Prof. Idowu Sobowale, Veteran Journalist and Scholar, Dies at 85

Professor Idowu Akanbi Sobowale, a renowned communication scholar, journalist and veteran member of Nigeria’s media community, has died at the age of 85. Sobowale died on Thursday morning, October 8, 2026. The announcement was made by a family member, Akinniyi Sowunmi, in a statement titled “Transition to Glory.” Sowunmi described his death as a major loss to Nigeria’s communication community, particularly members of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals in Nigeria. He said funeral arrangements would be announced by the family.

Born on January 4, 1941, Sobowale built a distinguished career spanning journalism and academia. He began his journalism career at the Daily Times before moving into academia, where he became a professor of journalism and played a role in the development of communication education in Nigeria. He was also credited with introducing opinion polling to Nigerian journalism through the establishment of a Public Opinion Polling Desk at The Punch in 1979. Sobowale later served as Dean of the Adebola Adegunwa School of Communication at Lagos State University and helped develop postgraduate mass communication programmes at Olabisi Onabanjo University. He was honoured by the Federal Government with the Officer of the Order of the Niger, OON, and received the DAME Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to media development and the training of communication professionals. His death has prompted mourning across Nigeria’s media and academic communities.

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