The Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Rasheed Ayotunde Olabomi Odundun IV, has lauded the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) over its novel unbundling policy initiative, especially the inclusion of a Department of Strategic Communication and Media Studies where students would be trained in the art of Public Relations and Advertising (PRAD) professionalism.
The monarch gave this commendation in Osogbo yesterday while receiving “Outstanding Monarch of the Year” Award conferred on him by the Osun State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).
Aragbiji commended the Board over what he referred to as professionalism prioritization and policy synergy, adding “the creation of Strategic Communication and Media Studies Department for specialized training of students in the practical field of Public Relations and Advertising is highly commendable.”
The Pro-Chancellor, who was represented by an academic scholar and Head of Strategic Communication and Media Studies Department at the Federal Polytechnic Offa, Doctor Jimoh Olorede, expressed his appreciation to the Institute over its conferment of the award on him.
“I think the Osun Chapter of the NIPR is performing at an excellent level.
“I also want to commend the national body of the NIPR on the herald of University of Public Relations as announced by the Keynote Speaker, Dr. Adewale Oyekanmi, who is a Council Member of the Institute.
“Establishment of the specialized University would be the best thing happening, as it would be the first in Africa”, Aragbiji said.
Relatedly, the representative of the monarch, Dr. Olorede, used the occasion to discuss partnership of his newly created Department of Strategic Communication and Media Studies, with the Institute.
According to him, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on academic-cum-professional partnership of his department with the NIPR would be initiated and implemented, especially for membership registration, accommodation and induction of his students into the professional body.
Other Awardees were Adeleke University (as a corporate body), Professor Bayo Oloyede (Redeemers University), Mr. Abiodun Olarewaju (PRO, Obafemi Awolowo University), Mr. Boladale Bamigbola (Punch Newspaper), and Dr. Rasheed Adebiyi, among others.
Also amongst prominent attendees at the Award programme were the Vice Chancellors of Adeleke University Ede and Redeemers University Ede, Professor Solomon Ajayi Adebola, and Professor Shadrach Olufemi Akindele, respectively.
