Kadaria Ahmed, best known for her groundbreaking work in Nigerian journalism and outspoken stance on social-political issues, has been in the spotlight due to the microphone incident.
Having earned widespread respect for her ethical journalism and governance work, Ahmed has taken on numerous high-profile roles, including founding Daria Media.
Highlights
- During a 2019 political debate in Nigeria, Kadaria Ahmed muted the microphone of candidate Omoyele Sowore for breaking debate rules.
- Following the incident, Kadaria was both praised and criticized. Some praised her professionalism and calm manner during the debate, but others questioned her objectivity and accused her of being biased.
- Ahmed is the CEO of Daria Media and a member of several journalism bodies, including the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, upholding her commitment to transparency and democratic values.
Recently, she became the focus of public attention due to a controversy now referred to as the Microphone Scandal, which has many people questioning where she is now.
So follow along to find out what caused the microphone scandal and where she is now as this article delves into what happened to Kadaria Ahmed.
Kadaria Ahmed’s Microphone Controversy Was Her Being A Fair Judge
The Microphone Scandal happened in 2019 during a political debate moderated by Kadaria Ahmed in Nigeria.
Ahmed, a journalist known for her forthrightness, was entrusted with the difficult task of moderating a heated debate among presidential candidates.
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The incident arose when Ahmed muted one of the microphones while the candidate was making their submission.
Furthermore, the reason why they were muted was because that candidate, Omoyele Sowore, founder of the online news agency Sahara Reporters, had broken the rules of procedure in the middle of another candidate’s speech.
This decision to mute Sowore’s microphone sent the media into a frenzy, with critics accusing Kadaria of partiality.
Many believed that she intended to silence opposing voices or to favor certain candidates. On her part, to defend herself, she stated that she had acted purely based on rules set up for the debate.
Moreover, this involved keeping fair play and decorum which is required of a moderator in an extremely charged political environment.
However, labels notwithstanding, the microphone incident did stain her professional record.
In some segments of public opinion, she has been praised for her professional calm, while others have taken issue with her integrity as a journalist.
But this has not diminished her stature as a key voice in Nigerian journalism-a defender of media freedom and standard ethics in reporting.
Kadaria Ahmed’s Influence on Nigerian Media Is Due To Her Career Built On Excellence
Since the microphone scandal, Kadaria Ahmed has continued her influential work in Nigerian media.
She remains a journalist keen on media advocacy with her role as the CEO and founder of Daria Media, a media company concentrating on several strands of investigative journalism and issues of public accountability.
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Moreover, Ahmed has shifted her focus toward strengthening democratic values and governance through media platforms as she is currently a member of the judging panel of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.
She also is on the Board of Trustees of the Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism and the Promasidor Quill Awards.
Additionally, she is also a member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors and the Nigerian Institute of Directors.
Despite allowing for some controversy, Ahmed’s approach to journalism has remained very much within the canons of transparency and fairness.
Apart from her media work, Kadaria has the opportunity to publicly criticize corruption and abuse of power in Nigeria.
Additional Infomation
- From her career as a prominent Nigerian journalist and media entrepreneur, has an estimated net worth of approximately $1.5 million.
- Ahmed earned an MA in Television from Goldsmiths, University of London, and a Bachelor’s degree from Bayero University Kano. She’s also a Chevening Scholar.
- Kadaria is married to her husband Yemi Adesida and her mother’s name is Hafsat Abdulwaheed.
