Professor Ojebode’s Inaugural Lecture Holds Today at UI

Today is the D-Day for the much publicized University of Ibadan’s inaugural lecture by a development communication expert , Professor Ayobami Ojebode.

Professor Ojebode will be speaking on the topic ” In search of muted voices for the mirage named development ” at the Lakeside Lecture Theatre, Faculty of Science, University of Ibadan at 5pm.

According to Professor Ojebode, the lecture will focus on his studies in the last eighteen years as a lecturer in the institution which include mass media and their performance in promoting development, new media for development purposes as well as advocacy for community radio.

“For me, the topic of muted voices and why and how to unmute them, sort of captures the overall message of my research and advocacy in the 18 years I have spent as a university lecturer.

The lecture will touch three broad areas: my studies on mass media and their performance in promoting development; new media and their use for development purposes, and my research and advocacy for community radio. There is also a bit on my research on indigenous communication as well”

The inaugural lecturer notes that the lecture will also address the need to deregulate Nigerian Broadcasting system to make communities the centre of most developmental efforts in the country.

” I am hoping that the lecture will bring new thinking, or further thinking on the need to deregulate broadcasting and to make communities the centre of most development efforts. I am hoping some government officials or agencies will take this up and press on for legislation that empowers and equips community to be more effectively do things for themselves. We all think of ourselves as living in our communities rather than in our country”.

Expected at the lecture under the chairmanship of Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan, Professor Idowu Olayinka are academics, media executives, journalists, policy makers,  development  experts , traditional and community leaders as well as students.

The don who is the Head of Department of Communication and Language Arts of the institution is the third Professor in the 42-year old department to deliver such inaugural lecture, 466th edition of University of Ibadan.

” I must say it is a privilege to stand on that podium on which the giants – Prof Unoh and Prof Odejide — stood. These were and are giants indeed. Mine would be the 466th inaugural in our great University. I feel the weight of history; I feel the burden of expectations”.

The lecture can be monitored live through www.ui.edu.ng

PR/Fasasi