Sunday Olayinka Alawode has been named the first ever Professor of Broadcast Journalism in the 37-year history of Lagos State University (LASU).
Alawode, an erudite scholar of communication, has before his confirmation by the Governing Council of the institution, been an Associate Professor at the School of Communication.
He was the head, Department of Broadcasting with a lot of research works on the field to his credit.
This includes “Nigerian Nollywood Films and National Interest, a content analysis; Video films and Sex/Sexuality Innovation among Undergraduates in Lagos,” among others.
Lagos State University, also known as LASU, was established in 1983 by the enabling Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, for the advancement of learning and establishment of academic excellence. The university caters for a population of over 35,000 students enrolled for full-time.
LASU is the only state university in the former British colony. The institution was ranked among the top 600 universities in the world by Times Higher Margazine for the year 2020. The University has also attracted different international fundings including a World Bank Group Africa Centre for Excellence on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
The Senate of LASU, at its 98th Statutory Meeting held on the 9th of July, 2000, approved the recommendations of an Eleven- man Committee, to set up the LASU School of Communication (LASUSOC). Full academic activities began on 5th June 2001, during the 2000/2001 academic session, with the following degree programmes: Print Journalism, Book Publishing and Development; Communication Technology; Human Communication, Photojournalism and Cinematography, Public Relations and Advertising, and Radio and Television Broadcast.
In 2008, in line with the National Universities Commission (NUC) recommendations, the seven programmes in the School were collapsed to one, (B.Sc. Mass Communication), while the School was restructured along three academic departments, namely Journalism, Broadcasting, and Public Relations and Advertising departments. The School now awards bachelor’s degree (B.Sc. Mass Communication), Postgraduate Diploma (Communication Studies); academic Master’s degree (M.Sc. Communication Studies); Professional Master’s degree (Masters in Communication Studies-M.C.S.) and Doctorate degree (PhD, Communication Studies).
