In the course of every person’s journey, there are certain things that aid their path to success.
One of them is the ability to take advantage of every opportunity to learn. Learning is a continual activity and no knowledge is lost. Therefore, it is important that in every situation we find ourselves, we take the opportunity to learn.
Award-winning investigative journalist and author Bukola Oriola shared the above perspective at a media discourse with Media Career Development Network, an organisation that focuses on coaching and mentorship of journalists.
The discourse explored insights on navigating a journalism career, a review of the author’s Imprisoned: The Travails of a Trafficked Victim book and navigating a global career during which she recalled her journey to becoming a bestselling author, motivational speaker, mentor, advocate, consultant and entrepreneur in the United States after surviving labour trafficking and domestic violence.
According to Oriola, she started her journalism journey after obtaining a diploma in Mass Communication with an interest in covering the local government and was asked to connect with other reporters covering the beat.
She was directed to The Punch Newspaper, but the paper didn’t have a space for local government reporters but had a political desk.
She however later found out there was an association for local government reporters and was directed to Remi Adefolu the then chairman of the Association of Local Government Reporters at the defunct National Concord Newspaper. She started covering events but her byline was not included in any story.
The turning point in her career happened when she attended an event at the University of Lagos and she was informed of a new newspaper, National Interest through a fellow male journalist and was directed to one of the editors, Mr Sunday Areh.
While at the newspaper, she wrote her first published story that had her byline and was able to write others. Due to her interest in education, she requested that the organisation have an Education desk.
Upon the creation of the education desk, other individuals were put in charge because she was neither a staff nor an intern, but she however she kept showing up. Oriola had a good relationship with one of the employees at the education desk and she was allowed to continue her work while she worked for free.
Oriola’s work at National Interest Newspaper provided her with the opportunity to learn the ropes of reporting work and has also helped her in another aspect of her than news writing. Her bylines started getting attention and this helped her in building her skills, including winning media awards and participation in international media fellowships and coverage of major conferences.
Based on her writing and advocacy work, she has been a member of the US Advisory Council on Human Trafficking appointed by former President Barack Obama in 2025 and reappointed by former President Donald Trump in 2018.
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She also served as a member of the International Survivors of Human Trafficking Advisory Council (ISTAC), appointed by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).
Depicting her experiences in two memoirs, she has dedicated her life to helping others by sharing her story and offering practical solutions to service providers, and community members on how to help victims of human trafficking and domestic violence.
Her work has reached millions around the world. Oriola is the founder and Executive Director, of The Enitan Story, a Minnesota-based nonprofit organization with a mission to advocate for victims and empower survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence.
She is the CEO of Bukola Oriola Group, LLC, formerly known as Bukola Braiding & Beauty Supply, LLC. She’s an entrepreneur who uses her skills to help others become entrepreneurs through book publishing and small business creation.
Her story speaks of sacrifice, resilience and willingness to learn. She also spoke of the importance of time management and doing things worthwhile.
A woman of valor