Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Professor Abdul-Rasheed Na’allah, has challenged the University’s newly established Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, to come up with ideas and strategies that will make it globally competitive and relevant.
Prof Na’allah was the special guest at the Faculty’s maiden Orientation Programme for the newly admitted students across the eight programmes run by the faculty, held on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at the Faculty of Agriculture Lecture Theatre, Main Campus.
Expressing delight at the progress of the newly established faculty being a by-product of the unbundling of Mass Communication by the National Universities Commission (NUC), he described University of Abuja as the “University of Destiny.”
According to him, the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies is a flagship of the university programmes, because there are myriad issues of great significance that can be addressed through communication.
Encouraging the new students to explore various developmental programmes on and off campus, Prof Na’Allah told the excited students that
policies are being approved to protect their interest, with a view to having a civilized society where people know their rights.
The Dean of the Faculty, Professor Bashir Abdullahi, in his address, admonished the students to be diligent, assuring them that management of the faculty would not condone any form of harassment. He reiterated that members of staff are ready to attend to their needs.
Heads of various departments, including Advertising and Public Relations, Dr Kamaldin Babatunde; Development and Strategic Communication Studies, Dr Aishat Abdulrauf-Salau; Broadcasting, Film and Multimedia Studies, Dr Sarah Gambo; and Information, Journalism and Media Studies, Dr Abubakar Jubril, presented papers on various issues central to students’ success and academic conduct.
The orientation afforded students an opportunity to interact with members of staff and to throw questions to the Vice-Chancellor, as well as the Dean, on a number of issues relevant to their studies.
Recall that with the unbundling of Mass Communication by the National Universities Commission (NUC), the University of Abuja has secured the commission’s approval to fully commence academic activities in eight academic programmes under four departments.