Dean, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies FCMS, Lagos State University, Professor Sunday Alawode, who confirmed this in a statement described Oso’s death as a rude shock, an unfortunate development.
It was gathered that the don died in a ghastly auto accident Saturday evening on his way back to Lagos from Delta State University (DELSU), Abaraka, where he reportedly went to serve as an external examiner.
One of Mr Oso’s colleagues and a senior lecturer at the faculty, Omolade Atofojomi, confirmed that the unfortunate incident happened Saturday night and that “the dean just informed the faculty.”
“From God we came to him we will return but this is so painful,” Mrs Atofojomo said.
Another lecturer in the faculty, Tunde Akanni, said he just received the news from another lecturer in the faculty who he referred to simply as Dr Thanny.
Mr Akanni, an associate professor, was dumbfounded by the news, as he could not speak further on the matter
Meanwhile, a statement in a student WhatsApp group also confirmed the news, as members who are students of the faculty, commiserated with the late don’s family.
“We commiserate with Mummy Oso, the children, and his entire family, the communication family worldwide, LASU community, and all others.
“Baba, your sudden exit is painful, but we rest in the comfort that you have gone to be with the Lord. Rest in Peace,” messages on the WhatsApp group read in part.
Also reacting to the sad news, Team Lead of Platforms Africa, Adeola Yusuf who was a PhD supervisee of Professor Lai Oso, declared that a “huge Library of communication has just been set ablaze.”
Professor Oso “is a good man, a father and lecturer to many communication scholars and journalists across the World. One of the pillars of communication at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), and a former Dean of School of Communication, Lagos State University (LASU) who has just three year to his retirement.
Oso was a Professor at the Mass Communication School of Communication, Lagos State University. He was the Dean of the school between 2011 and 2015. He was President, Association of Communication Scholars & Professionals of Nigeria.
He was educated at the University of Lagos (B.Sc. Mass Communication), Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (M.Sc. International Relations) and obtained a Ph.D. degree in Mass Communication as a Federal Government scholar at the University of Leicester, England in 1977.
The LASU don worked as a Reporter in Radio and the News Agency of Nigeria and also taught courses in Journalism, Media and Governance, Political Communication, Development Communication and Theory.
