ACSPN Seeks Stronger Synergy with Osun NUJ to Bridge Gap Between Academia and Practice

By Olayinka AWOFADEJU 

‎The Association of Communication Scholars and Practitioners of Nigeria (ACSPN) has emphasized the need for a robust collaborative framework between communication educators and field journalists to advance the media profession in the country.

‎The call was made during a courtesy visit by executives of the association to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) State Secretariat in Osogbo, Osun State.

‎Speaking during the visit, the ACSPN representatives, led by the Osun State Coordinator, Dr. Adeola Oyedele, alongside Dr. Sijude Emmanuel, noted that the association was established to bridge the traditional disconnect between academic researchers and media practitioners on the field.

‎"Most of the time, scholars are confined to the classroom and do not fully grasp what is happening on the front lines of practice," Dr. Oyedele stated. "We felt the need to bridge that gap so that media practitioners can benefit from scholarly insights, while academics can equally learn from the practical realities of the field."

‎The association highlighted that its national body maintains a strong working relationship with the NUJ, a synergy that state chapters are mandated to replicate. According to the delegation, partnering with the union is essential for organizing joint training programs, workshops, and capacity-building initiatives, ensuring that resource persons and participants are drawn directly through official NUJ channels.

‎Welcoming the delegation, the leadership of the Osun State NUJ warmly acknowledged the visit and commended the initiative to foster academic-industry collaboration. The union expressed optimism that the partnership would mutually benefit both working journalists and communication scholars in driving professional excellence across the state.