By Abdulkadir Bin Abdulmalik.
The Vice-Chancellor of Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), Anyigba, Professor Salisu Ogbo Usman, has encouraged lecturers in the institution to nurture younger academics while setting achievable professional standards.
Addressing staff of the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies on Thursday, Prof. Usman described himself as a product of mentorship.
The visit formed the final phase of the Vice-Chancellor’s strategic engagement across faculties aimed at promoting inclusiveness, gathering first-hand information on institutional needs and strengthening collaboration within the University community.
Dean of the Faculty, Professor Ogwu Chris Attah, congratulated Prof. Usman on his appointment as the sixth Vice-Chancellor of the University and assured him of the Faculty’s loyalty, cooperation and commitment toward advancing academic excellence.
Prof. Attah noted that the Faculty has recorded consistent accreditation success while operating as a department and became one of the first universities in Nigeria to successfully implement the unbundling of Mass Communication into specialised programmes following National Universities Commission (NUC) directives in 2025.
According to him, graduates of the programme have distinguished themselves across national, state and private media organisations, with some alumni returning to serve as academic staff within the University.
Highlighting achievements of the Faculty, the Dean stated that the successful transition into six specialised departments to include; Advertising, Broadcasting, Film and Multimedia, Journalism and Media Studies, Mass Communication and Public Relations
Despite these strides, he outlined key challenges confronting the Faculty, including inadequate academic and non-academic staff strength, shortage of office accommodation, irregular electricity supply affecting studio operations, lack of water supply, and insufficient office equipment such as computers, printers and photocopiers needed for academic administration and timely processing of examination results.
The Dean appealed for management’s intervention, particularly in approving previously allocated office spaces and supporting efforts to restore full operation of the Faculty’s radio station through improved power supply.
Prof Usman congratulated the Faculty for successfully transitioning from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities through the Faculty of Social Sciences to its current independent status following the unbundling of Mass Communication into specialised academic departments.
He observed that recurring issues across faculties included staffing shortages, infrastructure deficits, laboratory and studio equipment needs, and staff welfare concerns, assuring that his administration would work deliberately toward improving conditions across all strata of the University.
The Vice-Chancellor urged the Faculty to formally document and submit identified needs to facilitate timely intervention by Management.
Prof. Usman pledged sustained support for the Faculty’s academic programmes and promised to consolidate on the achievements recorded by his predecessor.
He further charged academic staff to take inaugural lectures seriously as platforms for intellectual contribution and institutional visibility.
The Vice-Chancellor also encouraged interdisciplinary research collaboration among staff aimed at strengthening the University’s academic visibility.
The visit marked the conclusion of the Vice-Chancellor’s familiarisation tour, which has consistently emphasised collaboration, mentorship, productivity and shared responsibility as pillars for institutional advancement.
The Vice-Chancellor was accompanied by principal officers of the University, including the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. J. J. Orugun; Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Ojah Paul Egwemi; Registrar, Barr. Yahaya S. Alilu; Bursar, Dr. (Mrs.) Amina Amuhi; University Librarian, Dr. Oladimeji Yemi-Peters amongst others.
