Former Sunday Editor of The Punch and Head of BBC, West Africa, Toyosi Ogunseye has been appointed as the new President & CEO of Presidential Precinct, a United States based organization that engages and inspires emerging leaders to address the most pressing challenges in their countries.
According to a statement by the organization on Wednesday, 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.
Her appointment is said to have followed a competitive international search campaign led by the Precinct’s Executive Committee in partnership with Lincoln Leadership.
She began her tenure with the organization as a 2014 Mandela Washington Fellow and has engaged consistently as a program alumna since.
“I’m honored to have this opportunity to lead such an impactful organization 9 years after I first walked through its doors,” said Ogunseye in response to her appointment.
“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.”
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.
“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.”
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.
As President & CEO of the Presidential Precinct, Ogunseye according to the organisation’s website will ensure strategic direction in the organization’s commitment to delivering world-class leadership programming that engages and inspires emerging leaders.
She is expected to bring unprecedented perspective to organizational priorities and program development.
“While gaining experience across multiple disciplines and several continents, Toyosi’s steadfast commitment has remained in empowering young people who are committed to improving their community and country.”
Toyosi has received over 35 international awards that include the Presidential Precinct’s Inaugural Young Leader Award (received alongside Secretary Madeline Albright), the ICFJ Knight International Journalism Award, and CNN’s African Journalist of the Year.
She holds a BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Lagos, a PGD in Print Journalism from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, and an MSc in Media and Communication from the Pan-Atlantic University, Nigeria.
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