articles. And a Certified Global Human Rights Consultant in the United States, I promise to always be there for the less privileged in the society, fight against any form of injustice in any form whatsoever.
Have your media house also tapped into the Black community in the US?
Yes, we have a good relationship with the Hollywood industry, American Press and the black community in the United States. I am also the thrice elected National President of the renowned Nigerian-American Press Association, NAPA, in Houston, Texas. NAPA is the foremost convergence of 50 online editors representing mainstream media establishment in the United States and Nigeria.
Your paper at a time published in English and Spanish languages, which lasted for 3 years. How was the experience like and why did it stop?
The experience was exciting and great because we remain the first Nigeria newspaper publication in the United States to have ever published in English and Espanol languages.
We stopped briefly since we further delved into publications in French. As such, having the French edition really opened our eyes into the opportunities of tapping into that community. It’s worth it. That is Nigerian journalism to the highest level.
Being a Nigerian-owned media outfit abroad, do you feel discriminated against?
Not at all since our news constituents are Nigerians in the Diaspora, the black American community and Nigerians at home. We have our eyes set on the price. We are focused.
Tell us about your most unforgettable experiences while working as a journalist in Nigeria
I have several evergreen experiences as a journalist in Nigeria. Some of them: when I reported a news story of a retired Naval officer for his injustice on a helpless woman and her children in Abuja. That story got me a nomination and a United Nations Ambassadorial Media Award. I conducted the last interview with the Highlife Icon, Fatai Rolling Dollar few days before his death.
I conducted several interviews with the Ozziddi King, late Sonny Okosuns. And I was the Director of Media and Publicity during his burial ceremony. I did report on many cover news stories that became hot national topics and aided the government in power then in parts of their policy formulation.
Did you experience a situation in Nigeria that made you say you wouldn’t like to be a journalist again? What were your low moments as a Nigerian journalist?
I had no single low moment in Nigerian journalism because journalism is my life. After God Almighty, I breathe journalism. This profession opens doors for you to sit with presidents, prime ministers and global leaders around the world.
What can Nigerian celebrity and entertainment publications learn from their American counterparts?
Integrity. Honesty. Society Journalism. High Networking.
How was it like growing up? Were you born with a silver spoon?
I grew up in an average Nigerian family of seven – four boys and three girls. I thank the Lord we are all believers in the power and salvation of Jesus Christ. And everyone is doing well to the glory of God. I was not born with a silver spoon. My parents were hardworking people. My mother, a famous entrepreneur in Ogun State, and father a retired police officer in Edo State.
What prompted you to choose the journalism profession? Who were your early influences?
Passion to correct the ills in the society, fight for the masses in the society brought me to journalism. Not once did I regret being a journalist. The likes of Dele Giwa, Ray Ekpu, Kayode Soyinka; Babafemi Ojudu, Eric Osagie; Mike Awoyinfa, Louis Odion, Mayor Akinpelu, Kunle Bakare; Femi Akintunde-Johnson, FAJ, current Editor of Daily Graphic Theophilus Yartey; Ken Aseka, a versatile multimedia journalist and editor-in-chief of Kenya Times are my media heroes.
You are also an author of three books, all written in America. One of the books is translated into French, Spanish and Arabic languages. Tell us about your writing journey?
I believe when you are determined, there is no height you cannot attain, no matter the circumstance. In the course of my journalism here in the United States, I have written 3 books, published in New York that were sold out on Amazon. These books were published in French, Spanish and Arabic languages.
These books are: Fearless Reportage of Nigeria’s 2015 Election: Nigerian Journalism in USA, Democracy and Electorate’ Expectation; Version Francaise Reportages Courageux 2025 Elections du Nigeria: Le Journalisme Nigerian aux Etats-Unis, la Democratise et l’ Attente de Corps; and Using Cybersecurity Technology to Expose Fake News, Stop Hackers through Investigative.
My writing journey began from Nigeria due to my desire in documenting history. And I never looked back afterwards.
Tell us about your encounter with American President, Donald Trump, during his first tenure. And what did you take away from that experience?
After one of my books in the United States was published, I embarked on an American media tour in 20 states. At a time, I used UPS to courier my book on using the media tools to fight cybercrimes to The White House in Washington DC during the first time of President Donald Trump in office. About three months later, I received a sealed UPS letter from The White House signed in the handwriting of President Trump, heaping praises on the book I wrote, pouring encomium on my practice of investigative journalism and assured me that his administration would continue to support the media in all ramifications.
Meanwhile, Trump’s second coming has been hard on African immigrants and countries. What’s your advice to young Nigerians in pursuit of the American dream?
Obey all laws. Be honest. Steer clear from troubles. Don’t join bad friends. Be focused and have your priorities set straight and be prayerful at all times.