Channels Television senior anchor and producer Kayode Okikiolu has been named Nigeria's Newscaster of the Year by the Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA), one of the country's most prestigious honors for journalistic excellence.
Okikiolu received the award at the NMMA ceremony held at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos on Saturday. He emerged ahead of Television Continental (TVC) and Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) nominees to clinch the prestigious title.
Speaking at the event, NMMA Trustee and Chairman of the Panel of Evaluators, Dele Adetiba, said the 2025 edition of the awards attracted an unprecedented number of entries. “This year alone, we had 800 entries across different categories,” he said. “What sets this award apart from others is the quality, integrity and reputation of those who evaluate the entries. We are fortunate to have some of the most eminent media professionals in the country.”
In his acceptance remarks, Okikiolu dedicated the award to God, his family and colleagues in Nigeria's media industry, describing the recognition as a collective achievement of the profession.
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“I am grateful to the media fathers in Nigeria who laid a solid foundation and continue to guide the younger generation,” he said. “We are on the brink of major media disruption globally, and I am confident that Nigerian media will support innovations that will change our industry for good.”
The award also holds symbolic significance for Channels Television, as the station's founder and chairman, John Momoh, had won the same honor decades ago.
Okikioğlu has received numerous accolades during his career. Recently, he won the HostWriter Creator Award, a global recognition for innovative media content.
Known for his distinctive voice and creative storytelling, Okioğlu has interviewed presidents and global leaders and reported live on major international events, including the Russia-Ukraine war. He is also widely known for creating viral explainer videos that simplify complex news for wide audiences, earning him the nickname “Gentleman of the Press”.
Beyond broadcasting, she was recently appointed Goodwill Ambassador for the World Literacy Foundation.
Before moving into television, Okikiolu began his media career in radio, working with The Beat 97.9 FM and Salt 98.1 FM. He has a degree in Psychology from the University of Ibadan, an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM), and is currently an Executive MBA student at Lagos Business School.
