The Publisher of Premium Times Dapo Olorunyomi will on Tuesday, November 18, 2025 deliver the 2025 Faculty of Arts Distinguished Alumni Lecture at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State.
Penpushing reports that the event theme, “AI, Social Media and the Reconfiguration of Democratic Power in Nigeria’, is scheduled to hold in Oduduwa Hall, of the university and it will also be streamed live via Zoom.
The guest lecturer is an alumnus of the Department of English and a leading figure in Nigeria’s investigative journalism and media innovation, and will be the sole speaker for the 2025 edition of the event.
Penpushing further reports that the distinguished alumni lecture series, one of the oldest academic traditions of the Faculty of Arts, features one notable alumnus each year, while this year event will be hosted by the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Adebayo Bamire.
The Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Gbenga Fasiku, while speaking said the lecture series explained that it is designed to celebrate accomplished graduates and expose students to ideas shaping contemporary society.
“The Distinguished Alumni Lecture Series has existed for decades and honours graduates who have excelled globally. Only one speaker is featured at a time, and their records speak for them’, Fasiku stated
Penpushing also reports that he described Olorunyomi as an outstanding and pioneering journalist whose work in investigative and guerrilla reporting helped resist authoritarian pressure during Nigeria’s military era.
“His bravery placed him at the forefront of the struggle for truth and justice,” he said. “His role in establishing the Independent Communications Network Limited—which published The News, Tempo and PM News—was instrumental during the push for democracy’, he added
Penpushing reports that Fasiku added that the 2025 lecture would help students and the wider public understand how technology and social media are reshaping democratic power.
“It is a public lecture, and we expect participation from within and outside Nigeria,” he added. “The Zoom link has already been published for wider engagement’, he emphasized
Penpushing further reports that Olorunyomi is the chief executive of the West African media think tank, Centre of Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), and has been at the forefront of accountability journalism and media development for over four decades.
The renowned journalist has played a pivotal role in shaping investigative journalism, promoting press freedom, and mentoring generations of journalists across Africa, and has worked as editor during the years of military dictatorship in Nigeria.
Penpushing also reports that this earned him the 1995 International Editor of the Year Award of the World Press Review, and the Press Freedom Award (1996) of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), New York.
The veteran media practitioner was in 2020, a co-recipient of the International Press Freedom Award from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), while in 2025, he was honoured with the Christopher Kolade Award for Media Leadership and Excellence in Nigeria.
Penpushing reports that Olorunyomi, a press freedom advocate,is also a recipient of Nigeria’s national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) for his work in support of democracy and freedom.
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