About Valentine Benjamin

Covering the social disruption from the Boko Haram crisis in northeast Nigeria, the abductions of schoolchildren in the northwest, and the threat of malaria— a major cause of maternal and child illness in Sub-Saharan Africa—amidst the concerns of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic impacting an economically unstable continent, I have written an array of stories.

With storytelling at the heart of my work, I've travelled across Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa to cover critical topics, including global health, development, human rights, environmental issues, and social justice movements across the region.

From documenting the lives of communities affected by human trafficking to covering innovative health solutions in Africa, I strive to bring underreported stories to light. I've led a multinational team of journalists on a 25-minute documentary, using filmmaking supported with drone videography, to amplify the voices of trafficked women across Africa, Asia and the Middle East regions.

Based in Lagos, I contribute to leading publications worldwide. My work, published in both English and French, has been featured in reputable outlets such as the Stanford Social Innovation Review, MIT Technology Review, The Guardian (UK), and The Christian Science Monitor, among others.

I also serve as the Africa correspondent for Retreading Business, a UK-based publication where I cover the retreading industry, delivering timely market analysis and executive interviews, expanding coverage of the African tyre retreading industry and increasing regional readership.

Well-grounded in journalism and strategic communication, I bring nearly a decade of experience with a deep commitment to social justice and global equity in all my work.