Lanre Idowu is a household name in Nigerian media corridors and especially in the practice of ethics and excellence. He is CEO Diamond Publications Ltd. and editor-in-chief of Media Review, founded two decades ago with the objective of acting as ‘private’ watchdogs of the Nigerian media.
Idowu has worked with leading Nigerian titles such as the Daily Times in 1982 as a writer, The Guardian in 1983 as a reporter, The Democrat 1984-85 as an assistant editor, the United States Information Service as a media consultant from 1985-86. He joined Thisweek magazine in 1986 as an associate editor and rose to become its deputy editor-in-chief in 1989. He was CEO of Richard Munds Ltd. 1989-91 before establishing Diamond Publications.
His passion and pursuit for the advancement of media practice is best expressed in rewarding best practice in reporting through the respected DAME Awards; his many book publications on the media and his regular lucid writings on media practice.
In awarding Mr. Lanre Idowu the Lifetime Award for Media Excellence of the 2011 Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting, the WSCIJ sought to draw applause for his deep professionalism, integrity, hard work, discipline and commitment to excellence.