The global communication community and the Nigerian academia are mourning the transition of legendary scholar, veteran journalist, and former public administrator, Professor Idowu Akanbi Sobowale, OON, who passed away on the morning of Thursday, October 8, 2026, at the age of 85.
His death was officially confirmed in a statement issued on behalf of the family by Dr Akinniyi I. Sowunmi.
Known affectionately by his peers as “ID Noble,” Professor Sobowale is widely celebrated as the father of public opinion polling in Nigerian journalism. Described across the industry as a “teacher of teachers,” an administrator par excellence, and an accomplished manager of human resources, his career stands as a masterclass in driving far-reaching national development.
Expressing deep grief, the leadership and members of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN) described his demise as a profound blow to the intellectual and professional media landscape. As a revered patriarch of modern journalism education, Professor Sobowale successfully bridged the gap between theory and practical industry execution.
Born on March 29, 1941, in Ashipa village near Abeokuta, Ogun State, to a farming family, Sobowale’s path to greatness was unconventional. He did not begin formal primary education until the age of 13, facing early academic skepticism from a teacher who labelled him “too dull.”
Defying the odds, his drive carried him to the University of Lagos (UNILAG) at age 29 under a Daily Times scholarship, where he graduated as the best student in Mass Communication. He subsequently relocated to the United States, achieving a rare academic feat by clearing both his Master’s and Ph.D. in Precision/Scientific Journalism from Syracuse University in just three years (1975–1978).
Upon returning to Nigeria, he collaborated with The Punch newspaper under Sam Amuka to introduced scientific public opinion polling to the Nigerian press, publishing the nation’s first-ever structured public survey data in April 1979.
Though, he never served as a university vice-chancellor, Sobowale’s name is permanently etched in history as a founding father of Lagos State University (LASU). He sat on the core technical committee that conceptualized and established LASU in 1983, later serving as the pioneer Dean of the LASU School of Communication.
He also served as Head of Department at UNILAG and Covenant University, and developed postgraduate communication programs at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU). In recognition of his vast footprints, Caleb University named its Faculty of Communication and Media Studies in his honour.
A strong believer in integrating academic knowledge into state governance, his expertise was frequently tapped by political leaders. He was appointed Special Adviser on Education to the first executive Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande. Years later, during the administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Sobowale was elevated to the cabinet as the Lagos State Commissioner for Education (1999–2003).
In recognition of his lifelong impact on media development and state administration, former President Olusegun Obasanjo decorated him with the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON). He was also a recipient of the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the 23rd Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME).
His extraordinary journey from a rural village boy to a national media titan is preserved in his autobiography, titled Unexpected Turns.
The family has indicated that formal details regarding his funeral arrangements and rites of passage will be announced in due course.
Management and staff of Sooth News extend our deepest condolences to Professor Idowu Sobowale’s family, the global communication community, the Lagos State Government, and the nation at large.
