18/04/2026
Melony Ishola is an award-winning international journalist, filmmaker, and multimedia expert with two decades of experience across television and radio. Currently serving as the Head of Programmes at PUNCH, Nigeria’s most widely read newspaper, Melony has built a career defined by high-impact storytelling and rigorous investigative reporting.
A trailblazer in her field, she made history as the first African Slampion at the Reporter Slam in South Africa, later representing the continent on the global stage in Berlin. Her creative platform, MelonyTV, serves as a hub for her diverse content, including the flagship show , which amplifies stories of resilience and hope.
As a survivor and a subject matter expert on gender-based violence, Melony is the driving force behind the movement. Her investigative documentary of the same name has garnered international film festival acclaim, sparking global dialogue on ending Female Ge***al Mutilation (FGM). A sought-after moderator and host, her advocacy has been featured on premier platforms including Arise TV, NewsCentral Africa, and the National Television Authority (NTA).
Melony is an alumna of the University of Lagos and has received advanced training from the Lagos Business School, Aga Khan Graduate School of Media and Communications, Kenya, and the Radio Netherlands Training Center. She is also the author of “35 Years A Virgin: Musings On Some Of Life’s Interesting Phenomenons.
