Professor of Development Communication, University of Ibadan, Ayobami Ojebode will this Thursday, September 5 deliver the University’s 466th Inaugural Lecture.
Professor Ojebode, an advocate of community radio and grassroots development has titled his inaugural lecture “In search of muted voices for the mirage named development”.
The Igbo-Ora born international scholar in the Inaugural lecture will give account of his stewardship which borders on the overall message of his research development and indigenous communication and advocacy in the last 18 years he has been in University of Ibadan.
“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”.
Professor Ojebode said his inaugural lecture will centre on his studies on mass media and their performance in promoting development; new media and their use for development purposes, as well as his research and advocacy for community radio.
“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 lecture which is expected to bring new thinking will also further existing thinking on the need to deregulate Nigerian broadcasting system, and to make communities the centre of most development efforts.
“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”.
The current Head of Department of Communication and Language Arts, Ojebode is the third Professor in the 42-year old Department to deliver such inaugural lecture 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”.
Ridwan Fasasi
