Journalism scholars at the Media75 Conference, organised by the School of Media and Communication (SMC) of the Pan-Atlantic University (PAU), have commended the school’s commitment and support for a pioneering research work on 75 Years of Nigerian Media and Journalism.

The Media75 Conference featured academics from various institutions who met to appraise the research effort towards the publication of major works on 75 years of Nigerian journalism. The media project consists of interviews with 75 media players in the Nigerian print and broadcast media. It covers a period spanning 1935 to 2010, and includes various themes of media leadership and management, circulation/coverage and distribution, readership/viewership/listenership, changing media landscape, media and military, as well as the efforts and effects of social media and changing demographic patterns.

Prof. Adigun Agbaje, a former Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, chaired the conference. Participants included Prof. Dayo Alao of Babcock University, Prof. Lai Oso of Lagos State University, and Dr. Bisi Olawunmi of Bowen University.

There were also Prof. James Tsaaior, Dr. Isah Momoh and Dr. Josef Bel-Molokwu, all of SMC, and Chido Nwakanma, President of the Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN).

Welcoming the scholars, PAU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Juan Elegido, affirmed the commitment of the university to research and knowledge creation. Elegido said PAU believes “you cannot be a proper university without an active research team.” The Vice Chancellor said that PAU strongly supports the research effort because “we especially aspire to be a university whose contributions are relevant to industry and society.” PAU and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) fund the research.

Agbaje commended the SMC for initiating and supporting the research effort. He said it would help to preserve the “institutional and national memory” of the Nigerian media.

Richard Ikiebe of SMC’s Centre for Leadership in Journalism (CLeJ), who is the brain behind the research, said he was motivated to carry out the research to fill the gaps in study of Nigerian journalism since the pioneering work of Alfred Omu’s Press and Politics in Nigeria. It became imperative, he added, as many of the pioneers have passed on without sharing their experiences and knowhow.

Prof. Dayo Alao, who pioneered mass communication studies at Babcock University and was the editor of Times International, a Daily Times publication, said the work represents a significant contribution to knowledge of the media.

Those featured in the work include Sam Amuka, Patrick Dele Cole, Christopher Kolade, Vincent Maduka, Segun Osoba, Garba Shehu, Tony Momoh, Lade Bonuola, Ray Ekpu, Kevin Ejiofor, Muhammed Haruna, Adamu Ciroma, Doyin Abiola, Areoye Oyebola, Ted Iwere and Laban Namme. Others include John Momoh, Frank Aigbogun, Femi Kusa, Kabiru Yusuf, Idowu Sobowale and Festus Adesanoye, among others.

The proposed work would be a multimedia documentation, with print books, audio books, e-books, as well as video and webcast of the interviews.

•Photo shows, R-L, PAU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Juan Elegido with Dr. Isah Momoh of SMC/PAU and PRCAN President, Mr. Chido Nwakanma at the Media75 Conference in Lagos.

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