At the end of June 2023, the Federal Polytechnic Offa community, especially the Mass Communication department was elated receive the joyous news that the head of the department, Bankole Temidayo Olurotimi, has bagged a Doctorate Degree in Mass Communication from the prestigious Babcock University, Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State after his viva voce at the university on Thursday, June 22.
His pronouncement as a PhD holder came exactly seven months after he was elected head of Mass Communication Department (November 2022).
In this exclusive interview with News Bulletin Nigeria and anchored by the duo Taofik Adekunle Jimoh and Adigun Toyeeb Oluwaseyi, Dr Bankole shared his life and academic experiences.
Enjoy the excerpts:
Q: How Did You End In Academia?
Dr Bankole: I think becoming an academic, for me, was born out of passion and quest for knowledge. I love academics right from my days in the tertiary institution.
Dr Bankole: I think becoming an academic, for me, was born out of passion and quest for knowledge. I have loved academics right from my days in the tertiary institution.
I went to the Polytechnic, Ibadan. I thereafter proceeded to Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, MAPOLY (formerly Ogun State Polytechnic). I was living in Ilorin then, and because there was no school offering anything related to mass communication around, I considered studying law. Yes, I was thirstily in search for knowledge that I considered studying law. Then, I become an academic exactly 23 years ago. That was after I added an MBA to my HND, which I had then. And I came into academics as a technologist here at Federal Polytechnic in Offa. And because of my passion for academics and knowledge, I decided to go for a top-up programme.
I earned a degree in mass communication from Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Edo State. After that I proceeded to Olabisi Onabanjo University (00U) in Ago Iwoye, where I also graduated with a master’s degree (Master of Arts) in mass communication.
I later had an opportunity of a sponsorship offered by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) which took me to Kingston University in London in 2017. I came out with merits and returned to Nigeria late 2019.
I had started a PhD programme at Babcock University when I finished at OOU in 2014, but when the opportunity for TETFund scholarship came, I deferred the Babcock programme and proceeded to London. It was a two-year academic programme with a professional placement. So, after I came back to Nigeria, I resumed my PhD programme at Babock in 2020.
I currently have three master’s degrees: Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Ado Ekiti University (now Ekiti State University), master’s degree in mass communication and a postgraduate diploma (PGD) in public relations from Olabisi Onabanjo University.
I had started a PhD programme at Babcock University when I finished at OOU in 2014, but when the opportunity for TETFund scholarship came, I deferred the Babcock programme and proceeded to London. It was a two-year academic programme with a professional placement. So, after I came back to Nigeria, I resumed my PhD programme at Babock in 2020.
I currently have three master’s degrees: Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Ado Ekiti University (now Ekiti State University), master’s degree in mass communication and a postgraduate diploma (PGD) in public relations from Olabisi Onabanjo University.
Q: How Was Your Journey To This Very Seat? We Gathered That There Was An Earlier Attempt.
Dr Bankole: Yes, I came back to Nigeria, like I said, in late 2019 when Dr. Lateef Ademola Olatunji was the rector of the polytechnic. As a senior member of the department, I was already a principal lecturer when I travelled abroad. By ranking, I happened to be one of the few hands that could vie for the position of the head of department. Before I left, the new polytechnic act was not being used. At that time, the appointments of department heads were made by management. At the twilight of my programme in London, I received several calls from the management. On one or two occasions, the rector and I met when he came to London. He asked me ‘when are you coming home? We are trying to consider people for positions x,y and z. Would you come around?’
I also received a lot of calls from my colleagues in the department. Some of them wanted me to come around and head the department. As a loyal and obedient servant, I gave it consideration and I came. But, lo and behold, things had changed. The new polytechnic act had become effective. The appointment of HOD became democratized in the new act. It was no longer an issue that would be determined by the management. We had to go into an election. When it comes to elections, some politicking will come into play, you know, some political maneuvering will influence situational outcomes. I lost that election by four votes. I deduced this was probably because I was just coming, and I realized that I needed some time to get to know what was on the ground. I took it like that. After the election, I worked harmoniously and meritoriously with the then head of department. I knew that my time would come when God decreed.
I thank God that when the time came, I had the support of my people (i.e other members of the department). By the grace of God and their collective efforts and support, I found myself on this seat.
Q: It’s Being Said You Got To This Seat By Backing Of Some Hierarches In The Department And At Managerial Level, How True Is That?
Dr Bankole: I will not say by backing. When you say backing, you should note that I can’t get here without the support of the majority in the department. The way or road to the seat has been democratized, hence I needed all the assemblage I could muster. I must have gotten their support, and that is why I am here as the HOD. But when you talk of backing, I don’t really know what you mean by backing. Maybe you’re thinking of some godfathers.
Q: Yes, sir. Godfathers or godmother, as the case maybe……………
Dr Bankole: No, no, no, no, no, no. I do not have any godfather. I do not. All the members of my department are my godfathers. I do not have any godfathers. I don’t see anybody as the kingmaker in the department. Although some people play politics.
The first time I campaigned as I contested for the position, I knew there were some people who played some roles for some personal reasons. And we all saw the outcome of it all. They knew what befell them, too. But we thank God that truth prevailed at last. So, I do not have any godfather. I only have the backing of most of the staff in the department.
Q: In Reference To That, To What You Just Mentioned, People Believe That You Are On A Very Thorny Seat.
Dr. Bankole: Wherever you find politics taking place, there will be a lot of incinerations. There will be a lot of interests here and there. Are you with me? Your ability to coordinate these various interests and differences perfectly towards attaining your goal makes you a good leader. I don’t see myself sitting on any thorny or any hot seat. No, not at all. There will be differences and there will be interests. Diverse interests and differences will come into play. It now behooves you to manage them effectively and ensure that there is equity, justice, and fairness in whatever you do. As far as I am concerned, I am the head of the department and I have all the staff on my side.
I don’t believe anybody is not on my side or against me. I don’t believe in that. You cannot have 100% support of everybody. Once you have the majority and you are achieving, then you don’t have problems.
When I came into the department, it was all in shambles. There was no toilet, there was no equipment, the exam office was empty.
Q: Empty, As In What Context?
Dr. Bankole: There was no equipment to work with. We just had about two photocopiers that were not functioning. No departmental laptop. Staff were using their personal laptops. Printers? Maybe they had one that they’ve been managing for ages. But when I came in, we repaired all the toilets.
There was no water in the department. We ensured there was water and it’s running. When there was a fire incident in one of the classrooms where fans and sockets were burnt, we made sure we repaired everything. We now give refreshments during meetings. We paid our allowances. We bought laptops for the exam office. We bought new printers. We serviced those ones that are there. We provided funds for exams to run.
I operate a committee system. And we made our committees to be functional. I have the majority on my side. And we have people who are working. The committees are working, and we are moving. My exam office is intact and is working. We are moving.
There is nothing like sitting on any thorny seat.
Q: I Want You To Talk About The Radio Station. You Were Just Given A License.
Dr. Bankole We thank God that we had the opportunity of being on seat when the dream of having a radio station license became a reality. It is an issue that was on ground for some time. My predecessors in the office have played one role or the other. But when I came in, God made it possible that we were able to make this to materialize.
We want to thank the management of the Federal Polytechic Offa for their support. We really want to appreciate the Dean of School of Communication and Information Science, SCIT, Dr. (Mrs) Oluwakemi Ogungbamigbe for her role and belief in that project.
So, it’s a long overdue project. It’s a long overdue project that must happen. Most sister organizations have such stations established. The Federal Polytechnic Offa is no longer an exception. It is going to be useful for training our students and it is going to give them have a feel of how journalism is being done.
Q: When Will The Radio Be Online? You Have The Infrastructure And The License To Broadcast Now.
Dr. Bankole: We don’t go without the approval of the license. We have also gone a little bit ahead of that stage. At this level, we are supposed to be getting ready for take-off. When I say take-off, I mean putting things in place, getting the necessary infrastructure, equipping the studio, and putting the studio into shape.
As soon as the new administration in the Polytechnic settles down fully, we know that the management will also play a substantial role. Before this administration, the outgoing administration promised to support. . The department and the dean who is coordinating that effort will follow up on that to ensure that the dreams become materialized fully at the station.
So, I cannot categorically say this is the exact time the takeoff will begin.
Q: There Is A Report Of Some Efforts Being Made To Resuscitate The Departmental Printing Press.
Dr. Bankole: There is an ongoing effort towards that. I know that that is also part of what the current management will work on. I am aware the management is interested in it. Every member would investigate areas to generate substantial IGR. I know that when such a printing press is in place and functional, it will be one of the avenues to generate revenue.
So, I know that there is also an effort along that line. When my predecessor was leaving the office, part of the handing over that he gave me was a proposal which was written for that purpose.
Q: By Your Predecessor, You Mean?
Dr. Bankole: Mr. Wole Alawode. He dropped the proposal which was asked to be written by a committee. I think there was a committee set up by the management for that purpose.
Q: Some Are Wondering If The Former Infrastructure Will Be Used Or The Department Is Planning Building A New One.
Dr. Bankole: At this level, you know, press has gone beyond what it was 10 years ago. So, we are looking at a renewed effort. And when that is coming up, I don’t think it’s going to rely on what has been ground before.
Effort will be made to get the place set up in a modern way.
Q: Can you please highlight some feats you have been able to achieve since assumption of office?
Dr. Bankole: Yes, I said that we have done a lot to improve the infrastructural facilities in the department. We made sure that the toilet facilities, which were totally out of place, both for staff and students, were put in place. The water was not running. We had to put water. Some equipment was put into the exam office. We bought new computers. We repaired some photocopiers. We bought new printers. And we are also going to buy another computer and one more printer. For this session, this is my first session, we bought one more. We are going to get one more. We did a lot of repairs.
We made sure that we repaired all the furniture in all the classrooms while we were preparing for the students’ reception. That was before the beginning of the first semester. We made sure that we repaired all the benches and seats in the classrooms. We brought in welders. They did a fantastic job.
A slight electrical accident occurred, and we fixed it, too.
Last December, we provided some of our staff with some end-of-the-year incentives. We will redo it this December, God willing.
We are trying to bring up a lot of innovative ideas to improve the well-being of staff. That is one of our priorities. We want to be sure that our staff are well taken care of and motivated. We believe when we do that, it will serve as a motivation for them to give it their best. We will ensure that we carry every member along in terms of our dream to ensure that there is zero tolerance for corruption.
We try to stamp out any act of extortion. And we, as much as possible, try to ensure that we up our game in terms of recruitment delivery to students.
We ensure that we put round pegs into round holes. This semester, we changed our approach in terms of course allocations. Those in charge of courses at lower level are being supervised by more experienced hands. And in some cases, some critical courses from basic courses were given to some senior hands. This is to ensure that we give our students a very good background and foundation.
These are some of the things we have been able to do. And we intend to do more.
