BUK Inaugurates FM Digital Radio Studios

The Vice-Chancellor, Bayero University Kano, Prof. Muhammad Yahuza Bello has said the university television would commence operation this year.

Prof. Muhammad Yahuza Bello announced this on Wednesday at the commissioning of three new digital radio studios of BUK FM held at the university permanent site.

He said the university that is pioneering television operation was granted Direct Satellite Broadcast License by the National Broadcasting Commission last year for commercial and educational services.

‘’this feat was made possible with the MacArthur Foundation grant which has also been extended with the support of Dr Kole Shettima, the Director (Africa Office) of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation,’’ said the Vice-Chancellor.

According to him, ‘’We hope to use the new studios of the BUK FM to train highly rated upcoming journalists in all aspects of broadcasting and particularly investigative and data-driven journalism.’’

He added that the university is in discussion with the BBC World Service for collaboration in capacity building for staff and students, content provision for the BUK FM and TV as well as equipment support.

In a remark, the administrator of the MacArthur Foundation grant and Dean of Bayero University Kano Dean School of Postgraduate Studies, Prof. Umar Pate, Prof. Umar Pate said the foundation initially granted the university $700,000 equivalent of N252m, noting that satisfied with the utilization of the fund, the foundation gave additional grant of $800,000 (N288m) for the establishment of BUK TV among others.

He said the university was able to secure the funds to upgrade the institution quality of training and research in investigative journalism and data-driven journalism, strengthen linkages with communication industry and review of curriculum among others.

Prof. Pate added that’’ We have been able to utilize the grant to lead the process that led to the unbundling of Mass Communication, more than 150 female students were awarded scholarship, installation of 150 computer laboratory as well as improve our linkages with the industry as our colleagues and students go on internship  to selected media houses across the country and abroad.’’

On his part, the guest speaker and an eminent scholar in Mass Communication, Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye, appealed to commercial radio stations in Kano not to see the BUK FM as a competitor but rather complimenting efforts.

In his paper titled “From Nothing Casting to Narrow Casting to Digital Casting” traced the history of campus journalism in Nigeria to 1970s, noting that campus journalism became popular in the country only in the 80s, preceding the deregulation of broadcast media in the country.

Prof. Akinfeleye while speaking on the challenges of campus broadcasting identified overregulation and long delay before granting license by the NBC, huge license fee, low advert patronage and low area of coverage.

Also, the Ciroma Kano and the Chairman of the event, Alhaji Nasiru Ado Bayero appreciated MacArthur Foundation for the grant noting that effort has started repositioning training in Mass Communication with its unbundling into seven-degree courses by the National Universities Commission