FEATURED NEWS
Senate Lauds Okodudu, Approves Results, New Faculties, Programmes
- Details
- Published: 17 November 2021
By Otikor Samuel
For his numerous achievements within 12 months in office as Acting Vice Chancellor amidst various challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic, paucity of fund and industrial actions by Unions, Senate of the University at its 458th Meeting held on Wednesday, July 7, 2021 at the Senate Chamber, gave a standing ovation to Professor Stephen Okodudu.
Members of Senate took turns to shower encomiums on Professor Okodudu, for superintending over the resolutions of contentious issues and ushering in the smooth process that eventually led to the appointment of ninth Vice Chancellor of the University.
Other major highlights of the 458th Meeting of Senate was the approval for the establishment of the Faculties of Communication and Media Studies, Computing, and commencement of a Certificate programme in Peace and Security Studies to be domiciled in the Centre for Peace and Security Studies (CPSS).
The establishment of the new Faculties and commencement of Certificate programme followed a presentation by the Senate Committee on Academic Policies and Programmes (SCAPP) made by the Coordinator, Academic Affairs, Professor Abdulzaraq Kilani.
Faculty of Communication and Media Studies was demerged from the Department of Linguistics and Communication Studies following the directive of the National Universities Commission (NUC) to unbundle the Mass Communication and allied disciplines, while Faculty of Computing was approved following similar directive to unbundle the Department of Computer Science.
With the approval, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies would run four Departments comprising Departments of Journalism and Media Studies, Public Relations and Advertising, Broadcasting, and Film Production, while Faculty of Computing has Departments of Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology, and Data Science.
The august body also approved the commencement of Postgraduate Diploma and Master of Science degree in Health Information Management and Informatics to be domiciled in the School of Public Health. Senate approved the request by the Adam Igbudu Christian Institute, Emevor in Delta State for affiliation in Religious and Cultural Studies and Education programmes. Senate considered and approved modifications to the curricula of the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) and Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) programmes.
Earlier, immediate past Chairman of Senate and Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Stephen Okodudu announced some appointments which included that of Professor Raphael Ngochindo as Chairman, Professional Ethics Committee; Dr Obari Gomba, Associate Dean, Faculty of Humanities; Dr Iheanyi Okonko, Associate Dean, Faculty of Science and Dr Kingsley Patrick-Iwuanyanwu as Acting Director, Centre for Marine Pollution and Seafood Safety.
Other appointments announced were: Dr Joy Olotu, Interim Associate Dean, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, Dr Friday Onuodu, Acting Head, Department of Computer Science and Professor Lucky Nwidu, Head, Department of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology.
Professor Okodudu expressed gratitude for the support he enjoyed from all stakeholders that contributed to the success of his interim administration. He enjoined members of the University to extend such hand of fellowship to the ninth Vice Chancellor, Professor Owunari Georgewill.
Professor Okodudu, urged members of Senate to attend the 171st Inaugural Lecture of the University entitled, Accident of Nature: Survival and Sequelae to be delivered by Professor Angela Frank-Briggs of the Department of Paediatrics, College of Health Sciences at 3:00pm, on Thursday, July 29, 2021 at Ebitimi Banigo Auditorium.
