Sometime in 2018, I got a note informing me that two of the alumni of the Department of Communication and Language Arts, University of Ibadan had just been listed among the greatest online influencers in Nigeria. I was excited but then I also felt: “what else do you expect?” We are talking of the Department of Communication and Language Arts, the place where positive influencers and nation builders are raised. 

In practically all aspects of life, our alumni are distinguishing themselves. For example, Professor Anthony A. Olorunnisola who has been Head, Department of Film, Video and Media Studies, the Pennsylvania State University, USA, from 2006 to date; Professor Abiodun Salawu (Mass Communication, North-West University, South Africa); Professor Bayo Oloyede (Dean, College of Social and Management Sciences, Redeemer’s University, Ede); Professor Nosa Owens-Ibie (Dean, College of Social and Management Sciences, Caleb University); Prof. V. O. Ajala (Head, Mass Communication, Bowen University, Iwo); Prof Rotimi Olatunji (Dean, School of Communication, Lagos State University); Prof Des Wilson (Head, Department of Communication Arts, University of Uyo); Professor Kolo Tswanya (Head, Department of Federal University of Technology, Minna); Prof Abigail Ogwezzy (Head, Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos) are all alumni of the Department of Communication and Language Arts. 

Our alumni holding important positions in the industry are simply too numerous to number or list. They range from heads of large broadcast networks (such as Mr Sola Omole, former Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority), to managers of big newspaper organisations (such as Dr Segun Olatunji, former Managing Director of Nigerian Tribune), to Public Relations gurus (such as Dr Sam Adenekan, Public Relations Manager, Nestle Foods), to heads of government communication agencies (such as Mr Femi Mapaderun, former State Director, National Orientation Agency), to communication officers of multinational humanitarian agencies (such as Dr Noma Owens-Ibie, Communication Officer, UNICEF), producers (such as Mr Dejumo Lewis of the famous “Village Headmaster” television series), corporate communication experts (such as Ms Akpo Daniyam, Head, Corporate Communications, Diamond Bank), and advertising experts. Akintunde Bada and Chris Ogunlowo were among the most influential online persons in Nigeria in 2018.

As a Department, we have also been active in societal interventions. Our staff members have collaborated with government agencies, national and multinational non-governmental organisations in developing tools, conducting research, and training personnel in the campaigns against HIV and AIDS, Ebola virus outbreak, flooding, conflict and peace reporting, fake news and misinformation, among others. We have also supported through training and research the quest for a more diverse and equitable communication landscape in Nigeria.

Our impact and activities have fetched us a series of awards and grants. The latest of these is the Best School Award in creative advertising for 2018. This we won at the Creativity Week, a foremost advertising event organised by Chini Productions in collaboration with the Roger Hatchuel Academy of France. 

We have succeeded in doing all this and more because, inter alia, we have a unique curriculum that exposes our students to different aspects of communication studies such as broadcasting and broadcast journalism, print media, online journalism, photo journalism, public speaking, applied communication, book publishing, communication research, the language arts, public relations and advertising. Ours indeed is the place where nation builders and influencers are nurtured. Welcome!

Prof. O.O. Oyewo
Head of Department