By Our Correspondent
Abuja, Nigeria - August 24, 2025(Series News Online)
Bayo Onanuga is one of Nigeria’s most respected journalists, editors, and media executives whose career has left a lasting mark on both the country’s media industry and political communication space. Over four decades, he has combined professional excellence with courage, resilience, and a strong commitment to press freedom.
Born on June 20, 1957, in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, Bayo Onanuga grew up with a passion for learning and excellence. He attended Moslem Primary School, Ijebu Ode, before moving on to Muslim College, where he graduated with a Grade One certificate. His academic journey continued at the Federal Government College, Odogbolu, for his A-Levels, and later at the University of Lagos, where he obtained a Second Class Upper degree in Mass Communication in 1980.
Onanuga began his professional career in 1980 at the Ogun State Television Authority as one of its pioneer staff members. He later worked with The Guardian and then National Concord, where he rose to become the editor of African Concord in 1989. In 1992, he famously resigned after refusing to compromise editorial independence under General Ibrahim Babangida’s regime—a principled decision that underscored his integrity and deep respect for press freedom.
In 1993, he co-founded TheNews Magazine alongside colleagues such as Dapo Olorunyomi and Babafemi Ojudu. When military repression led to its proscription, he and his team established TEMPO Magazine and PM News in 1994. Through these platforms, Onanuga became a leading voice of fearless journalism, challenging dictatorship and championing democratic ideals.
Onanuga served as CEO and Editor-in-Chief of TheNews and PM News, building them into influential media voices. His leadership extended to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), where he was appointed Managing Director by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016. At NAN, he focused on strengthening institutional efficiency and positioning the agency as a credible source of national and international news.
A strong believer in democratic governance, Onanuga paid a personal price for his activism, including detention during the Abacha years and eventual exile. He returned to Nigeria in 1998 after Abacha’s death, continuing his advocacy for good governance. In later years, he transitioned into active politics. He played a key role as Director of Media and Publicity in the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign in 2023 and, following their victory, was appointed Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In this role, he continues to shape national communication strategy and defend government reforms with clarity and conviction. "His influence continues in public service, where he brings strategic communication expertise to Nigeria’s democratic governance," the report noted.
Bayo Onanuga’s career has been recognized locally and internationally. He is a British Chevening Scholar, a Dan David Prize laureate, and a 2013 inductee into the Nigerian Media Hall of Fame. In 2023, he was conferred with the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), affirming his contributions to journalism and national development.
Onanuga is married to Toyin Machado-Onanuga, and together they maintain a private family life. He is widely admired for his integrity, courage, and belief in press freedom. His personal and professional choices reflect a lifelong commitment to transparency, service, and democratic principles.
From his principled resignation in 1992 to his role in sustaining independent journalism through TheNews and PM News, Onanuga is celebrated as one of the most courageous journalists of his generation. His legacy remains anchored on integrity, advocacy for freedom of expression, and service to his nation.
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