By Deji Dosunmu
The African Centre for Development Journalism (ACDJ) remembers the passing of its Executive Director/Editor In Chief, Rotimi Sankore, a dear colleague, mentor, and champion of truth, justice, and human dignity, today, 12 April 2025.
Rotimi was more than a journalist. He fiercely advocated for democratic accountability, human rights, gender equality, and public health across the African continent. His legacy stands tall in every newsroom he touched, every policy space where he demanded better for the marginalised, and in every mind he inspired with his fearless commitment to evidence-based reporting.
At the ACDJ, we were privileged to have been led by Rotimi on numerous projects that sought to elevate the quality and impact of development journalism in Africa. His leadership was instrumental in shaping narratives that moved beyond headlines to the heart of the issues that matter, from maternal health and migration to freedom of expression and the rights of vulnerable communities.
Rotimi believed in journalism as a force for good, not just to inform but to empower. He carried this belief with integrity, passion, and an unwavering resolve that earned him admiration across sectors and borders. In him, we saw a rare blend of intellectual rigour, moral clarity, and practical activism.
As we reflect on his life, we are reminded of his principles and drive to entrench an equal society. In his memory, we reaffirm our commitment to the values he lived by, which include speaking truth to power, holding institutions accountable, and telling the stories that too often go unheard.
We are convinced that Rotimi’s legacy lives on, first, in the countless lives he touched directly and indirectly through the media and second, through the evolution of Development Reporting as a journalism niche gap he championed that is now being filled in Nigeria and Africa.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and the vast community of journalists, activists, and citizens who mourn his loss.
May his legacy continue to inspire courage, action, and transformation.
Comment here
You must be logged in to post a comment.