LASU don, Lai Oso, dies in fatal accident

A professor of Mass Communication at the School of Communication, Lagos State University, Lai Oso, is reportedly dead.

Oso, aged 67, was reported to have died in a ghastly accident that happened on Saturday evening while returning from a conference in Abraka, Delta State.

His death was confirmed by the Dean, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, LASU, Professor Sunday Olayinka Alawode in a broadcast message sent to The PUNCH on Sunday morning.

Alawode wrote, “Good morning family. I am constrained to inform us of the involvement of Professor Muraino Olayiwola OSO, (we all fondly called Baba Lai Oso) in a ghastly auto accident which claimed his life yesterday 24th June 2023.

“It’s a rude shock to all of us even as we commiserate with Mummy Oso, the children and his entire family, the Communication family worldwide, LASU Community and all others.

“Baba, your sudden exit is painful, but we rest in the comfort that you have gone to be with the Lord. Rest in Peace. Adieu Baba of the Communication family.”

Oso was a Professor at the Mass Communication School of Communication, Lagos State University. He was the Dean of the school between 2011 and 2015. He was President, Association of Communication Scholars & Professionals of Nigeria.

He was educated at the University of Lagos (B.Sc. Mass Communication), Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (M.Sc. International Relations) and obtained a Ph.D. degree in Mass Communication as a Federal Government scholar at the University of Leicester, England in 1977.

The LASU don worked as a Reporter in Radio and the News Agency of Nigeria and also taught courses in Journalism, Media and Governance, Political Communication, Development Communication and Theory.