Oluesgun Adeniyi was born in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in International Relations from Obafemi Awolowo University in 1989. In 1997, he completed a Master’s in International Law and Diplomacy (MILD) at the University of Lagos. He later became a Fellow at Harvard University’s Weatherhead Center for International Affairs during the 2010–2011 academic year, where he conducted research on the dynamics influencing incumbent presidential elections across Africa.
Adeniyi started his journalism career as a Staff Reporter with The Guardian in December 1990. He moved to African Concord magazine in April 1992 as a Senior Staff Writer, quickly advancing to the position of Abuja Bureau Chief, responsible for covering the State House. In January 1999, he joined ThisDay newspaper as Deputy Editor for the Saturday edition, eventually rising to the role of editor for the Sunday ThisDay.
By August 2005, he became editor of ThisDay’s main publication. On May 30, 2007, the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua appointed him Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, a role he held until Yar’Adua’s passing on May 5, 2010. Adeniyi has since documented his experiences working with the president.
In July 2007, he participated in the U.S. State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program. Adeniyi remains active in journalism as the current chair of the editorial board of ThisDay newspapers. A fellow of the Nigeria Leadership Initiative (NLI), he also helped establish the National Stakeholder Working Group of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI). Among his recognitions is the 1992 Jakande Prize for Political Reporter of the Year at the Nigeria Media Merit Awards (NMMA).
