The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed on Wednesday inaugurated the new Faculty of Communication complex in Bayero University, Kano (BUK).
In his speech at the inauguration which took place at the permanent site of the institution, the minister commended BUK for blazing the trail in elevating Mass Communication to a full Faculty.
“BUK wants to be the foremost University in Nigeria if not in Africa in the area of Mass Communication.
“The first thing the institution has done is that it has elevated Mass Communication to level of faculty.
“BUK did not just do so by pronouncement, but by providing the necessary infrastructure that will make it possible.
“We have seen the various studios, the Performing Theatre, the academic blocks, the offices and provisions for post graduate students.
“What the institution is actually telling us is that Mass Communication is too big to be a department; it has blazed the trail in making it a faculty,” he said. .
The Minister inaugurated the main faculty building which housed the Departments of Mass Communication, Information and Media Studies, Theatre and Performing Arts and Film Studies.
He also inaugurated the Broadcasting Complex where the complete digital broadcasting equipment for the faculty would be installed.
Prof. Jubril Aminu, elder statesman, former Vice Chancellor, Chancellor, Minister and Senator inaugurated the Theatre halls for the Theatre and Performing Arts Department.
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Muhammad Bello, thanked the minister and Aminu for honouring his invitation.
He specifically appreciated the minister for his positive disposition towards the school and the young Faculty and congratulated him for his skilful handling of affairs of information and culture sector of the country.
He said that the institution was collaborating with the National University Commission (NUC) to review the current National Mass Communication Curriculum to upgrade it to reflect contemporary realities.
“This is a major national assignment that the university and NUC are undertaking under a grant which our Faculty of Communication won from MacArthur Foundation to enhance training and research in investigative journalism.
“The grant is 700USD (over N200 million) and it was won through the effort of the Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Umaru Pate and his team of lecturers.
“They competed for and eventually emerged as the only University in West Africa to secure the money which is already in the University’s account for exclusive use of the faculty,” he said
The VC also disclosed that the institution committed N500 million obtained from TETFUND to construct and furnish the communication complex.
He added that management had ordered complete digital broadcasting equipment for the faculty radio station.
(Source: NAN)