About Us

 About the Nigerian Spectator Magazine

At the dawn of a new progressive era and a time of socio-political and economic transformation for Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world, The Nigerian spectator seeks to strengthen the capacity of activists, engaged citizens, and public officials to pursue new policies and new possibilities for social justice, good governance and sustainable development.

The Nigerian spectator was founded in 2010 by the 21st century media and communications network as an authoritative magazine of liberal ideas, committed to a just society, an enriched democracy, and effective liberal politics. Over time, the Nigerian spectator will focus on growing into a print journal with an average monthly readership of some 100,000, a special in-depth report on most topical issues, and a daily Web magazine that can boast of above 1 million unique monthly visitors.
The magazine’s founding purpose is to demonstrate that progressive ideas could animate a majority politics; to restore to intellectual and political respectability the case for social investment; to energize civic democracy and give voice to the disenfranchised; and to counteract the growing influence of conservative and conformist media.

The Nigerian spectator shall serve as a vital link between ideas and political activism, principally enabling those who want to understand how public policies affect their lives, and how they can affect public policies, to see the opportunities and challenges of the moment. The Nigerian spectator is poised to beaming a search light onto the corner where politics and policy meet, illuminating the forces that shape progressive social change. We hope to be respected for being an embodiment of reliable journalism who puts a human face on public questions. We shall provide a forum for productive debate about social justice and reform, from small policy choices with big implications to overarching ideas about our obligations to one another. The Nigerian spectator brings new ideas and perspectives into the mainstream of public conversation. And through its Writing Fellows program and contributors getting involved initiative and other initiatives, the Nigerian spectator shall open a pathway for new, younger, and more diverse voices to join the public debate.

The viewpoint of the Nigerian spectator is that of committed, engaged progressives–realistic but committed to the idea that there is greater range for genuinely transformative policies than is often imagined, especially in Nigeria. We believe in an economy that provides broadly shared prosperity, and in which a foundation of economic security allows all people to make the most of their own talents and aspirations. We believe in a renewed democracy, based on transparency and civic engagement. The Nigerian spectator writers and columnists shall be dedicated to writing emphatically about the need for a decisive and ambitious response to the current socio-economic crisis, about the urgency of universal health care, universal basic education, poverty alleviation, basic infrastructure, power as well as the options for achieving it, about the revolutionary possibilities of corruption eradication, people oriented legislation as well as the political obstacles to achieving it.

At the same time, we take seriously our role as a forum for constructive debate and civil argument about ideas across a wide range of the center-left political spectrum. We don’t have a party line, because we believe that robust, challenging internal debate, as well as honest and respectful engagement with philosophical conservatism, will strengthen our ideas, resolve weaknesses, and find the basis for compromise that leads to change.

The Nigerian spectator’s articles shall generate debate, further ideas, and set agendas. In the future, we are optimistic that Political leaders and even journalists shall look to the Nigerian spectator to see what smart, resolute liberals have to say. So will our subscribers and varied readers, who shall include notables and ordinary citizens who want a practical politics for a progressive Nigeria.

The Nigerian spectator is a monthly magazine and associated website of liberal politics and socio cultural emancipation. We’re a socialist publication drawing heavily on masses inclined, people based and libertarian politics. We seek to be a space for the much advocated and desired debate on the left, a resource for movements for social justice, and a home for anyone who wants to see a Nigeria in a world based on equality, meaningful democracy, freedom, access to basic rights & infrastructure, devoid of corruption practices in consonance with sustainable development ideologies..

The Nigerian spectator is independent of all political parties, and whilst not rejecting party politics, we seek to help build the kind of pluralistic, dynamic movements which can fundamentally challenge our political and economic system, by way of lending our voice to the ongoing challenge of condemning its entrenched injustice, structures of power and oppression, elitist aggrandizement and manipulation of the majority with a reoccurring tendency towards ethnic and religious war to achieve parochial political objectives thereby continuously looting our collective treasury and heritage while precipitating colossal environmental destruction and degradation at the expense of the generation next. Although based in Nigeria, we have links and correspondents around Africa, Asia, Europe and the United States of America, through which we aim to cover every relevant event and present succinct perspectives from outside the shores of our country on all core issues.

We’re a non-profit magazine and exist because all those involved believe the masses and the intelligentsia of Nigeria needs publications which are non-sectarian yet unafraid to take a stand, radical yet non-dogmatic and thoughtful yet orientated on real-world activism. If you think so too, please consider becoming a subscriber.

Editorial: the birth of a new socio-political space in Nigeria.
Abdullahi abdulmajeed, the editor in chief, on the need for deeper and entrenched democracy and public accountability in Nigeria.
Nigeria is no doubt a major and highly respected player in sub Saharan Africa and the world at large.

Editorial Charter
Nigerian spectator is a magazine of unbiased and non sectarian information, dedicated to the enlightenment, education, empowerment and emancipation of all Nigerians. It is aimed at providing a forum for Nigerians to debate ideas and institute action. The Nigerian spectator encompasses a broad range of views but its basic editorial viewpoint is:

• strive towards the actualization of the ideals and aspirations for a classless society. A society where all citizens are not deprived of their basic human rights, towards the provision of a fulfilled and dignified life for all
• to promote development that recognizes that the needs of future generations can only be met if economies become based on sustainable development, preserving natural resources and providing technologies that enhance life. Such economies require a redistribution of present concentrations of private land and wealth under a variety of forms of democratic control.

• The eradication of discrimination on the basis of race, gender, nationality, sexuality, religion and bodily or mental ability is as central to peaceful coexistence as the ending of class exploitation.

•Accordingly we stand for:
• peaceful evolution not violent revolution; mutual solidarity between those organising for a better world against the new world order of the multi-nationals, banks and unaccountable inter-governmental institutions.
• Sustainable, socially useful production: a redistribution of wealth and waged labour so everyone has the opportunity to earn an independent livelihood.
• Welfare not warfare: the dismantling of cold war arsenals and institutions and the diversion of resources to meeting basic needs for nutrition, shelter, health, education and autonomy.
• Self-determination and democracy: the right of peoples to determine their own future and preferred form of government free from state repression or elite suppression.

Get involved
The Nigerian spectator is liberation project as much as a magazine, and there are a number of ways of getting involved:

SELL NIGERIAN SPECTATOR
We always need people to sell Nigerian spectator at bus stops, corner shops, events up and down the country – not just at political gatherings and public meetings, but local festivals or cultural events. You can also help make sure your local bookshop or newsagent stocks it. If you’re part of a progressive cause campaigning group, and would like to sell the Nigerian spectator magazine and keep a percentage of the cover price to help fund your group or make some personal commissions for yourself, just contact us to agree on the terms. In all cases, email or call.

Invite an editor to speak
Nigerian spectator editors are happy to speak at meetings if time permits (editing is voluntary and the editors all have paid jobs elsewhere). The editors have different areas of expertise, but between them can cover a wide range of nationally imperative issues on politics, issues of masses liberation, nation building, youth empowerment, national strategy and organisation. Email editors@ nigerian spectatormagazine.org. or call to request an editor speak at your meeting, including both the content and expected audience.

Volunteer for pay with the Nigerian Spectator Magazine
There are lots more we’d like to be able to do with Nigerian spectator, so we welcome offers of help from people with particular skills. For instance, do you have audio or video recording and editing skills that could help us move into multimedia? Could you help us fundraise? Are you a model (upcoming or pro) who is willing to adorn our fashion pages or a designer who could design t-shirts, images for our magazine and website, or illustrations for the magazine? Rush now and get in touch cos the good news is you can make some money from volunteering for us Email: lifestyleandsociety@ nigerian spectatormagazine.org or call Please note that we have very limited space, so we urge you to throw your hat into the ring early.

Write for The Nigerian Spectator Magazine
In contrast to the mainstream media, The Nigerian spectator magazine’s content comes directly from a fusion of in house writers and a national and international network of writers who are all commited to the just struggle for the emancipation and liberation of the Nigerian people .Writers must be dedicated to the singular most important cause of a unified and just Nigeria that works. Given our limited resources, we are unable to pay writers the world for their contributions, but we ensure they are commensurately compensated and we are always open to receiving article proposals either for the magazine or the website. Most writers volunteer to write for free while others require logistics to facilitate their intellectual contributions. To both parties, we are committed to working with.

A typical Nigerian spectator magazine article offers background and context to political issues, a challenge to intellectual/political convention and what the mainstream media are saying, an important story that hasn’t been covered elsewhere, or one that provokes debate and action on an important issue for the real people of the country.
Most articles published in The Nigerian spectator magazine are written specifically with the magazine in mind, and reflect our style and concerns. Be sure you are familiar with the magazine’s political approach before submitting anything for consideration. You are encouraged to submit a synopsis of 100-200 words outlining your article or idea – please do not send large manuscripts or raw articles.

The synopsis should include the following:
• What subject or story you plan to cover
• What kind of article it is (ie, news, comment, essay, review)
• If a comment or essay piece, its main argument
• Where it will fit best in the magazine (eg, is it a feature? A political perspective story, public accountability issue or the nationalist column. ? etc)
• a clear sense of your planned approach, tone and style
• your full contact details
• whether you have published articles in other magazines or publications. Specify references
If we are interested in your proposal, we will contact you with suggestions on how to proceed and give you a deadline for submission and modalities of remuneration where applicable.
Please be aware that if we accept a piece, we cannot guarantee a particular issue in which it will be published or whether it will be in the magazine or on the website.
To submit a proposal email submissions@nigerianspectatormagazine.com or write to the editor in chief, the Nigerian spectator magazine, no or call .

Advertise with the Nigerian Spectator Magazine
Interested in reaching passive consumers with more money than sense? Who don’t care about the environmental or human cost behind your ad and are only interested in the latest model car or brand name trainer? Then, perhaps, advertising in the Nigerian spectator magazine isn’t for you.

On the other hand, if you want educated, affluent, informed and eager people who care about what they buy and actively choose to support businesses, products and services that are free from exploitation, then The Nigerian spectator magazine is the place to find them. Our readers are committed, loyal consumers, highly intelligent and sensitive who favour companies and products like yours – we think you will be very pleased with the results if you choose to advertise with us.
We are also a pretty good bet for campaign groups, NGOs, educational establishments and others who want to find the ideal market for their events and conferences, course advertising or to ask for donations.
Our readers are bright, passionate about the world and actively making conscious choices to support your kind of business or cause.
Exploitation goes both ways. We won’t rip you off or give you some nonsensical advertising spiel – just fair rates (with discounts for not-for-profit concerns and small business advertisers) and the chance to reach your target market.
To request a media pack or discuss advertising opportunities, contact ads@nigerian spectatormagazine.org or call
To advertise online, contact ads@nigerianspectatormagazine.org or call.