ABU Mass Comm TV Studio, A Call For Urgent Action -By Omolabi Umuhani Opeyemi

The Mass Communication Department, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria is in dire need of Television Studio. Unarguably, for every Mass Communication Department to function optimally, there must be a standard radio and television studio for practical aspects of students’ learning. The course is far beyond the theoretical knowledge impacted within the four walls of the classroom. The students need the practical knowledge of the course to succeed, or perform effectively when they graduate to the world of media-practice or journalism.

Unfortunately, after about thirty-two (32) years of establishment, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Mass Communication Department is still struggling to have a standard Television studio. In fact, even the available campus radio (ABU Samaru FM 101.1) is overstretched considering the huge population of students in the department. However, this is not the bone of contention that prompted this piece, but the non-functional “TV Studio.”

According to a report, a TV Studio was built for the department by the school management during the former administration, which is situated at phase-two of the main campus. Sadly, the stated studio was contracted and constructed by the university without involving or consulting the department of mass communication for proper construction. The height of the studio is the major defect of the structure identified by the department; of course, there are other issues attributed to it.

In a recent interview with ABU Campus Herald Newspaper, the Dean of faculty of social services who is also the immediate past HoD of mass communication department, Dr. Shamsudeen Muhammad said the department has rejected the studio because it is completely unacceptable, and cannot be managed until it is properly reconstructed.

“There is no way you can use that place as TV Studio due to several professional and technical reasons. The suspension of the studio is as low as the faculty Boardroom and the acoustic treatment was very poor.

“If you know what a studio is, you will know it is produced with acoustic treatment so that sound will not penetrate from outside into a programme that is being aired in the studio,” he said.

He said the contractor could have visited the University’s National Agricultural Extension Research and Leison Services (NAERLS) that is hosting the current TV Studio where the students are usually sent faraway for their practical. He revealed that the organization has a studio built since 70s for Agric media production in which the height and acoustic treatment is up to the standard.

The current Head of Department, Mass Communication, Dr. Adama Adamu decried the absence of television studio in the department as a great challenge for the fact that broadcasting media occupies a larger space in the media environment.

“We don’t have a standard television studio and that’s a big challenge for us. But we’re currently pushing for that television studio to be upgraded so that we can be able to have at least something we can start with. If we have something to start with, we can be able to perfect it with time, she said.

It is imperative to acknowledge the great efforts of the school management and relevant authorities in putting such a studio in place. This shows that the matters of academic excellence are never taken for granted in the operations of the university. However, something urgent needs to be done to have that studio functional.

I call on the authorities not to allow this investment to waste away just because of some deficiencies; and for the fact that the department is in dire need of the TV Studio it can confidently call its own. The department is blessed with diligent and resourceful academic and technical staff that every organization could forever demand for. To complement the untiring efforts of these human resources, they should be equipped with the needed working tools for more effective service delivery.

In this regard, the government, NGOs, groups and the well-meaning Individuals should as a matter of urgency take up this project and ensure that this studio is reconstructed and equipped for a greater utilization. If this setback is not addressed urgently, it will continue to be a slap on the face of the university.

She writes from Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria.