The Faculty of Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, will host one of its distinguished alumni, Mr. Dapo Olorunyomi (OON), as a Guest Lecturer in the Faculty of Arts Distinguished Alumni Lecture Series on Tuesday, 18^th November 2025. The event will take place at 11:00 a.m. in the Oduduwa Hall.

Mr. Olorunyomi, the Publisher of Premium Times and Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), is a celebrated journalist, editor, and advocate for media freedom and democratic governance. A graduate of the Department of English from the Faculty of Arts, OAU, Olorunyomi has become one of Nigeria’s most respected voices in investigative journalism and public accountability.

The lecture, titled “AI, Social Media and the Reconfiguration of Democratic Power in Nigeria”, will examine the transformative effects of technology on civic engagement, governance, and the future of democracy. The topic reflects the Faculty’s ongoing commitment to exploring how the humanities engage contemporary global challenges and technological change. This lecture reinforces the narrative that Obafemi Awolowo University is not only a place of learning but of leadership, transformation, and relevance to national life.

In a statement, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Professor Gbenga Fasiku, described the event as “a homecoming for a brilliant alumnus whose work continues to inspire generations of thinkers and communicators.” He further noted that “Mr. Olorunyomi’s achievements exemplify how a foundation in the humanities can empower graduates to reshape national and global narratives.”

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adebanjo Simeon Bamire, is expected to chair the event, alongside other principal officers of the University. The lecture will be attended by staff, students, alumni, and members of the public interested in the intersection of media, democracy, and emerging technologies. The Distinguished Alumni Lecture Series is part of the Faculty’s efforts to strengthen ties between the University and its alumni network, while inspiring intellectual curiosity, mentorship, and innovation among students and staff. The hope is that this lecture will not only honour Olorunyomi’s achievements but also galvanize new thinking in humanities scholarship, particularly at a time when questions of culture, technology, and power are at the forefront