The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos, Nigeria says the enormous contributions of late Professor Lai Oso to the development of Communication and Mass Media in Nigeria shall stand as monuments to his memory.
A statement signed by IPC’s Communications Officer, Olutoyin Ayoade on Friday, July 14, 2023, announced that the late academic’s remains would be buried same day in Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria.
According to the statement, Prof. Oso was a Professor at the School of Communications and Media Studies, Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos State, and had previously served as the Dean of the school between 2011 and 2015.
He was also the pioneer President of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN).
Among others, Prof. Oso taught Media and Communications at the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Caleb University, Imota, Lagos, and the Lagos State University, Ojo.
The late Prof. Oso was a close friend and associate of the International Press Centre (IPC) for which he served as resource person and adviser for close to two decades.
Notably, he featured as the lead speaker at a media tweet conference with the theme: “2015 Elections: Addressing Fair and Equitable Media Access for Parties and Candidates” during the 2015 general elections.
Prof. Oso was also instrumental to creating awareness about IPC’s library and resources as he regularly referred undergraduate and postgraduate students to the organisation for research materials on media independence, press freedom, access to information, role of the media in democracy, among others.
The statement further said the Executive Director of IPC, Lanre Arogundade said: “Professor Oso was a scholar who encouraged others to become scholars. He constantly explored new frontiers of knowledge and was never tired of writing”.
“The last time we spoke, he requested for a chapter in the book: State of the Media in Nigeria 1996 published when I was the Chairman of the Lagos State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists. Behold he wrote the first chapter titled: Journalism and Social Responsibility: Between Objectivity and Advocacy. Apparently, he needed the chapter for another research work he was undertaking.”
“It was his thirst for research that made him extremely knowledgeable in different areas of Mass Media and communication.”
With numerous publications in several journals, Prof. Oso was highly respected in academic, media and communication circles for his expertise and dedication.
IPC prayed for the repose of his soul and once again commiserates with the family, friends and colleagues.
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