The Africa Centre for Development Journalism has described the late ace journalist, Rotimi Sankore, as a professional who advocated democratic accountability, human rights and gender equality.

Mr Sankore, a former Executive Director/Editor In Chief of the ACDJ, died on April 12, 2024, after battling cancer. He was also a development and policy expert, journalism trainer, and human rights advocate until his death.

In a statement signed by Deji Dosunmu to commemorate his death, the ACDJ said the late Sankore’s legacy continued to stand tall in every newsroom he touched, considering his fearless commitment to evidence-based reporting.

It also noted that the deceased would continue to be remembered as his leadership qualities were instrumental in shaping different narratives in the journalism world in Nigeria.

“The African Centre for Development Journalism remembers the passing of its Executive Director/Editor In Chief, Rotimi Sankore, a dear colleague, mentor, and champion of truth, justice, and human dignity, today, April 12, 2025.

“Rotimi was more than a journalist. He fiercely advocated democratic accountability, human rights, gender equality, and public health across the African continent. His legacy stands tall in every newsroom he touched, every policy space where he demanded better for the marginalised, and in every mind, he inspired with his fearless commitment to evidence-based reporting.

“At the ACDJ, we were privileged to have been led by Rotimi on numerous projects that sought to elevate the quality and impact of development journalism in Africa. His leadership was instrumental in shaping narratives that moved beyond headlines to the heart of the issues that matter, from maternal health and migration to freedom of expression and the rights of vulnerable communities,” it read.

He noted that the late Mr Sankore believed in journalism as a force for good and not only to inform but to also empower.

It also explained that the deceased carried the “belief with integrity, passion, and an unwavering resolve that earned him admiration across sectors and borders,” stressing that in him it saw a rare blend of intellectual rigour, moral clarity, and practical activism.

Reflecting further on his lifetime, the group said it was reminded of his principles and drive to entrench an equal society, adding that, “In his memory, we reaffirm our commitment to the values he lived by, which include speaking truth to power, holding institutions accountable, and telling the stories that too often go unheard.

The statement read in part, “We are convinced that Rotimi’s legacy lives on, first, in the countless lives he touched directly and indirectly through the media and second, through the evolution of Development Reporting as a journalism niche gap he championed that is now being filled in Nigeria and Africa. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and the vast community of journalists, activists, and citizens who mourn his loss. May his legacy continue to inspire courage, action, and transformation.”