Fountain University appoints first Professor of Mass Communication

Fountain University in Osogbo has named Raheemat Adeniran as its first Professor of Mass Communication.

The governing council of the university approved her appointment during its 67th meeting on 21 September 2026.

Ms Adeniran is a former lecturer at Lagos State University (LASU). She is currently the Dean of the College of Management and Social Sciences at Fountain University.

Her new role makes her the first Professor of Mass Communication at Fountain University. She is also the first female professor in the College of Management and Social Sciences, according to a news release from the university.

In addition to Ms Adeniran's appointment, the university reappointed Olayinka Karim as Vice-Chancellor for a second term. It also named Mutiyat Ogunrinde as the first Professor of Software Engineering.

Ms Adeniran joined Fountain University in 2023 after teaching for 16 years at LASU. She earned her journalism degree, master’s degree, and PhD in Communication Studies there.

Her research covers journalism practice, health communication, development communication, misinformation, fact-checking, and media credibility. This work focuses especially on Nigeria and the broader African media scene.

In 2020, she became a Dubawa Fact-Checking Research Fellow. This fellowship is now called the Kwame Karikari Fact-Checking and OSINT Fellowship, sponsored by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID).

Ms Adeniran has also published studies on maternal and child health reporting, newsroom practices, and information disorder.

The university stated that Ms Adeniran’s appointment is a key moment in its academic history.

It noted that her rise as the first Professor of Mass Communication would boost the academic standing of the discipline. This move aims to enhance teaching, research, mentorship, and intellectual growth in the field.

The university also emphasized the importance of her being the first female professor in the College of Management and Social Sciences. They called it a significant achievement for female academics, especially those in communication and social sciences.