ILMA Director, Prof. Salawu Joins the Academy of Science of South Africa

Story by Olanrewaju Ogundeyi

The Director of the Indigenous Language Media in Africa (ILMA) Research Entity, North-West University, South Africa, Professor Abiodun Salawu has been inducted as a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa. The Director of ILMA, who is a Professor of Journalism, Communication and Media Studies, joined forty-five other distinguished scholars and scientists at the annual award ceremony organised by the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), where they were formally inaugurated as members of the Academy.

According to the organisers, new members are elected to the Academy each year through a rigorous peer-review process that recognises outstanding individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the advancement of science and scholarship in South Africa. Induction into ASSAf is widely regarded as one of the highest honours that is be bestowed upon a South African scholar.

Among the eminent scholars inducted for the year 2025 was Professor Abiodun Salawu, the Director of the Indigenous Language Media in Africa (ILMA) Research Entity, whose election to ASSAf is a testament to his outstanding contributions to research, scholarly excellence, promotion of African languages and media studies and community service.

Professor Salawu is an internationally recognised scholar in the fields of African communication, journalism, and media studies. He has published extensively in leading academic journals and contributed numerous chapters and books to the global body of knowledge on indigenous language communication and media studies. In addition, he has also edited/co-edited many books that have shaped discourse in his field.

Established through the Academy of Science of South Africa Act (Act 67 of 2001), which came into effect on 15 May 2002, ASSAf is the only national science academy officially recognised by the South African government. It serves as South Africa’s representative body in the international community of science academies, promoting evidence-based science and scholarship in support of national development.

According to Professor Toyin Falola, a Nigerian historian and Professor of African Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, United States, described Professor Salawu as a scholar worthy of emulation as far as scholarship is concerned, especially in the field of note, who advocates for indigenous languages across the world. “Salawu is a foremost scholar who has deepened our understanding of the intersection between media, language, and digital platforms”, he said.

While responding to what inspired his scholarship in indigenous language media, a field that has earned him global recognition and a distinguished career in the international academy, Salawu submits that “I have always been fascinated by the act of writing, whether in English or Yoruba. This passion led me into journalism, where I worked for several print media organisations in Lagos and Ibadan before eventually moving into academia. What motivated me most was the realisation that little attention was being paid to communication in African languages. Consequently, all my postgraduate studies were directed toward this cause. My Ph.D. research, for instance, explored how indigenous language media could serve as a tool for development communication.” Professor Salawu also acknowledged the influence the literary works of the late Kenyan author and academic, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o have on his academic career. “Ngugi’s work greatly inspired and strengthened my interest in indigenous language research”, he enthused.

Professor Salawu’s induction into ASSAf not only highlights his personal academic achievements but also underscores the growing recognition of scholarship emerging from North-West University and its continued contribution to the advancement of science, humanities and indigenous language and media development in Africa.

We at ILMA proudly celebrate and congratulate Professor Abiodun Salawu on this outstanding recognition of his scholarly excellence.