‘Journalist, Activist, Academic,’ Everything you need to know about the latest Professor in 360 words
The Governing Council of the Lagos State University (LASU) on Thursday, 27th March 2025 approved the elevation of Tunde Akanni PhD to full professorship in Journalism and Development Communication.
Hitherto an Associate Professor of Journalism at the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies at LASU where he also serves as the pioneer Director of the Digital Media Research Centre (DMRC),
Tunde Akanni is a Nigerian journalist, media scholar, and development expert.
Platforms Africa reports that with a robust academic background, he holds a Ph.D. from the University of Ibadan and has studied at prestigious institutions such as Columbia University (USA), the University of Leicester (UK), and the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague (Netherlands).
His educational journey began with a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in English from the University of Ilorin in 1986.
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Professionally, Akanni has extensive experience in journalism and development work. He worked with leading Nigerian print media outlets like The Punch and National Concord during the 1980s and 1990s, rising to the position of Acting Features Editor at the latter.
Following the military government’s proscription of Concord titles in 1994, he transitioned into activism, serving as the Head of Campaigns for the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), where he advocated against military dictatorship in Nigeria. His career has since spanned both governmental and non-governmental sectors, including international consultancy roles with organizations like UNDP, DFID, Internews, and Friends of the Earth.
Akanni is widely recognized for his contributions to media scholarship and practice. He is a prolific writer, published both locally and internationally, and serves as a public affairs commentator. His accolades include being a distinguished British Chevening Scholar and a recipient of the Netherlands NUFFIC Fellowship.
He holds significant roles such as a director at the Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ) and an International Advisory Board member of Dubawa, Nigeria’s first indigenous fact-checking organization.
Akanni remains active in the media and academic spheres, often engaging with contemporary issues through his work and commentary.
Platforms Africa
