Babcock University has celebrated veteran broadcaster Bimbo Oloyede for her contributions to Nigerian journalism and media practice following her visit to the institution in Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State.
During the visit on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, Oloyede donated five copies of her book, Communication and Media in Nigeria: Celebrating Bimbo Oloyede’s Contribution to Five Decades of Theory, Practice and Transformation, to the university library.
The President and Vice-Chancellor of Babcock University, Professor Afolarin Olutunde Ojewole, praised the broadcaster for documenting her professional experience and making her knowledge accessible to future generations of media practitioners.
He described the publication as a way of preserving knowledge beyond one’s lifetime, adding that it would serve as a valuable resource for students studying communication and related disciplines.
“We thank you for being a guiding light, a voice for the voiceless, and a conscience for our nation,” Ojewole said.
He added that the university appreciated Oloyede’s contributions to broadcasting and expressed confidence that the book would benefit students preparing for careers in the media industry.
Responding, Oloyede expressed delight at visiting Babcock University, describing its environment as peaceful and orderly. She said she was pleased to see the institution for herself after hearing positive accounts about it.
The book was co-authored by 60 media professionals and examines broadcasting, film, advertising, public relations and aspects of Nigeria’s mass communication history. Oloyede said the project was motivated by her desire to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and professional media practice.
“I may not be a scholar, but I was driven by a desire to bridge the town-gown gap in media practice,” she said.
Oloyede became widely known in the 1970s and made history in 1976 as Nigeria’s first female network newscaster on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). She also anchored the opening broadcast of FESTAC ’77, further establishing her place in the country’s broadcasting history.
Beyond television, she co-founded Media International Enterprises Ltd and established Strictly Speaking, a communication consultancy. She also founded the Women Optimum Development Foundation (WODEF), an organisation focused on gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Her career spans 58 years, during which she has contributed to broadcasting, communication and professional development in Nigeria.
The book’s donation to Babcock University adds to efforts to preserve the experiences and contributions of established media professionals while providing students with insights into the evolution and practice of communication in Nigeria.
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