The elders say that a roaring fire is not lit by mere twigs, nor does a mighty river dry up in a single day. Such is the life and legacy of Philip Jakpor, a man whose footsteps have left indelible marks on the sands of environmental justice and media advocacy. Like the ancient iroko tree that stands unshaken by the tempests, he has remained steadfast in his pursuit of truth, unearthing the hidden evils of corporations that seek to profit from the suffering of the people.
From the days of his youth, when his ink first met paper, Jakpor was no ordinary journalist. He was not one to merely skim the surface like the water bug that dances upon the river; he was the diver, plunging into the depths, retrieving the bitter truths that many feared to touch. In the newsrooms of NewAge Newspaper, The Westerner, and National Daily, he honed his craft—not as a merchant of half-truths but as a custodian of the people’s voice.
But the true calling of a warrior is not in words alone; it is in battle. And so, he took his fight to the citadel of activism, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN). Here, he stood as an unbreakable pillar, side by side with comrades demanding that the oil giants—those modern-day leviathans—be held accountable for the unholy wounds they inflicted upon the Niger Delta. Many spoke in whispers about the destruction; Jakpor roared. Many feared the might of these corporate behemoths; Jakpor charged forward like the warrior of old, spear in hand, voice uncracked.
However, a river does not stop at one village—it flows, winding its way to nourish distant lands. Jakpor’s mission extended beyond the oil-stained waters of the Delta. He turned his gaze toward the deadly grip of the tobacco industry, where profit was placed above human life. His voice became a rallying cry, a hurricane of advocacy that led to Nigeria’s domestication of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2015. Even now, when the merchants of death attempt to circumvent the law, his fire continues to burn, exposing their deceit, ensuring that no life is sacrificed on the altar of corporate greed.
They say a great tree does not hoard its shade. True to this wisdom, Jakpor has spent years planting seeds in the minds of young journalists, watering them with knowledge, pruning them with guidance. Between 2010 and 2015, he spearheaded the Journalist Initiative for Sustainable Environment (JISE), training over 250 journalists to follow in his footsteps, to chase the truth with relentless fervor. Many of these journalists now stand as watchmen over the land, sounding the alarm when injustice seeks to creep in under the cover of darkness.
A man of Jakpor’s stature does not walk alone; he builds, he strengthens, he leaves behind monuments of progress. At Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), he brought his wealth of experience, championing policies that empower communities and expose corporate misconduct. But like the eagle that does not roost in one nest, he has taken flight once more. Now at the helm of the Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN), he continues his crusade, ensuring that no community stands alone against the forces that threaten their land, health, and future.
On this day, as the sun rises to mark another year in his journey, we do not merely wish Philip Jakpor a happy birthday. No. We honor him. We celebrate a man who has given his life to the pursuit of justice, who has borne the scars of battle and emerged unyielding.
We lift our voices in praise of a flame that refuses to die, a warrior whose shield has never fallen, a guardian of truth whose ink has sworn never to dry.
May his fire burn ever brighter. May his river never run dry. May the footprints he leaves behind guide generations yet unborn.
Happy Birthday, Philip Jakpor!