President Bola Tinubu has paid tribute to Professor Idowu Akanbi Sobowale, a renowned journalism scholar who led Nigeria’s first nationwide opinion poll to predict the outcome of the 1979 general elections.
Sobowale, a former Lagos State Commissioner for Education, died at the age of 85.
In a condolence message issued on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu described the late academic’s death as a major loss to Nigeria’s media and academic communities.
The President praised Sobowale’s commitment to evidence-based journalism, professional ethics and the training of generations of journalists and communication scholars.
“As a journalism educator, he emphasised empirical evidence over opinion. It was therefore no surprise that he led the first nationwide opinion poll to predict the outcome of the 1979 elections,” Tinubu said.
He added that Sobowale’s scholarship and mentorship had strengthened the foundations of media education and professional journalism in the country.
Tinubu also recalled the late professor’s contributions to public service in Lagos State, where he served as Special Adviser before becoming Commissioner for Education.
“He served my administration in Lagos State as Special Adviser and later Education Commissioner, performing creditably well in both roles,” the President said.
The President extended his condolences to Sobowale’s family, former students, colleagues and members of the academic and media communities.
He also commiserated with the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria, where Sobowale served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
Tinubu urged those mourning the late scholar to draw comfort from his contributions to education, journalism and public service.
“I urge them to find comfort in his remarkable legacy of service, scholarship and mentorship,” he said.
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