Nigerian Academy of Letters confers fellowship on Prof. Umaru Pate, 4 others as 7 received honour for excellence in Humanities
By Muhammad Uba Sani
The Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL) has announced the election of distinguished scholar and media expert, Professor Umaru Pate, as one of its new Fellows for the year 2025.
The announcement came following the approval of the recommendations by the Fellowship Screening Committee during the College of Fellows meeting held on Tuesday, July 8, 2025.
Professor Pate, who currently serves as the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Kashere, and is renowned for his pioneering work in journalism, media ethics, and development communication, was elected under the category of Communication and Media Studies.
His election marks a significant milestone, as he remains one of the few individuals from the field of media and communication to attain this distinguished honour from the Academy.
Widely respected across academic and professional circles, Professor Pate’s elevation to the Nigerian Academy of Letters is seen as a recognition of his decades-long contributions to knowledge production, media professionalism, and public enlightenment in Nigeria and beyond.
He joins an elite class of intellectuals who have shaped and elevated the humanities in Nigeria, placing media studies firmly on the national academic map.
SolaceBase reports that the Nigerian Academy of Letters, the foremost body of scholars in the humanities in Nigeria, also elected other accomplished scholars across various disciplines, including Classical Studies, Historical Studies, Literary Studies, Linguistics, Creative Arts, and Cultural Studies. Among them are Professor Ebunoluwa Oduwole, Professor Alkasum Abba, Professor Gbemisola Adeoti, and Professor Akinwumi Ogundiran (overseas category), among others.
In addition, the Academy announced the conferment of Honorary Fellowships on notable Nigerians, including His Majesty, Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe, CFR, the Obi of Onitsha; veteran journalist and arts advocate, Mr. Jahman Anikulapo; and celebrated columnist, Dr. Lasisi Olagunju.
The Awards of Excellence in Humanistic Practice were also approved for Mr. Laolu Ogunniyi, Alhaji Teju Kareem, and Mr. Musa Alao Adedayo, in recognition of their significant contributions to the promotion of humanistic values in Nigeria.
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The formal investiture of the new Fellows and conferment of the awards will take place during the 27th Convocation of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, scheduled for August 14, 2025, at the University of Lagos.
Speaking on the development, the President of the Academy, Professor Sola Akinrinade, FNAL, urged the public and academic community to celebrate the new Fellows, noting that their election is a testament to their outstanding scholarship, service, and impact in their respective fields.
With this recognition, Professor Umaru Pate not only joins a pantheon of celebrated intellectuals but also brings the voice of the media and communication sector to the heart of Nigeria’s academic honour roll.
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