Sandra Ezekwesili

Sandra Ezekwesili was born in Port Harcourt. She spent the first few years of her life in Enugu, attending Holy Rosary College, and earning a bachelor's degree in mass communication from the Enugu State University of Science and Technology.^[2]

Ezekwesili began her broadcasting career with the Enugu State Broadcasting service in 2009 and joined Cool FM Port Harcourt in 2013.^[3]

In November 2018, she transitioned from Cool FM Port Harcourt to its sister station, Nigeria Info 99.3FM Lagos, a news and current affairs talk radio station. She became the host of Hard Facts, the station's evening prime time talk program.

Ezekwesili has been involved in environmental advocacy in Rivers State, particularly in relation to the air-pollution crisis widely known as the “soot” problem in Port Harcourt. She was among the early media figures who drew public attention to the issue through radio programming and social-media commentary, using the hashtag #StopTheSoot to highlight residents’ concerns about health and environmental risks.^[4][5]

The air-pollution crisis and the civic response to it, including the online campaign, received international coverage. CNN reported on the soot in 2018 and noted Ezekwesili’s role in amplifying awareness through the #StopTheSoot hashtag.^[6] A report by VICE described her as a broadcast journalist and community organiser who took part in public awareness efforts and mobilization related to the pollution.^[7]

The Pulitzer Center has also documented the environmental and political dimensions of the soot crisis, identifying Ezekwesili among individuals contributing to public advocacy and commentary on the issue.^[8]

Coverage in subsequent years has continued to reference the ongoing pollution and Ezekwesili’s commentary on government response, public health implications, and citizen-led monitoring efforts.^[9]

In addition to her environmental advocacy, Ezekwesili has used her radio and social-media platforms to comment on social and public-affairs issues in Nigeria. As host of the current-affairs programme Hard Facts on Nigeria Info FM, she discussed a wide range of civic topics, including governance, accountability, elections, and the conduct of public institutions.^[10]

Her commentary has included women’s rights and gender-based social norms. In March 2017, following the sexual‑assault allegations involving reality‑TV participant TBoss on Big Brother Naija, Ezekwesili publicly raised concerns about consent and supported calls for a national conversation on the topic through posts on her Twitter account. ^[11]

Her advocacy for women's rights and issues earned her the Her Network Woman of the Year in Journalism award in 2021.

In 2024, she drew media attention for emphasising that married women retain personal autonomy, arguing publicly that “your husband has no right to order you not to go out,” a statement widely reported in Nigerian press.^[12]

Ezekwesili has also been associated with youth-led civic movements. During the 2020 #EndSARS protests against police brutality, she expressed support for protesters and the calls for accountability, joining other Nigerian media figures who used their platforms to amplify the demands of the movement.^[13]

In June 2021, following the death of TB Joshua, Ezekwesili expressed strong criticism of his ministry through social media and interviews. She argued that despite public eulogies, the ministry had “done a lot of damage,” calling it “toxic and exploitative.” She questioned the practice of encouraging followers to abandon medical care in favour of spiritual healing — noting that TB Joshua himself reportedly visited a hospital while ill. ^[14]

Through her journalism career and public commentary, Ezekwesili has been identified in media coverage as part of a cohort of broadcasters who engage with national issues and civic debates on air, contributing to public discussions about social justice and governance in contemporary Nigeria.^[4]

Year	Event	Prize	Result	Ref
2021	HER Network	Woman of The Year Journalism	Won	.[15]
2021	Women In Journalism Africa	25 Most Powerful Women in Journalism Nigeria	Honorable Mention	.[16]
2021	9to5 Chicks	Top 100 Career Women in Nigeria	Honorable Mention	.[17]
2019	Avance Media	100 Most Influential Young Nigerians	Honorable Mention	.[18]
2019	The Future Awards Africa	Prize for OAP(Audio & Visual)	Won	.[19]
2018	ELOY	OAP- of the year (Radio)	Nominated	.[20]