Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, the Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), has directed that the process of offering postgraduate programmes in Mass Communication-related courses in the institution be put in place.
He gave the directive in his office on Thursday in Akungba-Akoko while playing host to the new executives of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ondo State Council.
Ajibefun directed the university’s Department of Mass Communication to come up with a framework for the management to officially approve the take-off of the postgraduate programmes in the field.
“I also want to use this opportunity to congratulate you on your election as members of the executive council of your union.
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” Your emergence is a clear indication of your acceptance by majority of journalists in our state.
“We also want to thank you and your members for your roles in promoting and projecting our university to the world, we will partner with you for mutual benefits of both sides,” he said.
The vice chancellor, who described the media profession as a critical player in any society, said the university would expedite action on the union’s request.
Ajibefun noted that the school’s radio station was doing well under the supervision of two members of the union,Mr Victor Akinpelumi and Mr Dupe Balogun.
“The university wants to boost manpower at the Department of Mass Communication, especially senior academic staff, before we can start postgraduates programmes in that department.
“Training at postgraduate level needs good manpower, the department is very important to us, in the next few months, we will consolidate on what we are doing there.
“We shall be counting on your union and members to publicise our activities during the forthcoming 20th anniversary of the university coming up soon this year,” he said.
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Earlier, the State Chairman of NUJ, Mr Adetona Aderoboye, had requested that the university approve the commencement of postgraduate programmes in mass communication-related fields to enable members and other media professionals build their capacity.
Aderoboye noted that no tertiary institution in the state was offering postgraduate courses in journalism.
He equally appealed to AAUA to include the programmes among the courses that would be offered at the proposed campus of the university at the Ondo State Public Service Training Institute (PSTI), Ilara-Mokin.
The NUJ leadership had last month visited the management of PSTI where it was disclosed that a satellite campus of AAUA would soon be located at the institute for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.(NAN)