Power, Pen and Ph.D.: Ikeja Electric, LASU Scholars Celebrate Adeola Yusuf’s Academic Milestone
The relationship between professional practice and academic excellence received a boost in Lagos as Ikeja Electric and leading scholars of communication celebrated Prince Adeola Yusuf, Ph.D., Team Lead of Platforms Africa, following his successful hooding ceremony and convocation at Lagos State University (LASU).
Ikeja Electric described the achievement as a significant example of the convergence of “town and gown,” commending Yusuf for attaining the highest academic qualification.
In a congratulatory letter signed by Kingsley Okotie, Head of Corporate Communications at Ikeja Electric, the company expressed warm felicitations to Yusuf on the completion of his doctoral programme.
The company praised the achievement as a product of dedication, professionalism, research excellence and a strong academic performance.
Okotie noted that these qualities have also characterised Yusuf’s professional relationship with Ikeja Electric, particularly through his role as a media partner and development journalist.
Also congratulating Yusuf, the Dean of the Faculty of Communications and Media Studies at LASU and his thesis supervisor, Professor Jide Jimoh, described him as “studious and humble.”
Jimoh attributed the achievement to Yusuf’s commitment and diligence, expressing confidence that the doctorate would open another chapter of excellence in his career.
Yusuf’s co-supervisor, Professor Rotimi Williams Olatunji, National President of the Association of Communication Scholars & Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN), also congratulated him, describing the completion of the programme as a testimony to perseverance, divine grace and the support of those who contributed to his academic journey.
For Ikeja Electric, Yusuf’s latest accomplishment is expected to further strengthen his contribution to media practice, particularly in areas involving energy, public policy, governance and development.
As Team Lead of Platforms Africa, Yusuf has established himself as a journalist operating at the intersection of media, policy and research. The platform has earned recognition for its coverage and analysis of critical national issues, including energy, governance and development.
His work has also placed him at the centre of public conversations around Nigeria’s power sector, including electricity distribution, metering, tariffs, customer service and reforms.
The company expressed confidence that his doctoral training would further enhance his capacity to produce research-driven journalism and provide deeper insight into complex policy issues.
“With this latest accomplishment, we believe that you will exceed your previous records and industry standards,” Okotie stated in the congratulatory message.
The achievement has equally attracted commendations from colleagues and associates at Platforms Africa, who described Yusuf as a professional capable of combining demanding editorial responsibilities with rigorous academic work.
Adeola Yusuf: A Journalist With a Distinguished Record
Adeola Yusuf is a development and energy journalist whose career spans journalism, academia, media training and policy analysis.
He is widely recognised for his work in energy journalism and investigative reporting and has received several industry awards, nominations, fellowships and professional recognitions.
Yusuf has been nominated multiple times for Energy Reporter of the Year at the Nigerian Media Merit Awards, winning the category in 2016, 2017 and 2019.
He was also the first winner of the Nigeria Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) award for Most Consistent Journalist in 2012 and received the Chevron/Pan-Atlantic University Best Report on Energy Award in 2018.
His professional development has included fellowships and bursaries from international journalism and development organisations. He was a recipient of the African Investigative Journalism Conference (AIJC) Bursary Award in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2016 and participated in the Tax Justice Network Africa bursary programme on tax evasion and illicit finance reporting in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2017.
He was also a two-time beneficiary of the Thomson Reuters Foundation programme on illicit trade and finance reporting in Africa, held in Kampala, Uganda, in 2015 and 2016.
In 2025, Yusuf received the Directorate of Entrepreneurship, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Mediapreneur of the Year Award, while Platforms Africa emerged as runner-up for the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) Nigerian Content Media of the Year Award.
His journalism career has taken him to major international conferences and industry events, including programmes in London, Houston, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Kampala and Riyadh.
He has attended the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, the global oil and gas capital, and participated in conferences linked to the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), among others.
Yusuf is also a pioneer Energy Editor of New Telegraph and has previously served as Energy Editor of Daily Independent Newspapers.
His journalism career has included professional engagements with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Ogun State Television (OGTV), Ogun Radio, The Monitor Newspaper, TheWEEK magazine, Daily Sun, Daily Independent and New Telegraph, among others.
Beyond journalism, Yusuf is a respected financial and energy policy analyst with experience covering oil, gas, electricity and renewable energy.
He has appeared as an analyst on several television and radio platforms, including News Central TV, Television Continental (TVC), Channels Television, Arise TV, Lagos Television, Ogun State Television, Radio One, Women Radio and Radio Lagos.
He has also contributed to capacity development in the communications sector. As a faculty member of Caritas Communications and NNPC Academy programmes, he has trained management personnel of major organisations, including NNPC Limited, First E&P and Siemens, on communication crisis management, effective press releases, media strategy and crisis communication.
Yusuf is equally involved in mentoring and career development for students and young professionals in journalism and mass communication.
He is a member of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), the Association of Communication Scholars & Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN), the Education Writers Association of Nigeria (EWAN) and the Nigerian Association of Energy Correspondents (NAEC).
He is also the founder and one of the administrators of the Platforms Africa Forum, a professional network that brings together academics, media executives, development experts, policy professionals and other stakeholders from Nigeria and across Africa.
With the completion of his doctoral programme at LASU, Yusuf’s career now reflects a blend of journalism, research, teaching, professional training and policy analysis.
His latest academic milestone therefore represents more than a personal achievement. It underscores the growing importance of professionals combining practical industry experience with advanced academic knowledge to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s media, energy and development sectors.
For Ikeja Electric, LASU and Yusuf’s professional colleagues, the message is clear: when experience meets scholarship, both industry and society stand to benefit.
