Ajayi Crowther University Governing Council Confirms Professor Popoola as Deputy Vice- Chancellor

By Ogundele Olanrewaju

The Governing Council of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, has approved the election and subsequent appointment of Professor Muyiwa Popoola as the 3rd Deputy Vice- Chancellor of the University. His appointment was approved by the Governing Council led by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) at the 76th statutory meeting of the Council held on Thurdayss10th February. Prior to the approval of the Council, he had been elected for the position by the Senate of the University at its 110th statutory meeting presided over by the Vice- Chancellor, Professor Timothy Adebayo on Wedneday February 2, 2022.

Muyiwa Popoola is Professor of Journalism, Communication and Media Studies and immediate former Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, at the Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, Nigeria.

He was taken by providence to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where, in 1999, he bagged Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Honours in Mass Communication, with First Class Honours, and won the prizes for the best graduating student in the Department, and the best final year student in the Faculty. Thereafter, he was awarded the Master of Science (M Sc) degree in Mass Communication, of the University of Lagos, Nigeria. Like in Nsukka, he earned the University teaching assistantship award and was recognized for recording the best performance on the programme. By 2012, after serious academic exercises, his persistent thirst for knowledge, hard work and excellence was crowned at the Nigeria’s Premier University, the University of Ibadan, where he was awarded the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph D) in Media and Cultural Studies.

When he attained the Professorial cadre, some years ago, he was one of the youngest in the field of Mass Communication.

At various times in the past, Muyiwa Popoola has been the Head of Department of Communication and Media Studies, Director of Media Centre, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, and Member of Senate and the Appointments and Promotions Committee, and member of the Governing Council of the Institution.

He has taught and researched journalism for over two decades in Nigeria. He has to his credit, scores of scholarly publications in academic journals and associated scholarly outlets. Interestingly, while Muyiwa Popoola has authored many Books, he has edited and co-edited several Books of Readings.

Muyiwa Popoola, a Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) Sub Saharan Africa Media Scholar, is a regular presenter of papers at local and international conferences, within and outside Nigeria. He is a Consultant to the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the National Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), on Political Communication and Safety of Journalists, respectively. His major areas of research interest include: Media and Society, Media, Peace and Security Studies, Media and Critical-cultural Studies, and, Political Communication.

He is a member of many professional bodies, namely, but not limited to the following: International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR), African Council for Communication Education (ACCE), Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN), Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), Forum of African Media Educators (FAME) and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

A highly cerebral person, Professor Popoola has assumed office as Deputy Vice- Chancellor. Muyia Popoola is happily married to Elizabeth and the marriage I blessed with Beulah, Baruch and Benaiah