Dare Babarinsa; Journalist, born May 9, 1955 in Oke-Mesi Ekiti State. Babarinsa called for an account of the civil war from wartime Head of State and head of the separatist side in an article in 2003, advocating that the political problem in Nigeria must never again be subjected to the gory logic of the battlefield[i]. In a special report he heralded the winding down of apartheid in South Africa, predicting accurately, the inner politics of the many players[ii].
Babarinsa attended St. Andrew’s Anglican Primary School, Ife, Osun State. He was at the Anglican Grammar School, Ile-lfe between 1967 and 1973. He studied English (Education) at the University of Ife (now, Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU) between 1976 and 1978 and Mass Communication at the University of Lagos from1978. Dare got married to Adekemi Ibipomola Bamigbade in 1985 and raised children with her before her early demise.
Journalism
Dare Babarinsa started his journalism career as staff writer at the Drum magazine in 1982 and was Concord newspapers national assembly correspondent between 1982 and 1983. He was the Chief Correspondent in 1983 and was a pioneer Newswatch staff in 1984. He was executive editor of TELL magazine from its inception in 1991. Babarinsa is also an author, having a book, House of War[iii]. He was appointed Staff Writer, Drum in 1982; National Assembly Correspondent, Concord, 1982-83; Chief Correspondent, Concord, Akure, 1983-84; pioneer staff, Newswatch, 1984; Associate Editor, Newswatch. 1990; Executive Editor, Tell from 1991[iv]. In January 1985, Dare Babarinsa was a member of the tabloid, Newswatch team which had Dele Giwa as its editor-in-chief. He had never worked in an newsmagazine at this time and it was a novel experience confronted with gusto and enthusiasm. That team included his Ray Ekpu, Dan Agbese and Mohammed[v].
[i] TELL November 17, 2003
[ii] TELL November 13, 1991
[iii] TELL May 23, 2005
[iv] Newswatch Who is Who
[v] Westerner April 6, 2009
