By Biodun Azeez (200 Level)
New students of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Jos have been warned against anti-social vices capable of aborting their dreams of becoming successful men and women in life.
The Head of Department, Associate Professor Christiana Best gave the charge at the orientation organized by the Association of Mass Communication Students (AMCOMS) for the new intakes.
She advised them to abide by the rules and regulations of the department and those of the university saying, “The Department frowns at all sorts of all anti-social vices such as cultism, examination malpractice, risky sexual behavior and other unwholesome acts.”
According to her, “today’s occasion affords us the opportunity not only to give an orientation on the expectation of the department, but to also educate you on the vital things that could affect your academic pursuit of jeopardize your career prospect and graduation”.
Best listed some of the achievements of the department to include starting Unijos Echo Online which she described as the first students online newspaper in Africa, the University of Jos Campus Radio (96.1 UJ FM) and establishment of a Mass Communication library, among others.
The department’s Examination Officer Mr. Godfrey Danaan gave a summary of the performance of students in the lack academic session advising the new students to study hard to do well in their examinations.
He also explained the various classes of degree, the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) that fall into the various classes and how to calculate it.
One of the guest speakers Mr. Ugar Odey, a former Editor of Nigeria Newsday welcomed the new students and explained some prospects and challenges facing profession.
He encouraged the students to embark on inter-school debates as a way of improving their public speaking ability.
Similarly, a broadcaster, Miss Sacmicit Solomon described contemporary communicators as a fortunate generation because of the improvement in technology which makes the job easier. She therefore advised to be well acquainted with the computer to cope with the digital age.
She applauded the Department of Mass Communication for their academic excellence noting, “many well known broadcasters within Nigeria and outside are products of either the Mass Communication Department of University of Jos or were trained within Plateau State”.
AMCOMS) President, Mr. Richards Maiwada while welcoming the new students said “Mass Communication Department is one big family” and advised them to integrate into the system as new members.
He solicited their cooperation towards achieving the goals of the association.
