THE BABATUNDE JOSE LECTURE

Alhaji Ismail Babatunde Jose is the most respected journalist in Nigeria. He was born on December 13, 1925 in Lagos. He didn’t have the opportunity of tertiary education as his educational exploits ended at the Yaba Methodist School and St. Saviour’s High School, Lagos. But what this legend of Nigerian journalism missed in the colleges, he made up for with his exceptional and intimidating successes, which were won “through hard grind” as a student of the “university of life”.Although his educational profile is miles behind his enormous achievements in his journalistic carreer, Alhaji Jose’s colossal contributions to the development of Nigerian journalism are unprecedented and it is to his credit that most notable practitioners of the profession, yesterday and today, are products of his tutelage.

Today, the history of Nigerian journalism would be incomplete without a worthy recognition to the foot prints of the man who has been deservedly named The Doyen of Nigerian Journalism; father of modern day journalism or simply Mr. Nigerian Journalism.

Alhaji Ismail Babatunde Jose’s life is journalism and journalism is his life. He employed hard work and self development as tools to achieve mind-blowing success at The Daily Times Group. He had joined the group as a technical trainee in 1941 at the age of sixteen. Through hard work and unwavering dedication to journalism, he rose through the ranks to become reporter and later news editor in 1957. By 1962, he had reached the peak, when he was appointed Managing Director, Chairman/Chief Executive, a position he held till 1976.

It won’t be out of point to assert that from the evolution of journalism in Nigeria of old till modern day practice of the profession, no Nigerian, living or dead, has dedicated his entire life and career to the development and practice of the profession more than Alhaji (Dr.) Ismail Babatunde Jose. It is in recognition of his contributions to the development of journalism that he is being honoured with an annual lecture.

The Annual Ismail Babatunde Jose Lecture On the media and the society will be delivered by eminent journalism scholars and professionals sourced from around the world. The topic shall always examine the role and performance of the media in the coverage of events, issues and the society. The event, which will attract top media players both serving and retired, as well as people in all other works of life, shall be hosted annually as the curtain raiser of the Nigeria Media Expo