BUK appoints Pate pioneer dean of media studies faculty

Professor Umaru A. Pate has been appointment as the pioneer Dean, of the newly established Faculty of Media, Communication and Film Studies, Bayero University, Kano.
His appointment was approved by the Senate, Council of the BUK and endorsed by the National Universities Commission (NUC). 
Beside the appointment of Prof. Umaru A. Pate as the pioneer Dean, Dr Suleiman Yar’adua was appointed as the Deputy Dean in the Faculty.
 Other officers appointed by the university authorities are: Dr Hajara Sanda Sub-Dean; Academics, Dr Mainasara  Kurfi, Sub-Dean, Facilities and Dr Nura Ibrahim, Faculty Examinations Officer.
The newly established Faculty of Media, Communication and Film Studies, Bayero University, Kano is the first Faculty of Communications in the country. And the faculty  commenced academic activities  on  Feb. 1, 2016 with three departments namely: Communication Studies, Theatre and Performing Arts and Information and Media Studies. Film Studies is expected to follow shortly.
Prof. Pate was born on January 4, 1964 in Song Local Government Area of Adamawa State. He was enrolled into the Nassarawo Jereng LEA Primary School in Adamawa where he completed his primary education in 1976 and proceeded to Government College Maiduguri.
He finished in 1981 and emerged as the student with the best WAEC GCE O’ level examinations results in the Arts in the school for that year.  In 1982, he joined the College of Preliminary Studies, Yola, for the IJMB course that qualified him for a Direct Entry admission into the University of Maiduguri in 1984.
Upon graduation with a Degree in Mass Communication in 1987, he was retained in the university on the recommendation of the Head of Department for the NYSC service year.
Professor Pate took appointment as a Graduate Assistant at the University of Maiduguri in October 1988 and immediately left for the University of Ghana, Legon, on fellowship for a Master of Philosophy (M.Phil) Degree in Communication Studies and completed in 1990. In 1993, he enrolled for a PhD Degree at the University of Maiduguri and graduated in February 1997.
He rose on the academic ladder to become a Professor of Media and Society in October 2007. At different times during his pre-degree and degree study period, he had worked as a part time reporter, newscaster/reader and presenter at the FRCN Kaduna and NTA Yola.
At different times, he has served as a national or international consultant to agencies like the USAID, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNESCO, EU, the World Bank, NACA, Panos Institute, FMOH, INEC, FES of Germany, DFID of the UK, the Ford Foundation, and The John D. and Catherine T. MaCarthur Foundation, among others.