Prof Lai Oso – Tributes as Nigeria’s leading communication scholar dies at 67
The Nigerian academic community was plunged into mourning on Sunday, June 25, 2023, following the death of one of the country’s brightest scholars in the field of communication – Prof Lai Oso, a Professor of Mass Communication at Lagos State University.
Lai Oso, 67, was killed in a car accident on the Ore-Sagamu expressway while returning from Delta State University (DELSU) on Saturday, where he was an external examiner in the department of Mass Communication.
This sad news was confirmed in the early hours of Sunday morning by Prof Olayinka Sunday Alawode, Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Media, Lagos State University, in a broadcast message.
“I am constrained to inform us of the involvement of Professor Muraino Olayiwola Oso, (we all fondly called Baba Lai Oso) in a ghastly auto accident which claimed his life yesterday 24th June 2023,” the broadcast message read. “It’s a rude shock to all of us even as we commiserate with Mummy Oso, the children and his entire family, the Communication family worldwide, LASU Community and all others. Baba, your sudden exit is painful, but we rest in the comfort that you have gone to be with the Lord. Rest in Peace. Adieu Baba of the Communication family.”
Born in October 1955, Professor Oso, studied Mass Communication at the University of Lagos and bagged a master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University). He obtained his PhD from the Leicester University, UK.
The communications scholar was a faculty member in the Department of Mass Communication of the then Ogun State Polytechnic, Ojere, Abeokuta, now Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, where he subsequently rose to become the Head of Department.
While serving the academic community in Ojere, Abeokuta, he was also the Deputy Rector of the institution. Between 2011 to 2015, he was the Dean of Lagos State University, School of Communication, now Faculty of Communication and Media Studies. He was also former Dean of Students Affairs, Caleb University, Imota, Lagos.
Prof Oso was also a visiting lecturer at several universities across the country. The late scholar was also the President of the Nigerian Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals (ACSPN).
He worked as a reporter at News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). He taught courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. He taught courses in journalism, media and governance, political communication, development communication, and theory. He also authored several books on mass media, journalism and communication that are widely used by mass communication students across the country.
Some of the books he authored and co-authored include: “Mass Media and Society in Nigerian”, “Media, Governance and Development in Nigeria: Issues and Trends”, which helped communication students to understand the socio-historical context of the development of Nigerian media, Journalism ethics and Newspapers’ cartoons portrayal of human rights abuses in periods of economic deregulation in Nigeria, and the interrelationship between the media, and governance and development.
Since Oso’s death was announced on Sunday morning, tributes have been pouring in from his colleagues, students, mentees and members of the Nigerian communication industry who described his death as the loss of a huge library of communications resources.
Com. Faremi Oluwapelumi Daniel, President of Communication Student Association (COSA), Lagos State University in a broadcast message said: “On behalf of the entire Communication Student’s Association, I sympathise with the immediate families of our late Professor. I pray that Almighty God be pleased with his soul, grant him eternal rest, and give his family, friends and colleagues the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”
Lekan Otufodunrin, Executive Director, Media Career Development Network and former online editor of The Nation Newspaper wrote on Facebook, “Really sad to read about Professor Lai Oso’s death. Just on June 1, I had the honour of presenting him his portrait on behalf of organisers of a media training he agreed to speak at with just an email invitation from a very young colleague based on my recommendation. May his soul rest in peace.”
Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of the International Press Center, Nigeria, who described Oso’s death as devastating, wrote on Facebook, “I’m devastated as a good man departs so suddenly!”
Joshua Olufemi, founder of Dataphyte, wrote on Twitter, “Just heard the sad news that Prof Lai Oso died from an accident. I’ve known him for 15 years, tirelessly & humbly contributing to causes of development in Nigeria. From media plurality to press freedom to accountability journalism. We’ll miss you even as your legacies live on!”
