From the Theatre Phase to the Media Space: Interrogating the Vocational Odyssey of Yemi Ogunbiyi

Abstract

This article attempts an examination of the variegated professional career of Yemi Ogunbiyi (YO), one of the most prominent shapers of the contemporary media practice in Nigeria and his contributions to Nigerian theatre scholarship; literary criticism and new journalism in Nigeria. It traces his vocational origins as a theatre scholar and practitioner, through his venture into journalism, as an innovator and seasoned administrator in two of Nigeria's largest newspaper conglomerates in their time, Guardian Newspapers Limited and the Daily Times of Nigeria Plc, and his more recent endeavours in public relations, advertising and publishing. Employing historical-analytic method, this article interrogates the career and enterprise of YO, a scholar, former university teacher, journalist, administrator, public relations doyen and publisher, in order to properly situate his contributions to these professions and to national development.

Keywords: YO, Nigerian theatre scholarship, Media practice, Nigeria, National development