In a stirring call for collective responsibility in nation-building, renowned communications expert and philanthropist, Mr. Tunde Thani, has urged public-spirited Nigerians to support government efforts in developing the country’s education sector. His appeal came on Friday, November 28, 2025, as he donated a fully revamped Public Relations and Advertising (PRAD) Laboratory to the Faculty of Mass Communication, University of Lagos (UNILAG).
The gesture, he explained, was borne out of a desire to bridge the widening gap between classroom theory and industry practice, an imbalance he believes continues to limit the preparedness of graduates entering the communication sector. “Government cannot do it alone,” he told the audience, stressing the need for alumni and private citizens to give back meaningfully to institutions that shaped them.
Thani, a proud Epe indigene, Managing Director/CEO of Explicit Communications Limited, and convener of the Thani Oladunjoye Older People Foundation (TOOPF), is an alumnus of the then-Department of Mass Communication, UNILAG, class of 1983. His homecoming was marked with applause and heartfelt appreciation from faculty, students, and industry leaders.
The commissioning event, hosted at the Biodun Shobanjo Centre of Excellence, drew some of the biggest names in Nigeria’s advertising and communication landscape. Present were the Chairman of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) and Heads of Advertising Sectoral Group (HASG), Mr. Lanre Adisa; the Director of Regulation at the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), Mrs. Emme Akande, representing the Director-General, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo; and senior members of the Faculty of Mass Communication including the Dean, Prof. Sunday Oloruntola, who represented UNILAG Vice Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola.
Others in attendance were seasoned scholars including Prof. Adepoju Tejumaiye, Dr. Tayo Popoola, and Dr. Ebony Oketumbi, who represented the Head of PRAD Department, Dr. Soji Alabi.
Speaking further, Thani recalled how his conversations with the leadership of the UNILAG Mass Communication Alumni Association (UMCAA) and media scholar, Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye, highlighted the urgency of a space where theoretical learning meets real-life industry application. He credited Dr. Daramola with conceptualising the idea that eventually birthed the new PRAD Lab.
Addressing students directly, he encouraged them to maximise the facility, describing it as a springboard for professional readiness. “This lab is for your growth. Use it well to prepare for life after university,” he told them.
The Dean, Prof. Oloruntola, and Dr. Popoola both expressed gratitude on behalf of the faculty, giving assurances that the facility would be fully utilised to enhance practical training.
In a goodwill message, President Worldwide of the UNILAG Alumni Association, Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele, represented by Otunba Seun Badejo, praised Thani’s generosity and reaffirmed the truth behind his message: no nation can rely solely on government to fund education. He also urged the faculty to deepen engagement with alumni to sustain the university’s long-standing culture of excellence.
The highlight of the event was the formal commissioning of the project by AAAN Chairman, Mr. Adisa, who encouraged students to leverage social media tools to sharpen their advertising skills and pledged further support for the PRAD department.
