The grass to grace story of the first person to complete the journey of Ph.D at the department of Mass Communication in Olabisi Onabajo University’s history is one with potential to inspire a lot. The Emuren Remo-born scholar, Oludare Ogunyombo, opens up to Platforms Africa on all, including 5 things people do not know about him.
Who is Oludare Ogunyombo?
Oludare Ogunyombo is from Emuren Remo in Ogun State. He has a B.Sc. in Journalism and an M.Sc. in Mass Communication from the Lagos State University and University of Lagos respectively. I started my official work career in Development Communication with Action Health Incorporated, where I worked in several capacities.
I later worked in Tequila/Nigeria, an experiential marketing firm as a Human Resources Manager before moving to Brooks and Blake Nigeria Limited, a public relations outfit where I resigned as the Director of media and research after 13 years.
How do you achieve the feat of being the first to complete a Ph.D at the Department of Mass Communication in OOU history?
I appreciate God for the opportunity I have to achieve that feat. The challenge was quite huge but I thank God for the grace I have to surmount it. Running a Ph.D programme requires time because you need to conduct research, attend seminars, conferences and workshops and in some cases publish journal articles.
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First, my employers as at then were very supportive and I think that was a major factor in how I succeeded with the programme. When I joined the business, I discussed my desire to pursue a Ph.D with my employer and at the same provided options that would serve as insulators for the time I may not be at work. It was all about negotiation for a mutually beneficial relationship.
I am married and therefore needed to keep the home front steady and make provisions to cater for when I am not around. I thank my wife and children for their support and understanding in this regard. Another strategy was creating a support network of people within and outside the academics. This support structure is critical to success.
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I started by reconnecting with my lecturers at the B.Sc and M.Sc level. I shared my vision with them and they were ready to show me the path to success. They introduced me to associations and groups where I could assess people who have the requisite ingredients which I needed to be successful. I would say this network of great individuals was my stabiliser because I was exposed to the nitty-gritty of writing a Ph.D work and that made my presentation easier during my defences. (I had quite a lot of them).
Finally, I was privileged to work with a supervisor who opened the door of his heart and home to me. I could visit him anytime to ask questions. He helped me to link up perfectly with members of the Faculty to ensure that I sailed successfully.
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What is your advice for those aspiring to start a Ph.D?
First, they must set their priorities right. They must be ready to sacrifice part of their comfort for the time needed to conduct research. They really may not be able to eat their cake and have it regarding concentrating on the task at hand. They must build networks because till now, I am still benefiting from the networks I built. There will be times when they will be frustrated, feel tired or just become uninterested- these are times when your networks will become very valuable. I had those periods during my programme but members of my network, particularly my seniors often served as the jump starters needed to recharge my batteries to keep working. They must set a goal of publishing at least two papers yearly because doing so helped me to sharpen my expertise and made writing my thesis easier. Finally, they must be patient because there could be times when they will feel neglected or hard done. Patience during these periods is essential.
What are the five things many people do not know about you?
-My phobia: I love mathematics when being taught but I have a phobia of writing exams.
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My career: Women have been quite crucial to the successes I have had in life. I am privileged to have worked with some fantastic women in my career.
– My love life: I like beautiful women who are also intelligent and resourceful. This has determined how I managed my love life.
– What do you initially want to become in life before this academic?
Been in academics has always been part of my plan in life because I love imparting knowledge. That is one of the reasons I pursued a Ph.D programme.
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My initial love was broadcasting but when I studied mass communication, I discovered that there were more options such as development communication, journalism and public relations. I have majored in these areas.
How many languages can you speak?
Only two- English and Yoruba. I would have loved to speak more languages.
Platforms Africa
