BUK to Begin
BUK to Begin Masters Degree in New Media
The Department of Information and Media Studies of Bayero
University, Kano (BUK) is set to commence Masters program in New
Media.
The head of the Department, Dr Nura Ibrahim disclosed this
during the official discharge of students of the Department who
completed their internship at the PRNigeria[1] Centre, Kano in
collaboration with Daily Nigerian’s Penlight Center for New Media
Innovation.
Dr. Ibrahim explained that as the Department sets to graduate
its first set of undergraduates in 2020, they have already
submitted their proposal for the take off of their Masters
programme in 2021 to the University management.
Dr Ibrahim said, “We have already made submission to the Vice
Chancellor, and, any moment from next academic session, we shall
commence our Masters Degree programme.”
The head of Department who recalled the challenges that followed
his appointment as its pioneer head noted that it has not been easy
ride starting with only four academic staff in the Department.
He however expressed his satisfaction seeing their students
matching their classroom teaching with the real world experience
particularly with the intervention of PRNigeria[2] and Penlight Center for
New Media Innovation which he said is paying off in preparing to
graduate products of their dream.
While expressing concern over the rampant increase in fake news
and the need for collaborative efforts between online platforms to
strengthen fact checking, the media scholar appealed for increase
in the number of internship students the Centre accommodates from
the Department and Bayero University by extension.
“I am proud of my students’ accomplishments not because they are
here right now, but because I am certain that the centre has
exposed them to digital best practice and we are seeing the results
all over,” Dr. Nura added.
Responding, the Chairman of the Centre and publisher of PRNigeria[3] and Economic
Confidential stables, Mallam Yushau Shuaib assured the Centre’s
continued support and collaboration with the Department to help
produce graduates that go with the current digital trends.
While commending the efforts of the interns during their stay in
the Centre, Shuaib argued that, “If there is anything above first
class, that is what this interns deserve. They have done extremely
very well during their internship with us and the future is bright
because they are already good for the market.”
Also, the Executive Director of Penlight Centre who doubles as
the publisher of Daily Nigerian newspaper, Jaafar Jaafar, stated
that the center will continue to do its best in ensuring that
online practitioners are skillfully equipped through its Training
Centres in Abuja and Kano.
He promised to sustain the Centre’s commitment in ensuring New
Media literacy among practicing journalists, students of
communication and even Social Media influencers.
While lamenting of the negative influx of fake news and hate
speeches on the Social Media, Jaafar said the Centre will continue
to ensure professionalism in the training they offer to
students.
The programme was heralded by presentation of certificates to
the graduating interns.
It could be recalled that the Department of Information and
Media Studies in Bayero University Kano was established in 2016 to
enable students undergo professional studies in the areas of New
Media and Information Technology and is expected to graduate its
first set in 2020.