Polyibadan 40yrs Jinx: Adunola, Olatunji Record History, Bag PhD

By Toheeb Babalola

The establishment of the Mass Communication department at The Polytechnic, Ibadan was a deliberate effort by the institution to meet the growing demand for trained professionals in the media industry in Nigeria.

In the early 1970s, there was a growing realization that Nigeria needed to develop its own media industry to tell its own stories and promote its own culture. However, there were few trained professionals in the country who could meet the demands of the growing media industry.

To address this gap, the Federal Government of Nigeria initiated the establishment of mass communication departments in tertiary institutions across the country. 

The Polytechnic, Ibadan was one of the first institutions to take advantage of this initiative and establish a mass communication department.

The department was established in 1978, eight years after the establishment of The Polytechnic, Ibadan. The department started with a few courses in journalism and broadcasting, but it has since expanded its programs to include courses in advertising, public relations, and media production.

The department of Mass Communication at The Polytechnic, was initially housed under the umbrella of the General Studies Department. This meant that it did not have its own identity and was not recognized as a separate department within the institution.

However, with the growing demand for mass communication education and the need for specialized training in the field, the department began to gain recognition and support from both the institution and the government. This led to the department being granted autonomy in 1988, with the establishment of the School of Communication Studies which is now Faculty of Business and Communication Studies (FBCS).

Immediately after its full autonomy, Oyo State Government began to recruit and deploy media academicians to the department with a minimum of Master Degree and practical experiences. In spite of this minimum entry certificate, the institution never cease to send both academic and non-academic staff overseas to gather and gain more   experience in their respective fields for the betterment of the institution.

Correspondingly, it is always a dream of every individual to stepping up in his/her game when responsibility and demand set in. And this positive attitude was witnessed for the first time in this great department when one of its founding lecturers, Dr. Kunle Emdim (now late) bagged his doctorate degree years after the autonomy.

Despite the fact that the department of Mass Communication has produced some of the best-trained journalists and media professionals in the media industry across the world, which includes the Nigerian Television Authority, the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, and major newspapers and magazines, none of its staff yet to acquire Doctor of philosophy in Mass Communication and media related courses after Dr. Kunle Emdim.

Recently, the current Head of the Department, Alh. (Dr.) Adunola Najeemdeen Omotayo and the former Head of the Department, Deacon (Dr.) Olatunji Olusoji Samson broken the forty years academic jinx at the department and bagged Doctorate degrees at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun state and Babcock University, Illisan-Remo, Ogun State respectively.

The newly academic feat and record at the Department of Mass Communication, The polytechnic, Ibadan occurred in less than fifteen (15) days. The management of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-iwoye announced the now Dr. Adunola Najeemdeen on Thursday, June 8th, 2023 after his final decorate project’s defence. While his colleague was also pronounced as Dr. Olatunji Olusoji on Thursday, June 24th, 2023.

In the history of the department of Mass Communication, The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Dr. Adunola Najeemdeen Omotayo and Dr. Olatunji Olusoji now become “the second and the third” lecturers to be awarded Doctorate degrees (PhDs.) while in service respectfully.  The former got PhD in Mass Communication while the latter also in Mass Communication but specializes in  Public Relations and Advertising.

The Mass Communication department of The Polytechnic, Ibadan has been at the forefront of research and innovation in mass communication and media related courses. With both Adunola, Olatunji and other lecturers have produced groundbreaking research that has helped to shape the development of mass communication in Nigeria and beyond.

The Mass Communication department of The Polytechnic, Ibadan has a rich history. And with its strong academic programs, world-class facilities, and committed faculty and staff, the department remains a leading center of learning and innovation in mass communication in Nigeria and beyond.