The Department of Mass Communication at the University of Lagos, UNILAG is on the verge of a significant milestone as one of its alumni, Professor Ismail Adegboyega Ibraheem, is billed to deliver an inaugural lecture on Wednesday, December 18, 2024.
This marks the first time in the department’s 58-year history that an alumnus will deliver such a lecture, underscoring the department’s legacy within the 62-year-old institution.
Professor Ibraheem, a renowned academic in Journalism and Communication Studies, will speak on the theme, “Casino Journalism and the End of History,” a subject aimed at addressing the critical ethical, managerial, and funding crises plaguing the global media industry.
The lecture will provide insights into the evolving challenges faced by journalism, particularly in Nigeria’s diverse socio-political landscape.
According to the professor, the lecture is his contribution to the global body of knowledge, tackling the issues facing media practices worldwide.
The lecture is significant not only because it will be delivered by the department’s first alumnus but also because it is the first of its kind since a similar lecture was given by a departmental lecturer 20 years ago.
Commenting on the importance of the event, the planning committee chairman and former Head of the Department, Professor Adepoju Tejumaye, emphasized the relevance of Professor Ibraheem’s lecture in today’s media environment. He described the lecture as a timely intervention in addressing the multifaceted challenges facing the media industry globally and within Nigeria.
“The topic reflects the depth of thought and quality of work ongoing in our department. At a time when the media should serve as a compass to educate, inform, and direct the public with fairness and balance, this lecture is both necessary and significant,” said Professor Tejumaye. He urged guests to be seated by 3:30 p.m. for the event.
The event, which will be chaired by the Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, is expected to draw a distinguished audience, including past vice-chancellors Professor Rahamon Bello and Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe.
Among the dignitaries slated to attend is Nigeria’s former Minister of Sports, Mr. Bolaji Abdullahi; the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Lanre Isa Onilu; and the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Is-haq Oloyede. Representatives from various high commissions and embassies in Nigeria are also expected.
A Distinguished Career
Professor Ibraheem’s career highlights his commitment to academic excellence and professional leadership. After graduating from UNILAG in 1990, he pursued a Master’s in Political Science in 1993 before earning a British Chevening Scholarship in 1996 to study Mass Communication at the University of Leicester, UK. He later completed his PhD in Media and Politics in 2004.
He began his professional journey in 1990 with Nigeria’s Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), overseeing its Media and Governance Programme and coordinating the Journalists’ Outreach for Human Rights, JOHR. Over the years, he has held prestigious positions, including Country Programme Director for the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, CIPR, and Executive Director of the Centre for African Resources Research and Development, CARRD in the UK.
In 2011, Professor Ibraheem returned to UNILAG as a lecturer and was elevated to the rank of professor in 2020. With over 75 academic publications to his name, he has supervised more than 150 Master’s dissertations and 10 PhD theses.
Beyond academics, Professor Ibraheem is the Chairman of The Cable News Foundation, the Network Coordinator for the Afretec Network at UNILAG, and the Director of Uptake for the African Cities Research Consortium. He also oversees UNILAG’s globalisation efforts as the Director of International Relations, Partnerships, and Prospects