“Nigeria’s Digital Diaspora” a book by Farooq Kperogi, a columnist with Peoples Gazette, has won the 2021 Choice Outstanding Academic Title.

The category won by Mr Kperogi’s book has since the inception of the awards been the most prestigious.

Yearly, Choice publishes a list of Outstanding Academic Titles after many reviews during the previous calendar year. The publication reflects the best in scholarly titles reviewed by Choice and brings with it the extraordinary recognition of the academic library community.

“Nigeria’s Digital Diaspora,” published by the University of Rochester Press chronicles the emergence and transformation of Nigeria’s diasporic citizen journalism.

The book also asserts that a country’s transnational elite can shake its media ecosystem through distant online citizen journalism.

In his reaction to the feat, Mr Kperogi wrote on Twitter: “Just been informed that my book titled “Nigeria’s Digital Diaspora: Citizen Media, Democracy and Participation,” which was published by the University of Rochester Press last year, has been awarded the 2021 CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title Winner! Frankly wasn’t expecting this.”

“Such a nice way to end the year. See link to the award here,” he added.

Mr Kperogi is a professor of journalism at Kennesaw State University in the United States. He worked for several years as a reporter in Nigeria before moving to the United States, where he has lectured for nearly two decades.

He writes a weekly op-ed for Peopes Gazette that is widely popular amongst citizens and policymakers.