By Emmanuel Onoja
In journalism, one of the elements of a good news story as I was taught in is an oddity. It simply suggests that for a piece of news to be worth publishing, it has to be abnormal. This is because people in most cases are only interested in issues that are strange. For instance, when a dog bites a man, it is normal but if it’s the other way round, it becomes a newsworthy event.
It is against this backdrop that I do not consider the news making round that Professor Umar Pate has been appointed as the Vice-Chancellor, Federal University Gombe, Kashere, a news story. Since the news broke out yesterday, social media has been awash with the appointment. The reason for my assertion is not farfetched.
Whoever has crossed the path of the erudite scholar will agree with me that the appointment is well deserved, and it was even long overdue considering his pedigree, administrative dexterity, global exposure, and affiliations among other distinct qualities which are too numerous to mention.
I recall with nostalgia during my dissertation writing at Bayero University Kano. By then, about five of us were under the tutelage of Professor Pate.
One day while we were holding a brief meeting on how best to go about our research work, somebody in the team said something very interesting that put us on our toes till the end of the program. He warned that “it is a privilege to be supervised by Professor Pate because you will finish on time so long as you did the right thing. But we will do ourselves a great disservice if we are not serious because I think he will be given an appointment very soon and we will be assigned to another supervisor”. According to him, he felt the Kaigama of Adamawa would leave the department for a greater task because he was too good.
Consequently, not too long after his prediction, the prolific academic was appointed as the Dean, School of Post Graduate Studies, Bayero University Kano. And now his tenure is not even over but has been given a bigger assignment. Well, I think this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Prof. Pate Emerges VC Federal University Kashere
His contribution to the faculty, school, Nigeria, and the globe is worthy of commendation and emulation. Prior to his ascension as the pioneer Dean, Faculty of Information and Media Studies, BUK, academic activities especially for the PG students needed much improvement.
Thanks to the Prof, things are much better now. He was also instrumental in getting funding for BUK’S digital radio station. This is not to talk about his exploits in Mass Communication studies in Nigeria where he was part of the team that unbundled Mass Communication. Permit me to stop here so that I don’t write a book on him now (until at the right time).
Hence, only those that know little about him will consider this normal news. My supplication remains that as you sail through this ship, may you receive the wisdom and guidance needed for successful navigation. Congratulations Sir!!!
Onoja Emmanuel is a Journalist ,he wrote this From Lagos
