NAN MD hails Pate’s contributions to media dev’t

Malam Ali Muhammad Ali, the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), has applauded the contributions of Prof. Umar Pate to the development of Nigeria’s media industry.

Pate is the Vice-chancellor, Federal University Kashere, Gombe State.

Ali said this when he led members of management staff of the agency on a courtesy visit to the university on Wednesday.

He described Pate as a reputable communication scholar and friend of the media in view of his contribution to the development of the profession.

The NAN NAN helmsman noted that Pate deployed his wealth of experience to initiate national and global discourse that impacted the profession of journalism in all aspects.

“We are here because Pate is a a well known figure in the media circle globally.

“Beyond being a reputable communication scholar, he is also an intellectual of great repute and a friend of the media.

“He has been a faithful friend of NAN. Since we took charge, he has guided us by his intellectual resource and profundity.

“He has, in the last year, honoured our invitation for retreat and other engagements, and for that, we are deeply grateful.” he said.

Ali said he was in the state as part of inspection tour of NAN facilities in the North-Eest region, to evaluate and strengthen its operations.

According to him, NAN will open a new district office in Kaltungo and station a reporter there to enhance coverage of rural communities in the state.

Responding, Prof. Umar Gurama, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration commended the NAN team led by Ali for the visit.

Gurama also described Pate as “a blessing to the institution,” since he assumed office three years ago.

He said that Pate initiated viable reform programmes that impacted positively on the institution’s infrastructure and improved its rating of the institution in the country.

“Prof. Pate has added value to this great institution since he came on board three years ago, he has taken the varsity out of the challenges it had years ago.

“When he (Pate) came, FUK was ranked 108th in the country but today, we are ranked 25th in the country; all these achievements were as a result of the good leadership from him.

“Before now, we had 40 academic programmes but today, that has increased to 98 and all the courses are fully accredited by the National University Commission (NUC),” he said.

While commending NAN for helping to improve the image of the University through reportage of its activities, Gurama solicited more support of the agency.

Highlights of the visit included inspection of FUK FM Radio and the new campus under construction.