The management of PUNCH Newspapers has approved the appointment of Friday Olokor as Group Politics Editor.
Born in Abavo, Ika South LGA of Delta State, he attended Ekuma Primary School and Saint Charles College, both in Abavo where he had First School Leaving Certificate and School Certificate/GCE (O/Level).
While at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile -Ife in Osun State, he became a regular feature in several Newspapers and Magazines including TELL/DATELINE, The NEWS/TEMPO, AFRICAN CONCORD and THE WEEK that were thorns in the flesh of the military.
His first published article appeared in NIGERIAN TRIBUNE; his name was already a popular brand in campus and among lecturers.
One of his lecturers in Great Ife, Prof. Adebayo Williams was also one of his mentors in writing. He was loved by students in Angola, Awo, Fajuyi, Moremi and Akintola (Sports) Halls.
Olokor took a Bachelor of Arts (B.A Honours) degree in literature in English with second class honours (lower division) from OAU Ile-Ife in 1997 and between 1997 and 1998, he did the compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at the College of Education, Ekiadolor in Edo State, from where an NGO, Exam Ethics Project (EEP) conferred on him an award.
Olokor who also holds a masters degree in English (Literature) – 2002 from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), has been in active journalism practice for the past 24 years without break; his experiences span across popular brands including The NEWS/TEMPO/PM News, National Interest, DAILY TIMES, Financial Standard and Champion Newspapers.
He has attended journalism courses at home and abroad with certificates including the prestigious course in Anti-Corruption Reporting in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Olokor was PUNCH Correspondent in Benin, Edo State and barely four months, he was transferred to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
After seven years, he was transfered to the Plateau State office of THE PUNCH. While in Jos, he broke stories on the incessant crisis between herders and local farmers.
He was returned to Abuja before the 2019 elections to strengthen the Politics Desk.
He’s presently a Utility Reporter covering many activities in areas such as INEC, CSOs, religion, gender, education and health.
He had covered serious events including the 2014 national conference; Presidential Elections and Ekiti governorship (rerun) elections (2009); Kogi State (2015) and Bauchi State (2019).
