It was gathered Oso died in a ghastly auto accident on his way back from Delta State University (DELSU), Abaraka, where he reportedly went to serve as an external examiner.
In his terse message on Sunday morning announcing the death, Professor Sunday Olayinka Alawode, Dean,
Faculty of Communication and Media Studies (FCMS), Lagos State University, said, “I am constrained to inform us of the involvement of Professor Muraino Olayiwola Oso (we all fondly called Baba Lai Oso), in a ghastly auto accident, which claimed his life on June 24, 2023.
It’s a rude shock to all of us even as we commiserate with Mummy Oso, the children and his entire family, the communication family worldwide, LASU community and all others.”
He continued, “Baba, your sudden exit is painful, but we rest in the comfort that you have gone to be with the Lord. Rest in Peace. Adieu Baba of the communication family.”
Alawode said: “It will be difficult to find someone else to fill the gap he left behind. His death was as a result of his sacrifice on the altar of academic; he died returning from a university where he went to examine some students.
“He was a father to all. He really touched lives. There is no school of communication in any university that he did not influence positively,” he said.
Prof. Rotimi Olatunji, a Professor of Public Relations and Advertising, also expressed his grief at Oso’s passing, describing him as a pathfinder, role model, and light bearer.
“Oso made it possible for the development of nine programmes that led to the creation of a distinct discipline of communications called, ‘Unbundle of the Mass Communication in Nigeria’,” he said.
Olatunji credited Oso with providing support and opportunities for growth to others, including himself.
The professor also highlighted Oso’s instrumental role in developing professional masters and Ph.D. programmes that brought recognition to LASU’s Faculty of Communication and Media Studies.
Prof. Lai Oso is mourned not only within the academic community but also by those who have been touched by his teachings, mentorship, and contributions to the field of mass communication in Nigeria, Africa, and beyond.
“Oso gave me wings to fly, excel in life, and support my run after his tenure as a Dean of School of Communication. I took the position. He was very detriablised, open-minded to national issues and a true Nigerian.
“Oso developed professional masters for HND holders and also Ph.D programmes for our MSc students, which brought LASU into limelight, especially our Faculty of Communication and Media Studies.
“To me, his demise is a personal loss,” Olatunji said.
Describing him as one of Africa’s leading journalism scholars, Director, United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Nigeria, Ronald Kayanja, said: “I am so saddened to learn of the death of Prof. Lai Oso. I have recently been working with him to develop a new brand of journalism we called ‘sustainability journalism’ or ‘journalism for sustainable development’. He will be greatly missed. Condolences to his family and the journalism fraternity in Nigeria and around the world.”
On her part, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), Motunrayo Alaka, noted, “Oso’s loss is a huge blow for me personally and WSCIJ, where he served from inception in one capacity or the other since 2005. I’m certain that it is definitely daunting and shocking news for the Nigerian news media. Oso was an intellectual and a scholar like no other. He had depth. But that wasn’t his best part for me. His best was that he had heart.”
She noted that journalism needs people with heart and the society that everybody wants requires hearts more than brains.
Speaking further, she said Oso brought as much heart as he brought brains to the work. “It was an honour to serve by him, have access to him, to have learnt so much from him. I hope those of us he left behind would use this moment of Oso’s departure to re-commit to the work of building a great journalism community, journalism that will stand the test of time in Nigeria, Africa, in the world and re-commit to building a great Nigeria because he was committed to a great Nigeria. It is instructive that he died in the cause of serving his country and we are definitely going to miss him.”
General Secretary, Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN) and Vice Chancellor, Caleb University, Imota, Lagos, Prof. Nosa Owens-Ibie, described Oso as a scholar, who helped to make scholars out of others through knowledge building, scholarly articles and book publications.
He added it was also under him that ACSPN commenced many niche programmes, including its mentorship series, and organised town-meet-gown training and knowledge sharing events across the country.
He further recalled, “under his tenure, the association began the process by producing in collaboration with UNESCO and other stakeholders, the first draft of what has now been launched as the ‘Unbundled Mass Communication’ curriculum, following a development workshop for communication and journalism courses in November 2015”.
Oso became the President of ACSPN in 2014, after the incorporation of the association late in 2013, and served meritoriously till the year 2020, when he passed the baton of leadership to the current President, Prof. Umaru Pate, Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State
Professor of Mass Communication University of Lagos and member World Journalism Education Congress (WJEC), Ralph Akinfeleye, said: “What a big calamity to the entire mass communication. We are going to miss his great and positive contributions to the continued growth of journalism and mass communication education in Nigeria. May his gentle soul continue to rest in perfect peace.”
Professor Jide Jimoh of the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, LASU, described him as an icon of communication, who went beyond the call of duty to satisfy students and mentees.
“He was always pulling people up to achieve. He was simple, down to earth and loving. It’s a monumental loss to communication scholarship and practice,” Jimoh said.
Lecturer Faculty of Communication and Information Services, Department of Mass Communication University of Ilorin, Dr. Kehinde Kadiri, said a lifetime mentor is gone. “Prof. Lai Oso started guiding me since the day I received my school certificate in 1998 till the day he breathed his last. He put me through from the first degree to the master’s degree and doctorate.
“Always there for me and super happy about my career progress…I can never forget you. The first ever paper I published as an academic was through your support, my last promotion as a reader was achieved through your mentoring. Rest in peace my gentle and humble father.”
In its tribute, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos Council, said it received with a heavy heart, news of the death of Oso.
The council, in a statement issued on Sunday in Lagos, jointly signed by its Chairman, Mr. Adeleye Ajayi and Secretary, Mr. Tunde Olalere, described the death of Oso, as shocking and devastating.
“The news of the death of Prof. Oso in a motor accident while returning from Abraka, Delta State on Saturday, was very devastating.
“Professor Oso will be remembered for his good student-teacher relations and humble behaviour. He was always ready to assist his students and colleagues.
“His death remains a big blow not only in communication circle, but in all academic spheres. May the soul of our dear lecturer, friend and mentor, Prof. Oso rest in peace,”the statement read.
Professor Oso was a lecturer at the Ogun State Polytechnic, Abeokuta, where he rose to become Head of Mass Communication Department and the Deputy Rector.
He taught for many years at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State and also the Lagos State University.
Oso also worked at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State, and later Caleb University, Imota, before he joined the services of LASU.
He was at a time, Dean, School of Communication Studies, LASU.He was appointed the Dean between 2011 and 2015. He was also the Director, Media Awareness and Information for All Network (MAIN).
