Lai Oso: Exit of a Media Scholar  

Though the sudden death of a renowned Professor of Mass Communication, Lai Oso, is a huge loss to the family and the academic community in Nigeria, the celebration of his scholarly contributions will continue to be a reference point for a

long time to come, writes Davidson Iriekpen

One death that shook the country recently, especially the media and academia, was the sudden demise of Professor Lai Oso, a renowned Professor of Mass Communication.

Oso died on Saturday, June 24, 2023, when his car reportedly plunged into a river along the Ijebu axis of Ogun State, along the Benin-Sagamu Expressway. He was said to be returning to Lagos from Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, where he was an external examiner at the Department of Mass Communication.

 The 67-year-old academic was a communication and media studies teacher at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, from where he proceeded to Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOA), Ago Iwoye, and later, the Lagos State University (LASU). He was also a visiting professor at many universities and institutions across the country.

Immediately after the news of his demise filtered in, soothing tributes in honour of the scholar flooded the Nigerian media space. From his last place of work – LASU to DELSU, University of Lagos and many other institutions in Nigeria, including civil society, and newsrooms, prominent Nigerians shared their experiences with the late scholar in his sojourn on earth.

His country home in Sagamu, likewise, was swarmed by well-wishers who commiserated with his wife, Abimbola, children and family members and used the occasion to celebrate his contributions to academic and professional bodies.

Oso meant different things to different people. For many, he was simply a scholar who helped to make scholars out of others through knowledge building, scholarly articles, and book publications. He was a mass communication scholar who mentored, encouraged and impacted so many professionals. Affable and humble, the deceased endeared himself to the younger generation of media and communication scholars and professionals who constantly sought his support and mentorship.

The professor, who was committed to mother earth last Friday, will always be remembered for the great work he did in the field of mass communication. Little wonder media professionals, colleagues, and others gathered last week specially eulogised him at a special session of tribute held at the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies (FCMS), LASU, in Ojo.

The event had in attendance many dignitaries, including representatives of Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN), African Council for Communication Education (ACCE), Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (APCON), Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), University of Lagos (UNILAG), Covenant University, Kwara State University (KWASU), Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Anchor University, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Caleb University, Imota, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Channels TV, International Press Centre (IPC), among others.

The session, which was part of the four-day funeral programme for the late scholar, was kicked-off by the Vice-Chancellor of LASU, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, who was represented by her deputy in charge of administration, Prof. Adenike Boyo.

Olatunji-Bello, according to Premium Times, remarked that Oso was “considered a fine Nigerian scholar who gave his all to the university. We are consoled that he lived an exemplary life.” The vice-chancellor said Oso was an inspiration to a new generation of researchers, noting that till his last breath, “he kept leaving a great impression on anybody he came across. This dutiful man has contributed to the development of education in Nigeria.”

Also speaking, the institution’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academics, Prof. Olufunsho Omobitan, a close ally and brother-in-law of the deceased, said Oso was passionate about the LASU project and the faculty.

“Ever cheerful, lawful and endearing to everyone, he always strives to make sure everyone has it better. I have fond memories that will linger forever,” Omobintan said.

The host of the event and dean of the faculty, Olayinka Alawode, said Oso lived an impactful life, saying, “He has done his best, and his memory lives on.”

A Professor of Public Relations and Advertising, and the immediate past dean of the faculty, Rotimi Olatunji, said the deceased had been his close ally since their first meeting in 2004.

“He was everything to everybody, including me. I met him in 2004 when he came for his one-year sabbatical. The remarkable thing is that he influenced me to produce my first journal article in 2004,” Olatunji said.

He said as the dean of the faculty, Oso facilitated the commencement of the PhD programme in the faculty, adding that the first pioneering students are now senior lecturers.

Oso’s absence would be felt deeply at the 10th anniversary of ACSPN, as noted by a representative of the association, Dare Ogunyombo, particularly, as the deceased was the pioneer president. 

“Oso demonstrated a kind of leadership that is enough to drive the development of an association. He ensured our conferences were held on time. He was concerned about us and media development,” he said.

Also in his tribute, a lecturer from Covenant University, Ota, Kehinde Oyesomi, said Oso had a great impact on the university, reshaping the teaching of media and communication. She said the deceased was teaching postgraduate students at the university before his death. She noted the late professor left an indelible mark that will forever be cherished.

The Head of UNILAG Mass Communication Department, Prof. Joseph Tejumaiye, described Oso as a unifier, and a man of peace, saying: “We will always remember him. I met him closely when both of us were members of the academic staff.”

In his tribute, the Chairman of NUJ Lagos Chapter, Adeleye Ajayi, described Oso as a colossus, who he said taught him and built his career, as well as those of many others.

Chairman of Channels Media Group, Mr. John Momoh, who was represented by Kingsley Iranta, said Oso’s memory will resonate with the media industry “he dedicated his life to.” Momoh added that the communication guru dedicated his life to countless students, adding that with unwavering dedication, he shaped students to being professionals.

“The memory will continue to resonate with generations of media professionals. May his soul rest in peace, knowing well that his impact in the world of media communication will be endured forevermore.”

For the Head of Department, Mass Communication, YABATECH, Adesanya Oluseyi, Oso was an exemplary man who has so many academic children.

The Executive Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, who spoke on behalf of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), Centre for Journalism, Innovation and Development (CJID) and Media Rights Agenda, said Oso made huge impacts and served on different projects of the media organisations.

“Hardly a month passed without having anything to do with Prof. He was readily available for programmes on media and journalism. He is a chief mentor of people. I stand before you as a PhD student due to the encouragement of Mr Oso. We will miss his scholarship. He has left a vacuum that will be difficult to fill,” he added.

Oso was born on October 9, 1955, in Sagamu, Ogun. He studied Mass Communication at the University of Lagos from 1975 to 1978. As a Ford Foundation scholar, he proceeded to the Obafemi Awolowo University, where he received a master’s in International Relations in 1981. Thereafter, he got a federal government scholarship to study PhD in Mass Communication at the University of Leicester, England, between 1983 and 1987.

He relocated to England with his wife, Abimbola, where they had their two children, Simisola and Moyosola.

The professor started his career as a journalist at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). He began his academic sojourn at the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta where he rose the become the Head of Department of Mass Communication for over seven years and later Deputy Rector of the school.

He also lectured at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Caleb University, Imota and UNILAG before joining LASU in 2011 and became the second substantive dean shortly after his professorial appointment.

Oso was a member of APCON, NIPR, Commonwealth Association for Education in Journalism, Nigerian Association of Journalism and Mass Communication Teachers and Nigerian Academy of Letters.

He served as a former National Secretary of the African Council for Communication Education. For more than three decades, he taught various courses, including communication for development, advanced research in mass communication, political communication, communication theory and topical issues in mass communication, international communication, and introduction to communication, among others.

The renowned scholar became a Professor of Mass Communication in 2011 at LASU. He supervised over 15 PhD theses and more than 20 Masters Dissertations. He was nicknamed the “Encyclopedia of Communication,” “The King of Theories,”  and “Mr. Book and Dennis McQuail of Nigeria.” He was a major pillar in Nigeria’s Premier School of Communication, Lagos State University, now known as the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies. As a scholar, Prof had over 120 publications to his credit.

Aside from being a very dedicated scholar, Oso was also a Pastor at the Victory Life Bible Church.

He will surely be remembered for his selfless service to advancing the knowledge in Nigeria.