Washington Post Deputy Digital Editor, Karen Attiah, will speak at the American University of Nigeria’s Distinguished Journalists’ Lecture Series on Tuesday, October 13. Known for her comprehensive and insightful writing on African politics, human rights, and development, Ms. Attiah will speak on “Nigeria after Boko Haram.”
At the same event, veteran journalist and rights activist, the late Hajiya Bilikisu Yusuf, who was a delegate to the International Peace and Development Conference hosted by AUN in June 2014, will be honored for her contribution to peace building and community development in the Northeast.
Ms. Attiah has worked as a consultant with the World Bank on social media for the Africa Region, having previously reported for Associated Press while she was in Curacao, contributing to Freedom House as an Africa analyst for their annual Freedom of the Press reports.
The African-American was a former Fulbright scholar and holds a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs with a concentration in Human Rights and a specialization in International Media, Advocacy, and Communications. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Northwestern University in Illinois.
The former Fulbright Scholar will be meeting with the AUN/U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) literacy project team to learn about “A Year of Literacy” project. She will also be appearing as a guest lecturer in some journalism classes as well as an entrepreneurship and development courses taught in the University.
To gain firsthand experience with the internally displaced persons in Yola, Ms. Attiah will be assisting with food distribution to IDPs and as well visiting other community projects hosted by the University.