Communication scholars, professionals induct seven distinguished fellows at landmark ceremony

The Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN) has inducted seven distinguished academics and two media leaders as Fellows of the Association, conferring its foremost professional and academic distinction for the first time in its 14-year history.

The new Fellows were formally admitted at the Association’s 14th Annual Conference in Abuja on Wednesday, 2 September, in recognition of “careers that have combined professional excellence with scholarship, ethical leadership, institutional service and sustained contributions to the development of journalism and communication,” according to the president of the association, Rotimi Williams Olatunji, a professor of public relations and advertising at Lagos State University.

Among this year’s Fellows is Umaru Pate, a distinguished media scholar and former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Kashere, Gombe State. He is also the Chairman of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), a media innovation and technology think tank.

Others include Nosa Owens-Ibe, a former Vice Chancellor of Caleb University, Lagos State; Chinyere Stella Okuna, currently Deputy Vice Chancellor of Paul University, Awka, Anambra State; and ACSPN president, Mr Olatunji.

The rest are two media leaders: Dapo Olorunyomi, Publisher of PREMIUM TIMES and Chief Executive Officer of CJID, and Lanre Idowu, a distinguished journalist, editor and author.

Announcing the honours, Mr Olatunji described Fellowship as more than an award for longevity or professional visibility, noting that this year’s honourees occupy a unique place in the history of ACSPN as its inaugural class of Fellows.

“To become a Fellow of the Association is to enter a community of distinction and responsibility. Fellowship recognises not simply what an individual has achieved, but what that achievement has contributed to communication scholarship, industry, democratic culture and, indeed, the wider public good,” he said.

He explained that the Fellowship, which will eventually reach all deserving members over time, is reserved for accomplished individuals who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in at least one major field of communication practice, research, teaching, innovation, leadership or public service, alongside evidence of sustained commitment to the values and advancement of the profession.

The inductees

Umaru Pate

Among this year’s Fellows is Mr Pate, a distinguished media scholar and former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Kashere, Gombe State. A Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters and Chairman of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Mr Pate has supervised 25 doctoral and 45 master’s degree students, many of whom have themselves gone on to become professors and leading academics. He is also a former President of ACSPN.

Nosa Owens-Ibe

Mr Owens-Ibie, former Vice Chancellor of Caleb University, Lagos State, and a professor of communication, media and development, was also inducted. A Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, Mr Owens-Ibie was celebrated in a citation that recalled his many pioneering roles in the Association. He coordinated the founding of ACSPN and served for 11 years as its pioneer Secretary-General. He continues to serve as Co-Chairman of the Association’s Board of Trustees.

Chinyere Stella Okuna

Nigeria’s first female professor of mass communication, Chinyere Stella Okunna, currently Deputy Vice Chancellor of Paul University, Awka, Anambra State, was the only woman among the honourees. Her academic career has been marked by several pioneering achievements, including becoming the first female Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. She combined that position with her role as Director of the university’s broadcast service, UNIZIK 94.1 FM.

For eight consecutive years, Mrs Okunna, also recognised as the first female professor of mass communication in sub-Saharan Africa, served in the Anambra State Government in several senior capacities, including Commissioner for Information and Culture, Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, and Chief of Staff to the Governor between 2006 and 2014.

Olatunji

There was a dramatic moment when the Association’s President, Mr Olatunji, himself took to the podium to be inducted to roaring applause. Beginning his academic career after graduating with first-class honours in Archaeology from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, he went on to become a professor of public relations and advertising.

Mr Olatunji has served as a visiting professor at more than 20 universities, including the University of Malaya, University of Zululand, University of Fort Hare and University of South Africa. He has supervised 20 doctoral dissertations and examined no fewer than 50 others across Nigerian and African universities.

Dapo Olorunyomi and Lanre Idowu

The two media leaders inducted as Fellows were Dapo Olorunyomi, Publisher of Premium Times and Chief Executive Officer of CJID, a media innovation and technology think tank with a footprint across West and Central Africa; and Lanre Idowu, a distinguished journalist, editor and author whose career has been closely associated with the promotion of professional standards in Nigerian journalism.

Mr Idowu’s contributions include the influential Media Review and the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME), which have recognised professional excellence across journalism, advertising and public relations.

ACSPN said the work of the two media leaders has helped enlarge understanding of the media, democracy and society while advancing innovation and professional standards.

“They have practised as true innovators, helping news organisations navigate technological change and advocating media freedom as an essential condition under which independent journalism can flourish,” Mr Olatunji said.

Honouring three ACSPN’s builders

Another highlight of the ceremony was the recognition of three past leaders of the Association: Idowu Sobowale, current Chairman of the ACSPN Board of Trustees, and two late leaders of the Association, Dayo Alao and Lai Oso, both also professors of mass communications.

Mr Alao, a former Vice Chancellor of Adeleke University, Ede, was remembered as “a true journalist, scholar, teacher and institution builder.”

Mr Oso was honoured as a “journalist, scholar, institutional builder and servant of communication.” He died tragically in a road accident in June 2023, bringing to an abrupt end the life and career of a man widely regarded by his peers as one of Nigeria’s most influential communication scholars, teachers, mentors and institutional builders.

Both Mr Alao and Mr Oso were honoured posthumously.

Pate, Owens-Ibie, Olorunyomi receive awards for outstanding contributions

In addition to the Fellowship, ACSPN conferred its Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Development of Communication and Media Scholarship and the Profession in Nigeria on three of the new Fellows — Messrs Pate, Owens-Ibie and Olorunyomi.

Speaking on behalf of the three recipients, Mr Olorunyomi thanked the Association for the honour and pledged their continuing support for efforts to elevate communication scholarship and professional practice.

He said that mission had become particularly urgent at a difficult moment in the country’s history, when widening social and political divisions have created a gulf that makes meaningful and harmonious communication increasingly difficult to achieve.

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Fellowship as an order of professional distinction

Earlier, Mr Olatunji explained that, with the creation of the Fellowship, ACSPN intended to establish an enduring tradition through which the Association could identify and honour its most accomplished members while continuing to draw on their intellectual and professional leadership.

Unlike prizes, which may recognise a particular publication, project or singular achievement, Fellowship acknowledges a body of work and a sustained record of contribution.

He assured members that the Fellowship would grow over time, describing the inaugural class as merely the beginning of a tradition through which other deserving members would, in due course, be called upon to serve.

Candidates for Fellowship, he explained, are assessed not simply on prominence but on the depth, integrity and consequence of their careers. Consideration is given to professional accomplishment, contribution to knowledge and scholarship, ethical leadership, innovation, mentorship, service to the Association and the profession, defence of media freedom, and demonstrable contribution to society.

“Fellowship,” Mr Olatunji said, “is therefore both recognition and responsibility: an acknowledgement of a distinguished career and an invitation to help shape the future of the profession.”