By Yvonne Onokah

The Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos (Unilag), Professor Adetokunbo Sofoluwe, has commissioned the alternate power supply acquired by the Mass Communication Department.

Also present at the commissioning were the   Deputy V-C (Academics), University of Jos (UNIJOS), Prof. Benjamin Ugwu, Head of Department, Theatre and Film Arts, UNIJOS, Dr. Tov Lovapuu, and MD, Channels Television, Mr. John Momoh.

Commissioning the alternate power supply, Sofoluwe said: “Inverters are not new but I believe there are innovative ways to make use of existing technologies.”

In his speech, the HOD, Mass Communication, Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye said: “The project is supported by World Bank with the aim of increasing the competence level of students for online/internet work and 11 Nigerian universities have already benefitted.

“With the new inverter, when power from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) goes off, the inverter automatically comes on and when that also goes off, we will power on our equally new department generator, which will charge the inverter as it powers the department.

Meanwhile, students in the Department of Mass Communication, Unilag have appealed to the school’s management to convert the department to a faculty.

According to the students, the plea was made after the VC, Prof Sofoluwe, with other dignitaries and the media came on tour of the Department, which was aimed at showing the VC and his entourage the new developments which, they believe, can stand as a faculty.

Pointing out that the vision of turning the department into a faculty/college/institute was birthed years ago by the department’s founding fathers, the HOD, Akinfeleye said they will continue to appeal to the school management until, hopefully, their request is granted.

Dr Ogwezzy Ndisika a lecturer at the department also says, “We are appealing to the Vice Chancellor to please make our department a faculty/ college/ institute. When the VC asked the Head of Department to present his goals for the department to him, Akinfeleye only submitted a one point agenda, this. Turning our department to a faculty/ college/ institute will ensure our department is bigger or at par with others”.

Responding the VC, Sofoluwe, said “if I pronounce to turn the department into a faculty/college/institute without the backing of the school’s senate, it will be an empty promise.  The HOD should write us a letter, which will be looked into and debated by the Senate. With my support of this vision, we will take it to the governing council.”