{{Short description|Nigerian journalist and politician}} {{Infobox person | name = Stephen Adewale | image = ADEWALE STEPHEN IN HIS OFFICE.jpg | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|August 3, 1982|df=y}} | birth_place = Akure, Ondo State | alma_mater = {{hlist|Obafemi Awolowo University}} | occupation = {{hlist|Journalist|politician}} | office = Ondo State SDP chair }}
'''Stephen Adewale''' is a Nigerian journalist and politician who is the current head of station at KAFTAN TV.
== Biography == Adewale was born on 3 August 1982 in Akure, Ondo State. He started his education in 1998 at Salvation Army Primary School and was admitted to Obafemi Awolowo University in 2007 where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in History and International Relations.<ref name="Akinyemi">{{Cite news|title="My growing days were challenge-filled"—Mr. Stephen Adewale, Ondo SDP Chairman|first=Bioluwatife|last=Akinyemi|date=22 October 2023|url=https://tribuneonlineng.com/my-growing-days-were-challenge-filled-mr-stephen-adewale-ondo-sdp-chairman/|access-date=31 October 2023|newspaper=Nigerian Tribune}}</ref>
After meeting Adewole Adebayo in 2014,<ref name=TheSun/> Adewale was crucial in the creation of KAFTAN TV and is the current head of station.<ref>{{cite news|title=Stephen Adewale at 40 – A Leader of Leaders!|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/08/stephen-adewale-at-40-a-leader-of-leaders/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|first=Racheal|last=Roberts|date=3 August 2022|newspaper=Vanguard|access-date=31 October 2023}}</ref> In 2015, Adewale was made a director of African Dialogue Mission and joined the African Union Joint Task Force on Peace and Security in 2016.<ref name=TheSun>{{cite news|title=From Journalism to Political Juggernaism: Meet Stephen Adewale|date=27 October 2023|newspaper=The Sun|url=https://sunnewsonline.com/from-journalism-to-political-juggernaism-meet-stephen-adewale/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=31 October 2023}}</ref> In 2022, Adewale was made the chairman of Social Democratic Party in Ondo State.<ref name=TheSun/>
== Early life and education == Adewale was born on 3 August 1982 to Mr. Ademola Adewale and Mrs Eunice Adunni (née Kumuyi). He hails from Akure in Akure South Local Government, the capital city of Ondo State. He attended Salvation Army Primary School in Akure. Having worked as a bus conductor for many years, he later attended Prospect High School in Akure for his Secondary School education. He then went on to study History/International Relations at Obafemi Awolowo University and graduated in 2011. Adewale observed his mandatory one year National Youth Service Corps at Osun State College of Education, Ilesa.<ref name="Akinyemi"/>
== Personal life == Adewale is married to Mrs Kehinde Adewale (née Akinwale).{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}
== Writing career == He began writing while a student at Obafemi Awolowo University. Stephen has written over 100 opinion pieces for national and online newspapers.<ref>{{Cite news|title="The nexus between politics and journalism in Nigeria"=|first=Solomon|last=Aribisala|date=22 October 2023|url=https://guardian.ng/news/the-nexus-between-politics-and-journalism-in-nigeria/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=14 November 2023|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> His first academic piece was a contribution to a Cambridge Scholars book.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.cambridgescholars.com/resources/pdfs/978-1-5275-1660-1-sample.pdf|title=Security Challenges and Management in Modern Nigeria|publisher=Cambridge Scholars |date=2018 |isbn= 978-1-5275-1660-1|access-date=28 December 2023}}</ref> He has also written an academic article on the role of civil society in the Nigerian Leadership Project. He produced yet another revolutionary study, this time focusing on Internally Displaced Persons and their challenges for survival in Abuja.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Internally displaced persons and the challenges of survival in Abuja|first=Stephen|last=Adewale|date=24 March 2016|url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10246029.2016.1154475/|access-date=14 November 2023|journal=African Security Review|volume=25 |issue=2 |pages=176–192 |doi=10.1080/10246029.2016.1154475 |s2cid=147257951 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
==Books== Adewale is the author of the following books: * "A Surge from the Forest: Towards Rescuing the Africa's Giant from the Boko Haram's Clench"<ref>{{cite book|title=A Surge from the Forest: Towards Rescuing the Africa's Giant from the Boko Haram's Clench |author= Stephen Adewale |publisher=Grin Verlag |date=2014 |isbn=978-3656747956 }}</ref> *''From Structural Adjustment to Privatisation in Nigeria''<ref>{{cite book|title=From Structural Adjustment to Privatisation in Nigeria |author= Stephen Adewale |publisher=Grin Verlag |date=2014 |isbn=978-3656766551 }}</ref>
==Political career== Adewale was elected Chairman of the Social Democratic Party in Ondo State by the party's delegates on April 8, 2023.<ref>{{cite news|title=2023: Adewale emerges Ondo SDP Chairman, says APC, PDP made Nigeria poorer, backward since 1999|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/04/2023-adewale-emerges-ondo-sdp-chairman-says-apc-pdp-made-nigeria-poorer-backward-since-1999/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|first=Dayo|last=Johnson|date=10 April 2023|newspaper=Vanguard|access-date=31 December 2023}}</ref> When Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu failed to transfer power to his the deputy, Adewale's SDP rose to prominence, taking the lead in the campaign for power transfer to Lucky Aiyedatiwa.<ref>{{cite news|title=Akeredolu: SDP urges handover to deputy, as Ondo govt insists governor is fit|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/603416-akeredolu-sdp-urges-handover-to-deputy-as-ondo-govt-insists-governor-is-fit.html|first=Josiah|last=Oluwole|date=9 June 2023|newspaper=Premium Times|access-date=30 December 2023}}</ref> Adewale's efforts were so noticeable that he was named one of Ondo State's five young major political actors.<ref>{{cite news|title=Top 5 Political Players in Ondo State|url=https://dailytimesng.com/top-5-political-players-in-ondo-state/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|first=Grace|last=Ihesiulo|date=24 October 2023|newspaper=Daily Times|access-date=31 December 2023}}</ref> Adewale resigned as Chairman of the Social Democratic Party on December 31, 2023.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ondo SDP Chairman, Hon. Stephen Adewale Resigns|url=https://topshotnews.com.ng/ondo-sdp-chairman-hon-stephen-adewale-resigns//|first=Ngozi|last=Aduloju|date=1 January 2024|access-date=1 January 2024}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Adewale, Stephen}} Category:1982 births Category:Nigerian journalists Category:Nigerian politicians Category:Living people