BUK FACULTY OF COMMUNICATION: NEW FACULTY; NEW PROBLEMS

BUK FACULTY OF COMMUNICATIONS: NEW FACULTY; NEW PROBLEMS
BY: ABUBAKAR MUSA ABDULLAHI

The transformation of Mass Communication Department of Bayero University, Kano to Faculty of Communication is no doubt a remarkable achievement in the history of Mass Communication in Northern Nigeria and Nigeria in general. For a department that has been in existence for almost four decades (39 years),
its transformation has come at the right moment, looking at the new trends in the world of journalism.

The migration from the old department to the new faculty has left many stones unturned. This is however, related to the problems encountered by the students in some key areas which are so critical to their well-being. These problems are not limited to over-congestion in lecture rooms as some levels that are highly populated such as level 3 and 4 cannot be accommodated in any of the Faculty lecture rooms.

This is however, the same if not worse than the lecture rooms in the old department building. Absence of common room, eatery center, absence of Mosques for students and the staff, poor or even absence of transportation system from the hostels to the faculty and most importantly a single entrance gate which makes it difficult for students.

Furthermore, students do not have places to rest after lectures as the school has not to my knowledge made any provision for that. The departmental classes and offices are all compressed within the departmental building, and as such, without seats outside; students have no alternative than to roam around. These create disturbances to ongoing lectures and other administrative activities in the departments and therefore affect productivity.

To this end, there is urgent need for the university community to address such issues as they are directly or indirectly affecting the well-being of the students and both the academic and non-academic staff as well. Hence, affects students’ academic performance and productivity.

Abubakar is the President, Department of Mass Communication, Bayero University, Kano.