Olajide Fashikun

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Olajide Fashikun, also known as Olajide Ayodeji Fashikun, was a Nigerian journalist who was arrested in November 2011 over his stories alleging corruption in the Nigerian Football Federation.[1] He was the editor of the National Accord Newspaper[1] and the publisher of Gong News until his death in January 2019.[2] He was known for his anti-corruption crusade against corruption in Nigerian sports.[3] He was also known for initiating the "Adopt an athlete" idea for promising athletes to be supported by corporate organizations leading to major competitions.[3] [4]

Birth and career[change | change source]

Fashikun was born in Kaduna, Nigeria on 14 September 1965.[5][6][7]

He began as all round sportsman who played football, handball, volleyball, basketball and won victories for his country.[7]

He played handball for Nigeria (1979-1999) when he retired from international duties.[5] He played football for Zabgai of Bauchi (1984); El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri (1985); Zamalek of Egypt (1986-1988) when injuries ruled him out.[5][7]

He was Nigeria's junior 200m winner and record holder in 1979.[5] He was the youngest player in Nigeria handball men national team that won the African Nations Cup in 1979.[7]

Olajide Fashikun

Medals[change | change source]

Fashikun won gold medal at African Nations Cup in Lagos, Nigeria in 1980; gold medal at African Nations Cup in Bauchi, Nigeria in 1984; gold medal at NIPOGA in 1985 in Kaduna, Nigeria; bronze medal at Nigeria Universities Games Association (NUGA) in 1988 in Calabar, Nigeria; gold medal at NUGA in 1998 in Kano, Nigeria.[5][6]

Book[change | change source]

  • Issues in Nigerian Social Work Administration[8]

Positions[change | change source]

He was the editor of the National Accord Newspaper,[1] the sports editor of the Herald Newspaper and the senior sports reporter of ThisDay Newspaper.[4] He was also the managing editor of Gong News[2][4][6][7] and was known for his truthful reports.[5] He was a former lecturer at the Kwara State Polytechnic and also a former chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Kwara State chapter.[4][7]

He was the director, Sports Development and Marketing with the Nigeria Sports Development Fund Incorporated.[5][9]

Death and burial[change | change source]

Fashikun died in the early hours of Sunday, 27 January 2019 at the Federal Medical Center, Jabi in Abuja, Nigeria after a brief illness.[4][7][10] He was 54 years old.[4]

He was buried on Wednesday, 30 January 2019 in his hometown at Obbo-Aiyegunle in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria.[11] He was survived by an aged mother, wife and four children.[12]


On 25 March 2023, Isaiah Ogedegbe recognized Olajide Fashikun's contribution to sports development in Nigeria, describing him as "a sports journalist who gave sports journalism a new definition".[13] [14]

After his death, Olajide Fashikun was remembered by Isaiah Ogedegbe as "an acidic reporter who was never afraid of opening cans of worms",[15] either with his acidic mouth,[16] or with his acidic writing pen.[17]

He was also remembered by the same writer as "a perfect gentleman, yet a dogged fighter for the truth in defence of a just society".[15]

References[change | change source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Smith, Karen (15 November 2011). "Nigeria journalist arrested, faces libel suit over soccer stories". Cable News Network. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ogedegbe, Isaiah (15 October 2019). "Olajide Fashikun: What I Remember Him For -By Isaiah Ogedegbe". Opinion Nigeria. Archived from the original on 23 February 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Olamide, Ayo (28 January 2022). "TRIBUTE: Remembering Jide Fashikun Dogged Nigerian Sports Anti- Corruption Crusader". Gong News. Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Odunsi, Wale (27 January 2019). "Renowned journalist, Jide Fashikun is dead". Daily Post. Archived from the original on 10 November 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 "Fashikun, Olajide Ayodeji". NigerianWiki.com. Archived from the original on 2023-03-19. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Kuti, Dare (25 September 2018). "Olajide Fashikun: I got my first new pair of trainers at Zamalek". ACLSports.com. Archived from the original on 10 November 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 "HFN Mourns Former National Handball Player Olajide Fashikun". Titan Sports. 28 January 2019. Archived from the original on 1 October 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  8. ↑ Fashikun, Olajide Ayodeji (2006). Issues in Nigerian Social Work Administration. Haylee. ISBN 978-978-809-013-7.
  9. ↑ "Golden Eaglet captain and Adokiye: The Insanity in a Newspaper Columnist-by Olajide Fashikun". The Nigerian Voice. 7 November 2009. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  10. ↑ Babalola, Oluwatomiwa (27 January 2019). "Jide Fashikun, top Nigerian Sports Journalist dies in Abuja". Legit.ng. Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  11. ↑ Atolagbe, Femi (1 February 2019). "ODSG, others pay last respect to Olajide Fashikun". The Hope Newspaper. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  12. ↑ Shittu, Hammed (31 January 2019). "Late Fashikun Laid to Rest at Obbo Aiyegunle". ThisDay Newspaper. Archived from the original on 27 September 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  13. ↑ Ogedegbe, Isaiah (25 March 2023). "Two Sports Journalists And Their Contribution To Sports Development In Nigeria -By Isaiah Ogedegbe". Opinion Nigeria. Archived from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  14. ↑ "Two Sports Journalists And Their Contribution To Sports Development In Nigeria -By Isaiah Ogedegbe". Naijareel.com. 25 March 2023. Archived from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Olajide Fashikun: Remembering Exit Of A Veteran Journalist, By Isaiah Ogedegbe". Opinion Nigeria. 26 January 2024. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 27 January 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  16. ↑ "Siasia and Super Eagles". 247ureports. 10 October 2011. Archived from the original on 8 August 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  17. ↑ "As our fallen colleague, Fashikun, embarked on terminal journey Wednesday". BSN Sports. 30 January 2019. Archived from the original on 27 January 2024. Retrieved 27 January 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
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