You all obtained your first degrees from the Department of Mass Communication, Crescent University. Looking back, what specific foundation did Crescent give you that prepared you for the rigours of doctoral research at LASU?
My name is Dr. Waheed Ogunjobi. For me, pursuing a B.Sc. in Mass Communication at Crescent University was a gamechanger in my career. I had initially lived in denial about needing a degree. I must emphasise here that most often than not when we need to embrace changes, we live in denial. It is better to accept the reality of the time and move with the trend and not to allow the trend to subsume you or be caught napping. More on this will surely come in future discourse. I enrolled for the Bachelor’s programme almost 13 years after my HND, and I was surprised by how much the discipline had evolved.
Several new courses that weren’t available during my HND days were now part of the curriculum, and they gave me a strong intellectual foundation. That foundation paid off directly. At the Master’s level in the University of Lagos, the programme was seminar-based, and Crescent had already prepared me for that style of engagement.
By the time I enrolled for my PhD at LASU, it felt like a natural progression. I already understood academic writing, critical analysis, and scholarly publication. Crescent University ensured I was trained as an academic scholar even before my PhD. Both my B.Sc. project and Master’s dissertation were published through the department’s support and journals. You know most universities require at least two papers from your thesis for graduation. Having gone through the process of turning a long essay into a coherent and meaningful thesis early, I found the PhD journey much smoother.
Three of you from the same department are bagging PhDs at the same convocation. What does that say about the quality of training and the culture of academic excellence that Crescent University instilled in you?
You can say that again! Crescent University graduates have consistently excelled in universities across Nigeria and abroad. The list is almost inexhaustible. In my set, I was among the few who made a PhD grade at UNILAG, and graduating in flying colours at the 29th and 30th combined convocation of Lagos State University was therefore not a surprise to those who know the Crescent standard.
I must put this on record: Crescent University offers a practical blend that goes beyond the classroom learning. Students are not just trained to write news and feature stories. The department exposes them to entrepreneurship early through its retinue of publications that serve as veritable training grounds. That mix of theory, practice, and enterprise is what sets Crescent apart.
What was your PhD research focused on, and how do you think it contributes to the field of Mass Communication and national development?
My research focused on Newspaper Framing of the Rural Grazing Area Policy in Nigeria. It sheds light on the critical role the media plays in shaping public perception and influencing development outcomes.
My findings revealed significant gaps in policy communication and highlighted the media’s role in national development. The study emphasizes the need for data-driven journalism and conflict-sensitive reporting.
As I noted in an interview:
“Effective communication is key to development, and the media has a significant role to play in this process. My research underscores the importance of media framing in shaping public perception and influencing policy formulation and outcomes.”
What advice would you give to current students of Crescent University who aspire to reach the same academic height, and what role do you think the university can play in nurturing future scholars?
Crescent University is already positioned to take students to the zenith of their careers. The records speak for themselves. My advice therefore to current students is simple: take a cue from those who came before you and not only meet the standards that have been set, but surpass them. The facilities are there. The array of scholars is there. The university recently produced its first set of PhD graduands. That shows Crescent is not just keeping pace elsewhere, it is also building capacity at home. Charity, indeed, has begun at home.
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