Professor Idowu Akanbi Sobowale, a distinguished communication scholar and veteran of Nigeria’s media and academic landscape, has passed away at the age of 85.
Family member Akinniyi Sowunmi announced the death in an official statement released on Thursday, October 8, 2026, confirming that the late academic passed away earlier in the day.
Sowunmi described Professor Sobowale’s passing as a major loss to the broader communication community, particularly to members of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN).
“This is a very sad day for us in the Communication Community in Nigeria nd especially for us at the Association of Communication Scholars & Professionals in Nigeria. Our father, Pa Deacon Professor Idowu Akanbi Sobowale, OON, 85, joined the saints triumphant this morning, October 8, 2026
“Details of his funeral rites to be announced by the family soon.
Sobowale’s death comes as a loss to Nigeria’s communication and media community, where he was recognised as a veteran scholar and member of the professional community.
Professor Idowu Akanbi Sobowale
Born in Ashipa, near Abeokuta, Ogun State, Professor Idowu Sobowale began his journalism career at the Daily Times, securing his first position under the leadership of the late Alhaji Babatunde Jose.
After earning a Diploma and BA (Hons) in Mass Communication from the University of Lagos, he worked as an assistant lecturer at UNILAG before proceeding to Syracuse University in the United States, where he obtained a PhD in Scientific Journalism in 1978.
Sobowale pioneered public opinion polling in Nigerian journalism by establishing a dedicated polling desk at The Punch newspapers under Sam Amuka, publishing the country’s first media opinion poll results in April 1979.
He twice served as acting Head of the Mass Communication Department at UNILAG before contributing to the establishment and planning of Lagos State University (LASU) in 1983, where he later served as the pioneer Dean of the LASU School of Communication.
From 2004 to 2007, Professor Sobowale served as the pioneer Dean of the LASU School of Communication, where he was also a Professor of Communication Studies.
He subsequently served as Dean at Olabisi Onabanjo University in Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State. In recognition of his contributions to the field, Caleb University in Imota, Lagos, named its Faculty of Communication and Media Studies in his honor.
In public governance, Sobowale served as Special Adviser on Education to former Lagos State Governor Lateef Jakande and later as Commissioner for Education under Governor Bola Tinubu from 1999 to 2003.
