Two of the most outstanding Nigerian Broadcast Journalists were among the Graduands that were awarded Doctors of Philosophy (Ph.D) at the just concluded 42nd Convocation Ceremony of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in Kaduna State, Northwest Nigeria.
They are, a one-time Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, Dr Danladi Bako and Dr. Ademolu Okuneye of the Nigerian Television Authority.
Both were awarded Ph.D in Development Communication at the Convocation for the 2018-2019, 2019-2020 sessions.
Dr. Danladi Bako was the Presenter of the first Breakfast live Programme on NTA, “Morning Ride.” He is the Koguna of Sokoto, a highly revered Chieftaincy Title in the Sultanate.
He started his Broadcasting Career at the age of 16 at Rima Radio Sokoto, in 1973, before joining NTA in 1983 on Grade Level 12.
Before his Ph.D in Development Communication, Bako had his First Degree in English in 1978 from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and later proceeded to the University of Lagos for his M.Sc in Mass Communication.
Dr. Ademolu Okuneye, on the other hand, was a Reporter, Newscaster, Commentator, Programme Presenter and Producer on Political, Current Affairs and Sports at NTA Abeokuta, Lagos, Ibadan and Network service.
In 2015, Okuneye became an Assistant Director of News and subsequently Head of Department of Journalism, NTA Television College, Jos – a Degree Awarding Institution affiliated to A.B.U Zaria.
He is a Fellow of the Society for Peace Studies and Practice.
A Peace and Conflict resolution expert, Dr Okuneye was also the National Publicity Secretary of the Society for Peace Studies and Practice between 2010 and 2016. He is an alumnus of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, attending a course on advanced Conflict resolution in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as well as Koffi Anan Interested Peacekeeping Training Institution, Accra Ghana.
Dr Ademolu Okuneye was honoured by the Department of Psychology University of Ibadan as Media Ambassador in 2016.
He attended Lagos state University where he obtained his First Degree in Political Science Education.
Dr Okuneye obtained two Masters Degrees from the University of Ibadan. The first was Masters in Managerial Psychology while the second was Masters of Arts in Peace and Conflict Studies before proceeding to the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria for his Ph.D in Development Communication.
Both distinguished Broadcasters focused on relevant issues on human development in their thesis. While Dr Danladi Bako focused on Media use in the campaign for eradication of Polio, Dr Ademolu Okuneye worked on an assessment of the role of the media and Peace building in Ife-Modakeke conflict, Osun State, South-West Nigeria.
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