Postgraduate students of Mass Communication at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) gained first-hand insights into Nigeria’s broadcasting history, its transition from state control to deregulation, and the changing nature of broadcast content during an engaging session with veteran broadcaster Citizen Jones Usen
Mr. Usen, a broadcast journalist with TVC Communications, was a guest lecturer in MAS 803: Topical Seminar in Mass Communication, where he shared professional experiences and historical perspectives on the theme, “Broadcast Transition in Nigeria and BBC Legacy: History, Deregulation and Content in the Era of Decolonialisation.”
The session, facilitated by Professor Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika, the University’s first female Professor of Mass Communication and lecturer for the course, was held on Monday, August 31, 2026, at MCB 7, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, UNILAG.
Rather than approaching the subject solely through textbooks and academic literature, the session brought the history of Nigerian broadcasting into direct conversation with the experience of a practitioner who has witnessed significant phases of the industry.
A recipient of several awards, Mr. Usen traced the origins and development of broadcasting, examining the establishment and influence of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), its legacy in Nigeria, and the evolution of the country’s broadcast industry.
He also examined the transition from state-controlled broadcasting to a deregulated media environment, highlighting the implications of the shift for broadcast practice, ownership and content.
Particular attention was given to the place of African voices and storytelling in contemporary broadcasting. The discussion explored how presentation styles, narrative choices and ownership of stories can shape the representation of African people, communities and experiences, particularly within ongoing conversations around decolonisation and control of narratives.
The veteran broadcaster also took the students through important personalities and developments in the early years of Nigerian broadcasting, drawing on professional experiences and anecdotes to provide context to the history and transformation of the industry.
The conversation further extended to political communication, electioneering and the role of broadcasting in shaping public discourse. This enabled the students to examine the relationship between the media, politics and Nigeria’s wider social development.
For the students, the encounter offered more than a conventional classroom lecture. It provided an opportunity to interrogate theories and historical accounts alongside the lived experience of a practitioner who has spent decades in the broadcast industry.
Speaking on behalf of the full-time and part-time students, Mr. Ola Azeez Fatai expressed appreciation to Professor Ogwezzy-Ndisika for creating the opportunity for the class to learn directly from an accomplished broadcaster.
He described the session as a “rare opportunity”, commending the professor for consistently bringing scholarship, professional experience and diverse perspectives into the classroom.
The student said the experience would remain memorable to the class, adding, “We are passing out with your name etched in our memory.”
