By Adeyemi Michael |
Mrs. Bimbo Oloyede, a veteran broadcaster, has called for more practical training for mass communication students to prepare them for the realities of working in the media industry.
Oloyede made the call in Lagos on September 1, 2026, at the launch of her book, Communication and Media in Nigeria: Celebrating Her Contribution to Five Decades of Theory, Practice and Transformation, held at the Coliseum, Lekki.
Closing the gap between school and the newsroom
Oloyede said the book was written partly to close the gap between what students learn in the classroom and what they meet in the media industry.
She noted that while theories remain important, students also need to hear directly from professionals who have experienced the changes in the industry over the years.
“Students can learn more by reading the experiences and thoughts of media professionals and by engaging with them,” she said.
Oloyede added that such exposure would give students a better understanding of what to expect after leaving school, noting that some lessons from decades of professional experience cannot be found in textbooks.
She also announced plans to distribute the book free of charge to 200 universities, polytechnics and media academies across Nigeria through sponsored campus tours and donations to institutional libraries.
Vice-chancellors back practical learning
The Secretary-General of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Professor Andrew Haruna, also stressed the need to connect classroom knowledge with practical experience.
Haruna said students should be able to understand how communication theories and models work in real-life situations and how media professionals have dealt with changes in the industry.
Abati highlights value of the book
Reviewing the book, veteran journalist Dr. Reuben Abati described it as a bridge between academic theory and the realities of journalism and broadcasting.
He said the publication captures five decades of broadcasting history and offers useful lessons to younger media professionals.
Abati commended Oloyede and the contributors for producing a book he described as rich in knowledge and well presented.
Ezekwesili calls for responsible media
The keynote speaker and former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, used the occasion to call on Nigerians to be more civic-minded and take an active interest in building a better society.
She commended Oloyede for her contribution to the country, describing her as a nation builder.
Ezekwesili also spoke about the role of the media in holding institutions accountable and strengthening democracy, urging media practitioners to maintain professional standards and integrity.
55 chapters, 50 years in broadcasting
The 494-page book contains 55 chapters written by media scholars and professionals, covering different aspects of Nigeria’s media and communication industry.
One of the contributors is Lekan Otufodunrin, Executive Director of the Media Career Development Network, who co-authored Chapter Two, History of Nigerian Print Media, with Olamide Bakare.
The launch also marked Oloyede’s 50 years in broadcasting.
She made history in 1976 as Nigeria’s first female network news anchor with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and has remained one of the prominent figures in the country’s broadcasting history.
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