A foremost private university in Nigeria, Crescent University Abeokuta (CUAB), has produced a look-alike of the first Nigeria’s newspaper”, “Iwe Irohin Fun Awon Ara Egba Ati Yoruba”, to celebrate 160 years of journalism in Nigeria and to report the conference of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN), held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The conference, which took off on Wednesday September 4 at Park Inn by Radisson, rounded off with a formal presentation of the simulated newspaper at the Ake Palace, Abeokuta the Ogun State capital on Thursday September 5.
The Head of Department Mass Communication, Crescent University, Abeokuta, Dr. Kola Adesina, according to a statement by Public Relations Officer of the University, Mr. Idris Katib made available to the press during the week, is the brainchild of the archival simulation of the first newspaper which was formally presented by the former Judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Prince Bola Ajibola (SAN) to Alake of Egba Land, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, in his palace.
In his speech, Oba Gbadebo historically traced the presentation of the first “Iwe Irohin Fun Awon Ara Egba Ati Yoruba” to the period when his forefather was four years on the throne of Alake, while that history was repeated in his palace in his 14th year as the king. This, he described as remarkable.
The sponsor of the project, Prince Bola Ajibola (SAN) described the simulation as “a noble idea of bringing back to life what Henry Townsend did in Abeokuta in 1859”, adding that, “by this publication, we can imagine how Henry Townsend would have reported the 2019 conference of the collaboration of academics and professional communicators in Nigeria 160 years ago”.
Initiator of the simulation of Iwe Irohin project, Dr Kola Adesina, in an interview, said the idea was to demonstrate the capacity of the Department of Mass Communication of Crescent University, Abeokuta with a view to exposing students to necessary research and practical training in media and communication globally.
According to Adesina, practical projects of his department were to make students think out of the box, thereby making unique contributions to the areas of mass communication.
In his words, “this is what has earned us Our Mass Comm is World Class slogan” in recent times.
President of the ACSPN, Prof. Lai Oso, congratulated Oba Aremu Gbadebo on the repeat of journalistic history which started around the Ake Palace 160 years ago while also expressing his appreciation to Egba people for their hospitable gestures to non-natives of Abeokuta City.
The simulation and presentation were part of activities marking the grand finale of the 6th Annual Conference of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria and Celebration of 160 Years of Journalism in Nigeria hosted by Crescent University, Abeokuta.
The conference with the theme “National Interest, Freedom of Expression and Governance in Africa” welcomed paper presentations from sequences of mass communication such as new media and national interest, development communication policy theory, gender issues and national interest, master class, advertising/public relations and national interest, journalism and national interest as well as media, communication and national interest.
Many captains of communication industry in Nigeria and abroad were in attendance.
Prominent among those in attendance are Araba Tola Adeniyi, former MD, Daily Times, Aremo Taiwo Alimi, former Managing Director, Voice of Nigeria, Mrs Ijedi Iyoha, Acting Registrar, Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), Mr Lanre Idowu, CEO, Diamond Awards for Media Excellence, Dr Niran Malaolu, CEO, Rock City FM, Mrs Funmi Wakama, General Manager, NTA Abeokuta and Mrs Stella Jibrin, Director, Nigerian Press Council.
