Laila Johnson-Salami is a Nigerian Journalist changing and challenging narratives one conversation at a time. She is a Politics and International Relations Graduate from the University of Westminster, who is passionate about women’s rights, human development and the environment.
Currently, Laila is a Correspondent at ARISE News, reporting on the environment and international affairs. She produces and presents ‘Go Wild’ in partnership with international NGO WildAid. A first of its kind wildlife focused show on national news in Nigeria. She also reports on healthcare and politics.
Laila has contributed to the Commonwealth Youth Council since 2016 and the Financial Times since 2018. Previously, she worked with Nigeria Info FM and Wazobia Max TV.
Her dedication to women’s rights led her to become a Founding Member of the Feminist Coalition, an organisation championing equality for Nigerian women. She is also a podcaster, producing her own podcast (The Broken Record Podcast) and co-hosting a new podcast with German international broadcaster, Deutsche Welle (DW), called African Roots.
In 2022, Laila won an award granted by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in partnership with the European Union Delegation, the British High Commission and the Embassies of France, Germany and the United States of America in Nigeria. She received the award for the category of Media and Journalism, being described by the awards committee as “A rising star in media and journalism who is changing the narrative around gender equality, youth empowerment, climate action and social inclusion, one conversation at a time.”