he University of Jos has installed digital broadcast equipment worth millions of naira for the take off of its training broadcast station.
The institution was among the about 27 universities issued with broadcast licences by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) last year for the training of students. Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Sonni Tyoden said while taking over the installed equipment from the contracting firm that the development was heartwarming.
According to him, “We are proud that of all the universities that got their licences , ours is one of the first to take off. As usual, Unijos is holding the flag high; always the pace setter that we are.”
Professor Tyoden who was interviewed live as part of the test transmission of the station, believed that the purpose for which the licence was given which is to expose students in communication-related disciplines to practical training would be achieved.
“It will also help the university management and the community in general to interact and communicate with one another. This is an avenue to at an instance, convey to the university community decisions and policies that have been take by the management while waiting for memos and circulars to go round.
“I think it will also help to expose and sell the university to the world directly. So you don’t necessarily have to come to the university to know what is happening there”, he said.
Earlier, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the contracting firm, 65 Broadcast Limited, Mr. Steve Gukas said the installation of the digital equipment has put Unijos ahead in the broadcast industry in the country.
“It’s a station that’s not just one of the first to go on air out of the batch that was given licences, but it’s actually one university that is ahead of the curve in terms of digital broadcasting in Nigeria. What Unijos has is something that the FRCN and other older broadcasting stations are looking forward to having.
“So when we talk about digital cut-over you are already ahead and that’s highly commendable” he said.
Also speaking on the station, Head of Department of Mass Communication, Dr. Christiana Best expressed delight at the successful implementation of the digital equipment saying it would greatly enhance the training of students in modern broadcasting.
She thanked the university administration and the various committee members who worked hard to see to the successful take off of the broadcast station for their commitment and support.
Students of the department who spoke to Unijos Echo Online were full of praises for the vice chancellor and the university administration on the installation of digital rather than analogue equipment noting that it had placed the institution ahead of other universities in the country.
