The Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN), has described the tragic death of renowned teacher of Communication and Media studies, Prof. Lai Oso as a huge loss to the Nigerian and global mass communication and journalism community. Prof Oso died on Saturday in a motor accident.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday and signed by Mr. Lanre Arogundade, Public Relations Officer of the Association, he said Professor 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 Oso held the firm conviction that the meeting of the gown and town would benefit the mass communication and media fields for the maximum impact of both professions on democracy and development. He pursued this conviction relentlessly and his death is a collective loss” Prof. Pate said in a statement on Sunday.

Another associate of the late media icon, Prof. Nosa Owens-Ibie, the General Secretary of ACSPN and Vice Chancellor of Caleb University, Imota, Lagos, in his tribute also said: “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 curriculum development workshop for communication and journalism courses in November 2015”.

Prof. Owens -Ibe added : “he was a scholar who helped to make scholars out of others through knowledge building, scholarly articles and book publications, and 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”.

According to Mr. Arogundade, “even out of office as President, Prof. Oso remained a pillar of support for ASCPN and actively participated in the organisation’s zonal and national events, the last being the Annual Conference held at Rockview Hotel, Abuja in September 2022.

“Prof. Oso was affable and humble, qualities that endeared him to the younger generation of media and communication scholars and professionals who constantly sought his support and mentorship. His services were also constantly demanded by institutions of higher learning and the civil society”, Mr. Arogundade stressed.

ACSPN’s spokesperson said “it is regrettable that he died while returning from Delta State University (DELSU) where he served as external examiner at the University till the day before.

“ACSPN extends its heartfelt condolences to the wife and children of Prof. Oso, his other relations, associates and colleagues”, the statement stressed.

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos Council, on Sunday said it received with a heavy heart, news of the death of Lagos State University (LASU) Mass Communication Lecturer, Prof. Lai 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.

“Professor Oso will be remembered for his good student-teacher relations and humble behaviour. He was always ready to assist his students and colleagues”, the statement added.

Prof. Oso was a deputy rector at the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, formerly Ogun State Polytechnic, Abeokuta, later Caleb University, Imota, before joining the services of the Lagos State University,(LASU).

He was appointed the dean of the LASU School of Communication and now Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, between 2011 and 2015.