The University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, has announced the promotion of Ibitayo Popoola, the institution’s head of Mass Communication Department to professor, recognising years of academic excellence, research contributions, and leadership within the department.
The promotion, which is contained in the institution’s official bulletin, Campus News (Vol. 019), issued on Friday and sighted by BusinessDay, signifies a milestone in the career of a media professional, who turned to a renowned academic, reflecting career trajectory from newsroom leadership to topmost academia ranking.
Prior to his academic journey with the university, Popoola established a outstanding career in Nigeria’s journalism space, rising through the ranks as political correspondent, news editor, and deputy editor across several national media platforms.
The soft-spoken ‘academic’ left the defunct Diet Weekend newspaper as editor in 2001 before joining the University of Lagos in 2002 as an assistant lecturer.
Popoola’s promotion to full professor follows a 24-year academic progression during which he served as senior lecturer and associate professor.
“A specialist in political communication, Popoola has contributed extensively to scholarship and media training, with publications in both local and international journals. His academic work has focused on strengthening the interface between media practice and theory.
His body of work includes widely used textbooks such as Specialized Reporting: A Global Trend in Media Training (Volumes 1 and 2), Mass Media Law in Nigeria: A Professional Perspective, Parrot Journalism: A Guide in Investigative Journalism, and Introduction to Political Communication in Nigeria (2026).
“Beyond journalism and political communication, the scholar has also authored works on leadership and faith, including A Model Worker for Christ and a biography of Senator Tony Adefuye,” the bulletin reads partly.
Many of his colleagues and acquaintances both in the media space and academic ecosystem applauded Popoola’s promotion, describing it, as well deserved.