Veteran broadcaster Mrs. Bimbo Oloyede has called for enhanced practical training for mass communication students through engagement with experienced media professionals.
She made the call on September 1, 2026, in Lagos at the launch of her book titled ‘’ Communication and Media in Nigeria: Celebrating her contribution to Five Decades of Theory, Practice and Transformation, held at the Coliseum, Lekki.
Bimbo Oloyede affirmed the publication was conceived to bridge the academic gap between what students are being taught in the classroom and what obtains in the media industry. She said bridging the gap makes students have a better idea of what to expect when they leave school.
According to her, in addition to the theories they are taught, students can learn more from reading the experience and thoughts of media professionals and engaging with them. She emphasized that students need to understand what awaits them when they leave school, adding that the experiences of professionals who have lived through the industry’s changes can provide knowledge that textbooks alone may not offer.
She also announced that copies of the text will be distributed free of charge to 200 universities, polytechnics, and media academies across Nigeria through upcoming sponsored campus tours and donations to institutional libraries.
The Secretary-General of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Professor Andrew Haruna, also supported the need for students to connect classroom theories with practical realities in the media industry. He said students need to understand how theories and models translate into practice and how professionals have navigated the changing realities of the industry.
While reviewing the book, veteran Journalist, Dr. Reuben Abati, noted that the book serves as a vital bridge between academic theory and practical news reality. He said the book brings together five decades of broadcasting history and provides knowledge for the next generation. He commended the publication for being well crafted with depth, knowledge and clarity.
Keynote speaker and former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, said it is the duty of every Nigerian to be civic-minded and actively engage in demanding a society that works. She commended Oloyede for exemplifying this civic responsibility, describing her as a nation builder par excellence.
She highlighted the critical role of the media in promoting accountability and strengthening democracy, urging media practitioners to maintain professional integrity.
The 494-page publication features 55 chapters contributed by media scholars and professionals, covering various aspects of Nigeria’s media and communication industry.
Among the media professionals who contributed to the publication is Lekan Otufodunrin, Executive Director of the Media Career Development Network, who co-wrote Chapter Two, titled “History of Nigerian Print Media,” with Olamide Bakare.
The book launch also marked Oloyede’s 50th anniversary in broadcasting. She made history in 1976 as Nigeria’s first female network news anchor on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), becoming one of the prominent figures in the country’s broadcasting history.
