In the early 2000s, Stephanie Busari, Senior editor and Head of Nigeria’s Bureau at CNN, stepped onto the journalism scene and became the field journalist who is deserving of all her flowers and more from Nigerian society. Keeping in mind her numerous accolades (Peabody award, and 2 time Emmy nominations), her most imperative contribution to society must remain the Proof of Life video she presented on CNN in 2016 which led to negotiable statements that gifted Chibok society back more than 100 of their 276 kidnapped girls. Though 96 still remain in custody, the video that Busari obtained not only led to those girls’ freedom, but reignited hope that was lost back in 2013.
Though the Nigerian journalist may not have always been so decorated, she’s been described with this irresistible zeal that has gotten her to this flourishing point. Before her role as the curator for CNN’s first multimedia platform bureau in Nigeria, she worked at a lifestyle magazine that covered the effects of the Northern Ireland Troubles during her days in Belfast, where she would interview victims of the aforementioned tragedy. 2008 is when CNN was finally graced with her presence, granting her a direct promotion to the senior editor for African Affairs giving her opportunity upon opportunity; such as, being able to cover the Nigerian 2019 Election.
Busari is truly an exemplar of what it means to be a hardworking African woman as she doesn’t limit herself to her job at the news company, but also doubles as a self-made entrepreneur. Being a TEDTalk speaker gave her the inspiration to find, and curate, TEDxBrixton; the spin-off speaker series event is held in Brixton, mirroring the TEDx series for a smaller community.
With all these different titles she has been bestowed with- Yale World Fellow, TEDTalk Speaker, CNN Senior Editor- she has earned awards for them. 2016, we saw Busari earn a Gracie Award for the aforementioned Proof of Life video, and the Peabody Award in 2015 for being a field producer covering the heart wrenching story of the Chibok girls.
Seeing all she has done it is no wonder that she was selected for the Yale University Maurice Greenberg Fellowship, and thought of as one of the 100 most influential people of African descent by the United Nations in 2017.
Outside of all this, Busari is also dedicated to the unification of Africa as a whole, which is shown through her pursuit to learn more languages spoken in African countries.
