August 2025 Book Reading with Akpandem James

August Book Reading with Akpandem James

About the author

Akpandem James is a media and communication expert with extensive experience in strategic communication and corporate governance. More than twenty-two years of experience in leadership, supervisory roles and advisory services, working at strengthening public engagement and implementing wide-scale communication and visibility strategies aimed at driving understanding and engaging the Nigerian people and key international stakeholders around the Nigerian government’s economic development and growth strategy, including the oil and gas industry.

More than thirty (30) years of professional experience in Nigeria in print and digital media, strategic communication, institutional relations and political communication. His areas of specialty are media, communication and corporate Governance, and, he has proven competence in perception and image management, organisational leadership, media planning, development and consultancy and corporate affairs strategy and logistics.

He studied at The Salvation Army Secondary School, Akai Ubium; The Polytechnic, Calabar, where he obtained an Ordinary National Diploma in Mass Communication; the University of Uyo for a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Arts; University of Liverpool, UK, for a Master of Business Administration degree in Leadership; and Bingham University, Karu, for a Master of Science degree in Mass Communication.

He is a Strategic Communication and Perception Management Consultant for the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). He was the Team Lead, Technical Working Group (Communication and Stakeholders’ Engagement Sub Committee) for the preparation of Nigeria’s Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) 2021-2025 and Nigeria Agenda 2050 (June 2020 – February 2021) and the Lead Consultant, UNDP-sponsored capacity workshop for Government Spokespersons and Information Officers in 2020.

Between 2016 and 2o19, James was the Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister of Budget and National Planning. Before that, he was Head of Media and Communications at the 2014 National Conference.
Other career engagements at various times include:
• Member Governing Council, Federal Polytechnic, Ohodo, Enugu State
• Chairman, Editorial Advisory Board, Naija Times Newspaper
• Lead Consultant, Perception Logistics Limited
• Member, Governing Board, Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Lagos
• Special Media Adviser/Honorary Consultant to the National Cancer Prevention
• Project
• CEO, Independent Newspapers Limited
• Managing Editor, Independent Newspapers
• Member, Editorial Board, Independent Newspapers
• Editor, Daily Independent
• Deputy Editor, Daily Independent
• Assistant Editor, Saturday Punch
• Group News Editor, Punch Newspapers

Before venturing into the media field, he had worked with the Mercantile Bank of Nigeria Limited and the Judiciary Headquarters in Calabar, Cross River State.

His pastime is research and documentation. He has written books and research papers in academic journals. Some of his publications include books like:
• The Road Travelled (2024)
• ‘The force behind the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan’. A chapter in the book: Osinbajo Strides: Defining Moments of an Innovative Leader (2023).
• ‘Multi-layered Dysfunctional State of Ethics in Corporate Nigeria – fixable or unfixable. A chapter in the book: Readings in Diplomacy, Democracy, Peace and Development: A Festschrift for Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, CFR, published by Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows’ Alumni Association of Nigeria and Savannah Centre for Diplomacy and Development, in conjunction with a consortium of Nigerian Universities (2023).
• Ethical Corporate Communication and Business Productivity in Nigeria: The Nexus. In the book: Contemporary Issues in Changing Business Scenarios. Journal Press, India.
• The Nigerian Conversation: Interests and Intrigues that shaped the 2014 National Conference. Wordsworth Global Resources Limited, Abuja (2022) (co-authored).
• Alaibe: Character, Charisma, Integrity – Essays in honour of Chief ‘Timi Alaibe. Wordsworth Global Resources Limited, Abuja (2022).
• Echoes of the Traditional Society, ED-CUMI Publishing Company Limited, Abuja, (2017).
• Memories of Yesteryears – Nostalgic Reminiscences, Banc and All Publishers, Abuja (2016).
• The New Media and Communication Education in Nigeria: The Infrastructure Perspective’. In the book: Critical Issues in Public Relations and Communication, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) Book Series (2012).
• The Baba-Rabi Story – A story of love and giving (The Baba-Rabi Initiative) 2021.
• National Conference Media Bulletin – a compendium of activities at the 2014 National Conference in Abuja – April to August 2014.
• The National Conference Photo book (a compendium of profiles of the leadership and delegates to the 2014 National Conference), Abuja 2014.
• ‘Enhancing employability of Nigerian Universities’ graduates in a competitive global economy’, Distinguished Alumni Lecture Series No. 1, University of Uyo, (2015).
• Compendium of Press Releases from the Ministry of Budget and National Planning between January 2016 and May 2019.
• Compendium of Speeches and Presentations made by Ministers of Budget and National Planning between January 2016 and May 2019.
• More than 250 articles and commentaries in various newspapers, magazines and specialised/corporate journals.
• Edited four other books.
• Foreword to the book: On the Ruins of Warsaw (2021), written by Soyombo Opeyemi.
Those in the peer-reviewed academic journal category include:
• ICT and Corporate Communication in Nigeria: The Social Media Perspective (2023), in the Nigerian Journal of Communication Review.
• Social Media as a Strategic Tool for Corporate Communication in Nigeria (2023) in Nasarawa Journal for Multi-media and Communication Studies.
• The role of Social Media platforms in the promotion of corporate brand image and reputation in Nigeria. (2023), in the Journal of Arts and Social Science Research.
• Assessment of Peace Journalism in the quest for harmony in Nigeria’s pluralistic society (2022) in the Journal of Communication and Media Research (2024).
Apart from presentations at workshops, conferences and seminars, James has also done academic dissertations on:
• Perception of Federal Information Officers on the use of Social Media in the promotion of Corporate Communication in Nigeria, in partial fulfilment of the award of Master of Science degree in Mass Communication, Bingham University, Karu.
• Effect of Cultural Conflicts on the Management of Public Institutions in Nigeria, in partial fulfillment of the award of MBA in Leadership, University of Liverpool.
James is a Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors; a Fellow of the West African Society for Communication and Administration; a Member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ); Member, International Biographical Centre (IBC), Cambridge, UK; Member, Project Syndicate Editors Forum, Prague/New York; and Associate member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (ANIPR).
Major honours and awards include:
• Medal of Honour of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for National Service (as Principal Officer of the 2014 National Conference)
• Nigerian Institute of Public Relations’ Special Recognition Award for National Service (2014).
• International Association of Lions Clubs, District 404A, Nigeria, Professional Excellence Award (Media Category) (2007).
• Listed in the International Directory of the International Biographical Centre (IBC), Cambridge, UK (2006).
• Nigeria Union of Journalists Press Freedom Award for Excellence (2004).
• Listed in the University of Uyo Alumni Order of Achievers (2017).
• Distinguished Alumnus Award, Dept of Communication Arts, University of Uyo, (2005).
• Association of Communication Arts Students (ACAS) Most Innovative Media Executive Award, University of Uyo (2010).
• Runner-up, Dele Giwa Award for Editor of the Year (Nigeria Media Merit Awards (NNMA) (2006)
• Nominee, Editor of the Year (2005) (NNMA)

His work philosophy is to interact in a cooperative and harmonious way, work effectively as a team player, establish positive relationships and attain desired goals.

James loves reading, researching, writing, playing football, listening to good music and watching good movies. He is married and blessed with two generation of children.

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