Announcing the appointment on its website today, the organization which inspires emerging leaders to address the most pressing challenges in their countries, proudly stated that Toyosi Ogunseye “is only the second to take this role at the Presidential Precinct, following nearly a decade of transformational leadership from Founding Director Neal Piper”.

It is further stated: “Few individuals are closer to the mission of the Presidential Precinct than Ogunseye; she began her tenure with the organization as a 2014 Mandela Washington Fellow and has engaged consistently as a program alumna since.”

Accepting the appointment, Ogunseye stated: “I’m honored to have this opportunity to lead such an impactful organization 9 years after I first walked through its doors. “I look forward to innovative collaborations with our staff, Board, program alumni, and community partners in Williamsburg and Charlottesville. Working together, we will expand and elevate tools and resources that have distinguished the Presidential Precinct as a transformative public diplomacy organization.”

According to the announcers, Ogunseye has two decades of leadership experience in journalism, most recently serving as a Senior News Editor for News and Commissioning at the BBC. She began her tenure with the BBC as Head of Language Services for West Africa. Prior to joining BBC, Ogunseye was the first female editor in the 50-year history of Punch Newspaper, Nigeria’s most widely read newspaper. In addition, she recently concluded her term as Vice President of the World Editors Forum and Board member of the World Association of News Publishers.

Her appointment followed a competitive international search campaign led by the Precinct’s Executive Committee in partnership with Lincoln Leadership.

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“Toyosi’s experience combined with partnerships and resources that we have established over the past ten years will guarantee a bright future at the Precinct,” said Jim Murray, the organization’s Founder and Board Chair. “We began this search process by looking far and wide; little did we know that after six months of exhaustive outreach and networking, one of our own would be stepping in to lead. I am grateful for Toyosi’s longstanding commitment to the Precinct. We have much to look forward to.”

A graduate of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) where she received a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry, Ogunseye has won over 25 media awards including the health category of the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year Awards in 2011 and 2013, The Future Awards Africa 2013, and the Child-Friendly Reporter of the Year by the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME).

She got a post-graduate diploma in print journalism from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism. In 2010, she earned a master’s degree in Media and Communications from Pan-Atlantic University.

Ogunseye ventured into journalism starting her career at The Sun Newspaper under the tutelage of the Crime Editor, Dipo Kehinde in 2004, when Femi Adesina was the Daily Editor and Musa Ebomhiana was the News Editor.

She later moved to News Star Newspaper as a senior correspondent in 2007. In 2009, she joined The Punch Newspaper as the sub-assistant editor for news and politics till 2012.
Before she became an editor she had worked for Sunday Punch as both news editor and senior correspondent, specializing in crime on both local and international levels.

The Presidential Precinct

The Presidential Precinct engages and inspires emerging leaders to address the most pressing challenges in their countries. Over 1,300 leaders from more than 162 countries have joined the Presidential Precinct’s programs and returned home to invest their knowledge, expertise, and networks to transform the lives of millions worldwide. The Precinct sits at the center of a four-member consortium, consisting of two premier universities – the University of Virginia and William & Mary – and two internationally renowned historic sites – James Madison’s Montpelier and James Monroe’s Highland.

Newspot reporting with Newsmaker.