A Worthy Model

Frank Aigbogun, renowned journalist and publisher of BusinessDay newspaper, proudly represents a distinguished generation of Nigerian media leaders. With four decades of experience in the news media, Aigbogun’s impressive career spans various roles. After studying Mass Communication at the Institute of Management and Technology in Enugu, he began his journalism career as a reporter at the Guardian in 1983 where he was part of the elite Insight team of investigative reporters. He later moved to the Democrat Weekly as a correspondent before berthing at Vanguard as News Editor and later Editor of the newspaper. He was also at a time the Lagos correspondent for the Associated Press.

After Vanguard, he established Wordsmithes Printing and Packaging Limited. He later co-founded BusinessDay, Nigeria’s first business daily in 2001, and has served as its publisher ever since. Aigbogun has been instrumental in shaping the newspaper’s vision, establishing it as Africa’s preferred source of reliable business news and analysis. Under his leadership, BusinessDay has grown into a premier provider of business and financial intelligence, boasting a strong online presence and paid digital subscription service.

A respected thought leader, Aigbogun champions the BusinessDay CEO Forum, bringing together Nigeria’s business elite to discuss economic challenges. Recognized for his contributions to Nigerian business journalism, he has received various awards and accolades. Notably, he has always emphasised the need for diverse coverage beyond parroting government activities. As he noted in 2005, “Nigerian newspapers are too efficient communicators of everyday government information… Yet there exists a vast social world of human beings in the country that is left uncovered!”

As CEO of BusinessDay, Frank is an evangelist of their mandate of “News you can trust.” He has innovatively transitioned BusinessDay to digital, introducing a paywall to fund quality journalism, thereby throwing a challenge to the rest of the market. The DAME trustees find his steady exploits evidence of a dedicated media professional and successful businessman, who is in the media for the long haul. They salute his unwavering commitment to a free, strong, and enterprising media, and happily confer on Frank Aigbogun its 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award in the hope that he will continue to be a good model to the younger ones.