By Olubusuyi Adenipekun

Following the report of a fact-finding investigation panel set up by the management of Redeemer’s University (RUN), the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Oyewale Tomori, has denied the recent insinuation that some students were kidnapped, explaining that there was never a time when any student of RUN was kidnapped as alleged by some parents and newspapers.

The Vice Chancellor, who spoke in an address read on his behalf by the institution’s Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor L. B Kolawole at the 13th  RUN Family Forum said that through the “actions of the students involved in the case, damage was done to the reputation of the university and appropriate disciplinary action has taken against the students concerned.”

But as the institution wielded the big stick against these erring students, Redeemer’s University Communication Students’ Association (RUMSA) showered awards on its best students and the immediate past coordinator of the mass communication department Mr .A Tejumaiye for their sterling contributions to the growth of the department.

Dr. Bayo Oloyede, the Acting Head of the department made this disclosure while delivering a welcome address at RUMSA media week, an annual event inaugurated on December 3rd 2006.

According to Oloyede, the week was designed to further develop the students beyond lecture, studio and library knowledge and promote the image of the University to the general public through innovative contacts and media tools.

He further disclosed that the programmes include public lectures, health seminars, sports and awards.

Dr Oloyede noted that this year’s programmes have been expanded with the inclusion of an interactive session, charity, fund raising, exhibition of art, culture and fashion Dr. Oloyede thanked the Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar, Mr Babatunde Adebayo for their ceaseless kind support to the Department of Mass Communication as well as the Dean of the College of Management Science and the entire staff and students of the department for the collaboration and support .

The Vice-Chancellor also disclosed that the first convocation ceremony of the university will be a week-long activities starting with thanksgiving service while it will end with the award of degrees and the installation” of the Chancellor of the university.

He said that plans for setting up the Alumni Relations Unit (ARU) are almost complete. As he put it,” The ARU will open linkages with the graduates of the university and will serve to assist our graduates in employment and other services”.

On staff matters, Prof Tomori said that the current staff strength comprises of 164 teaching staff, 116 administrative and technical staff while the university have 183 junior staff. He added that the university will continue to provide financial support to teaching staff that have registered for higher degrees in Nigerian universities.