Tunde Akanni: Our very own deservedly becomes a professor
By OMONIYI IBIETAN
I am excited and exceedingly grateful to God, The Almighty, that the authorities of Lagos State University, where for decades, Dr. Musbau Tunde Akanni has taught a range of communication courses at the School of Communication, have confirmed his academic status as professor.
Besides the grace of waking hale and hearty, this is my best news today and a particularly awesome news in a long time. Indeed, I have been waiting patiently for this news and I am gratified it has come well.
Prof. Akanni, a Chevening scholar, has been a friend, brother and mentor for decades. I must have met him first at the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) in Surulere, Lagos in the 1990s when I was expelled from the university for activism. We would reconnect later at Freedom House Nigeria Project through our mutual mentor, Dapo Olorunyomi. I have followed his trail conscientiously as an activist, journalist, writer, media scholar and development expert with special interest in journalism and development communication. He has consistently raised the banner of exemplary humanity, in truth and indeed.
A relentless communication specialist and researcher under whose tutelage I have learnt sufficiently, Prof. Akanni has reached a new goal that gives me and those who have met him an assurance that with faith, dedication, sincerity and focus, nothing is impossible.
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When I came under tremendous pressure to go and enrol for a PhD programme, it was professor Akanni I turned to for more concrete reflections. Aside being one of those who put me under pressure to run the doctorate quickly, it was he who insisted I must undertake an academic doctorate.
A relentless communication specialist and researcher under whose tutelage I have learnt sufficiently, Prof. Akanni has reached a new goal that gives me and those who have met him an assurance that with faith, dedication, sincerity and focus, nothing is impossible.
I certainly lost count of times he would call me to remind me not to forget to start the programme ASAP. He would hound me in his usual words, “Baba, kini yi tin pe ooo”, meaning, in my poor translation, “it is taking too long for you to start this programme”. When eventually I pieced fragments of my thoughts together as a draft proposal, I sent it to him to review and he encouraged me to proceed immediately to apply to any good school.
An uncommon enabler, Prof. Akanni has served as a good counsellor both in didactic sphere and in career pathways. His PhD research at the University of Ibadan was on media and conflict resolution. Evidently a multidisciplinary scholar, he has published so many articles in reputable academic journals (including Researchgate and Google Scholar).
He has equally intervened in our social and political processes through quality intellection expressed in numerous print publications and other specialised media as well as serving as resource person in development programmes organised by NGOs, CBOs and multilateral organisations. He was Special Assistant to Dr. Abba Ruma when the latter was Minister of State for Education. Prof. Akanni is also a member of the editorial board of Premium Times.
Dear friends, I invite you to join me to celebrate an uncommon teacher, scholar-activist, educator, and a decidedly dedicated Nigerian patriot.
*Dr. Ibietan is Secretary General of the African Public Relations Association. He lives in Abuja
