By Ihechi Godswill
Prof Pat Utomi, founder of the Centre for Values and Leadership (CVL), will host the Reunion party of the Alumni of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
The Reunion Party which comes almost 30 years after a Homecoming in 1987 at Nsukka, will hold on Saturday, November 19 at 2pm and is aimed at creating cohesion, coordination and contribution to the growth of the department and its products.
A statement by Queen Eugene, Publicity Secretary, Jacksonite Reunion Planning Committee, said the event will feature a Meet and Greet, a parade of Year Groups, and motivational talk Prof Utomi, a mass communication graduate of 1977.
Part of the statement read:
“Mr. Chido Nwakanma (J85), the administrator of the Jacksonites Forum which initiated the Reunion and the coming together of the alumni, said the objective of the alumni group is to tap from the experiences and exposure of the large body of alumni to contribute to the upliftment of the department.
Starting from a WhatsApp Forum in June 2016, The Jacksonites has quickly grown into a formidable group with the primary aim of contributing to the development of media and communication study and practice as well as the progress of the mother department at Nsukka.
“UNN’s Mass Communication Department commenced life in 1961 as the Department of Journalism and is the first full university department for the study of journalism and mass communication in Sub-Saharan Africa.
UNN founder and journalism pioneer Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe included Journalism as one of the pioneer study units when the University took off. He named the department Jackson Building in honour of John Payne and Thomas Horatio Jackson, father and son team who ran the Lagos Weekly Record as the most influential newspaper of its time for 37 years up to 1930.
“The department has produced many distinguished graduates in all fields of endeavour, from journalism through broadcasting and adjunct media of advertising and public relations to administration. Participants on the forum include Prince Tony Momoh, a former Minister of Information, Dr. Josef Bel Molokwu, former Registrar of APCON, and Sir Innocent Oparadike, the first non-Northerner to edit the New Nigerian in its heyday.
“There are also Mr. Femi Kusa, former editor of The Guardian, Mr. Kingsley Osadolor, Victor Ludorum of UNN in 1984 and former Commissioner for Information in Edo State and Mr. Osaro Isokpan, a former Managing Director of Nigerian-American Merchant Bank. Also on the forum are the current head of the department, Dr. Luke Anorue, the first female professor of mass communication in Africa, Prof Stella Chinyere Okunna, Mr. Emeka Maduegbuna, Chairman, C&F Porter Novelli a leading public relations agency and Mr Gbenga Adefaye, General Manager of Vanguard.
“Others include Airtel Director of Communication and CSR, Mr. Emeka Oparah, the General Manager, Government and Public Affairs, Mobil Producing Nigeria Mr. Paul Chidozie Arinze, the head, Department of Mass Communication, Delta State University Dr. Ben Nwanne, Mr Steve Nwosu, Executive Director of The Sun and many others.”