Azubuike Ishiekwene

Azubuike Ishiekwene (also known as Azu from his weekly column, born February 19, 1965) was the former executive director of Punch Nigeria

Azubuike was born in Port Harcourt, Rivers State to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ishiekwene of Ndokwa West Local Government in Delta State, he attended Christ The King Primary School, Ajegunle, Lagos (1972–1978); Gaskiya College, Cardoso, Ojora, Badiya, Lagos (1978/79 - 1983) for School Certificate; Jibril Martins Memorial Grammar School, Iponri, Lagos (1983–1985) for HSC. Ishiekwene attended the University of Lagos (Mass Communication) from 1985 to 1988 receiving his B.Sc. in Mass Communications and from 2003-2005, earned his Master's degree in Public Administration and International Affairs from the University of Lagos. He holds a Master's degree in Public Administration and International Affairs from University of Lagos and a BSc in Mass Communications.

Azu joined Punch in 1989 (after serving as an intern in 1986) and has at various times been staff reporter, investigative reporter, features writer, senior features writer, deputy features editor, features editor, and deputy editor of Toplife magazine (a Punch publication). He was also a member of the Punch editorial board, and Editor of Saturday Punch between 1996 and 2001.

He was editor of the company’s flagship paper and daily title, The Punch, between 2002 and 2006, when he was appointed Executive Director, Publications, with direct oversight functions for the company’s three titles – Sunday Punch, Saturday Punch and The Punch. He has won many awards, including the Babatunde Jose Prize for journalism 1988, the Dame Award for Informed Commentary 1993, 2001, 2004 and again in 2006; and Editor of the Year, NMMA 2006.

He was editor, Unilag Sun (a publication of the University of Lagos Mass Communication department); Winner, Babatunde Jose Prize for best print graduating student; serial winner of the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME) for Best Informed Commentary; Editor of the Year Award by the Nigerian Media Merit Award; Columnist of the Year by the Nigerian Media Merit Award; Outstanding Alumnus Award, Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos, 2008. Since coming to Punch, he has at various times served as a staff reporter, investigative reporter, feature writer, senior feature writer, deputy feature editor, feature editor and deputy editor of Toplife magazine. He was also a member of the Punch editorial board, and editor of the Saturday Punch between 1996 and 2001.

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