The Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP) has made Professor Tunde Akanni of Lagos State University (LASU) one of its Fellows. The honour is for his work in journalism and conflict-sensitive communication.
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Fellowship conferred on Tunde Akanni at SPSP conference in Ibadan
Professor Akanni lectures in Journalism within LASU's Faculty of Communication and Media Studies. The fellowship was bestowed on him at the 20th International Conference and General Assembly of the society, hosted by Lead City University in Ibadan from 5 to 9 October 2026.
Accounts of the investiture say the fellowship recognises what he has contributed to journalism, development communication and conflict-sensitive communication.
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FCCPC congratulates the new fellow
Mr Akanni is on sabbatical at the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), which has also sent its congratulations to him.
A letter from the commission, bearing the date 7 October 2026, described the honour as proof that he has made a real scholarly contribution to journalism and that he is committed to reporting that takes conflict into account.
Yisau Adepoju, who heads the Administration Department, signed the letter for Olatunji Bello, the FCCPC's Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. It noted that Mr Akanni had shown steady dedication to communication for development and to the role it plays in driving social change.
Describing the honour as "timely and richly deserved", the commission voiced its belief that Mr Akanni would keep making contributions to Nigeria and to scholars around the world.
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The FCCPC remarked that the occasion "plainly bears witness to your commendable academic work in journalism. As a dedicated professional and distinguished scholar, you have steadily shown passion and unshakeable commitment to advancing Conflict- Sensitive Journalism. You have persistently aligned yourself with this branch of Development Communication, which is well known for driving lasting social change and improving general quality of life, especially in developing nations."
About Tunde Akanni: career and academic record
Mr Akanni holds a chair in Journalism at LASU. LASU's own staff page on him gives his area of expertise as Journalism and Development Communications, and he earned his PhD in Media and Conflict Resolution Studies at the University of Ibadan.
He joined LASU in 2001 as an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Journalism, and climbed the ladder over the years. In March 2025, the Governing Council of the university endorsed his elevation to a chair as Journalism and Development Communication's full professorial holder. He was then an Associate Professor, and also served as the first Director of LASU's Digital Media Research Centre.
Prior to entering academia, Mr Akanni built a career in Nigerian newspapers and magazines, with stints at The Punch and National Concord, where he reached the position of Acting Features Editor. When the Concord titles were banned in 1994, he moved to the Civil Liberties Organisation as its Head of Campaigns.
Research interests and training
The academic interests of Tunde Akanni include:
- journalism practice
- media ethics
- development communication
- political communication
- media and conflict
- strategic communication
- how artificial intelligence is affecting media systems
His education and career preparation has been spread across several institutions, among them Columbia University in the United States, the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom and the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague, Netherlands. He is also a British Chevening Scholar and has been awarded the Netherlands NUFFIC Fellowship.
