Farooq Kperogi

Farooq Adamu Kperogi (born March 30, 1973, in Okuta, Baruten, Kwara State, Nigeria) is a Nigerian-American professor, author, media scholar, newspaper columnist, blogger, and activist. He is a prominent voice on Nigerian media, political criticism, and English usage, particularly Nigerian English. Early Life and Education Kperogi was born into the Bariba (Baatonu) ethnic group. He pursued his higher education in Nigeria before moving to the United States. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication from Bayero University, Kano, between 1993 and 1997. He then proceeded to the United States, earning a Master of Science degree in Communication from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. In 2011, he completed his academic training by receiving a Ph.D. from Georgia State University. His doctoral thesis was titled "Webs of Resistance: The Citizen Online Journalism of the Nigerian Digital Diaspora." Career Progression and Academic Work Kperogi has had a multifaceted career spanning journalism, government, and academia. In Nigeria, he worked as a reporter and news editor for several newspapers, including the *Daily Trust*, *Daily Triumph*, and the defunct *New Nigerian*. Between 2002 and 2004, he served in the Nigerian government under President Olusegun Obasanjo's administration as a presidential speechwriter and researcher. He also taught journalism at Ahmadu Bello University and Kaduna Polytechnic. He is currently a full professor of journalism and media at Kennesaw State University in Georgia, United States. His main academic interests include New Media, English usage, journalese, political criticism, Nigerian English, and World Englishes. Notable Works and Achievements Kperogi is a recognized author and media commentator. His published academic works include: * *Glocal English: The Changing Face and Form of Nigerian English in Global World* (Peter Lang, 2015). * *Nigeria's Digital Diaspora: Citizen Media, Democracy, and Participation* (University of Rochester Press, 2020), which received the "2021 CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title Winner" award.He maintains a strong presence in Nigerian public discourse through his long-running newspaper columns, "Politics of Grammar" and "Notes from Atlanta," which appear in publications such as the *Daily Trust* weekend editions and the *Nigerian Tribune*. Current Status and Recognition Farooq Kperogi is highly regarded for his scholarship and critical socio-political commentary on Nigerian affairs, a role that has sometimes led to him receiving death threats from government supporters. His academic honors include the Outstanding Academic Achievement Award in Graduate Studies from Georgia State University and the NTA Prize for the Best Graduating Student in Mass Communication from Bayero University, Kano. He is married to Maureen Erinne Kperogi, and they have children together.