How Fatiu Olohungbebe’s Three-Year Stewardship Repositioned Department of Mass Communication at Kwara Poly

By Lanre Idris Mustapha & Abdullahi Sanni

The impact of departmental leadership is measured not merely by the duration of a tenure but by the systems strengthened, opportunities created, and lasting contributions made to the institution and the people it serves.

By this measure, the tenure of Mr. Fatiu Temitope Olohungbebe as a Head of the Department of Mass Communication at Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, stands out for the several initiatives ranging from digital learning, professional development, student creativity, infrastructure to institutional recognition.

From introducing Artificial intelligence (AI) to learning activities, to facilitating professional training, supporting student-led publishing and film production, and championing improved electricity access through solar power, Olohungbebe’s three-year stewardship, which lasted between 2023 and 2026, was marked by efforts to align the department with the evolving demands of the media and communication industry.

His administration also prioritised the recognition of past departmental leaders, encouraged students’ participation in extracurricular activities, and pursued partnerships aimed at strengthening the professional competencies of the students and lecturers.

As he handed over leadership to his successor, Mr. Olufadi Balarabe Ayuba, Olohungbebe has left behind a record of initiatives that offer a foundation for continued development and institutional progress.

• *Staff Development*
Olohungbebe enrolled and registered all the staff of the department with the Association of Communication Scholars & Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN), an academic body that advances communication research, training, and professional practice in Nigeria.
The leadership of the department led by Mr. Olohungbebe paid for their membership fees and presented the certificates of membership to them for free.

• *Celebrating Institutional Heritage Through Leadership Recognition*
One of the notable initiatives introduced during Olohungbebe’s tenure was Leadership Per Excellence: Celebrating the Past Leadership of the Department, a programme designed to recognise the contributions of former Heads of Department, lecturers, and non-academic staff to the growth of the Department of Mass Communication and the institution at large.

The initiative provided a platform to celebrate individuals whose services, dedication, and contributions helped shape the department’s development over the years. The programme created an opportunity for members of the department to reconnect and reflect on the history of the department and appreciate their collective efforts that laid the foundation for the subsequent achievements recorded in the department.

By recognising the contributions of those who served before him, Olohungbebe’s administration underscored the importance of institutional memory, continuity, and respect for the people whose efforts have contributed to the department’s progress.

The initiative also reflected a leadership philosophy that placed value on celebrating achievements, strengthening relationships, and acknowledging the collective responsibility involved in building sustainable academic institutions.

• *Strategic Partnerships and Professional Capacity Development*

Recognising that contemporary media education requires more than conventional classroom lectures and tutorials, Olohungbebe’s administration pursued some academic partnerships and training initiatives which exposed the students and lecturers to professional practices and emerging opportunities in the communication industry.
One of these collaborations was with RUDEN University, Russia, through which the department organised a professional training workshop and certification programme focused on advanced journalism and entrepreneurship.
The programme provided an avenue for participants to strengthen their understanding of journalistic practice, while exploring also entrepreneurial skills relevant to an increasingly competitive media environment.

With technological advancement continuing to reshape traditional journalism and create new opportunities in digital media, the emphasis on advanced professional training and entrepreneurship reflected the importance of preparing the students for both employment and independent professional practice.

The department also collaborated with Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI) to organise a training and workshop for the lecturers and students.
In another intervention, the department partnered with BBYDI and FactCheckAfrica to organise a fact-checking conference focusing on information verification and responsible communication in the digital age.
The conference addressed a critical challenge facing contemporary journalism: the growing circulation of misinformation and disinformation across digital platforms and the need for media professionals to uphold accuracy, verification, and accountability.

Through these initiatives, the administration pursued a model of professional development that connected academic learning with the practical demands of journalism and strategic communication.

• *Unbundling of Mass Comm*
Olohungbebe’s leadership saw through the successful unbundling of mass communication which led to the emergence of the two new departments: Strategic Communication and Media Studies and Journalism and Media Studies.
He also initiated the Implementation of new curriculum for ND Mass Comm, thereby ensuring a smooth transition from the old curriculum to the new one introduced by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). Kwara Poly Mass Communication under Mr. Olohungbebe was among the top in *Tvet institutions to implement it.* ?

• Advancing AI Literacy and Digital Learning
As artificial intelligence continues to influence Journalism, Advertising, Public relations, and multimedia production, Olohungbebe’s administration recognised the need to expose the students to technologies transforming the media landscape.
In collaboration with BBYDI, the department organised a one-day AI Literacy Workshop for the students, providing an opportunity to engage with emerging technologies and their applications in contemporary media practice.
The initiative formed part of broader efforts to familiarise students with technological developments shaping information gathering, research, content production, and communication.
For aspiring journalists and communication professionals, understanding AI and its applications has become increasingly important in navigating a media environment characterised by rapid technological change.

The workshop, therefore, represented a step towards broadening students’ exposure to digital tools and preparing them to engage with emerging technologies in their future professional pursuits.

Beyond introducing students to technological possibilities, such learning initiatives also highlight the importance of responsible AI use, particularly in journalism, where accuracy, ethical judgement, and verification remain essential professional obligations.
The administration’s emphasis on digital learning reflected an appreciation of the need for media education to evolve alongside the tools, platforms, and professional expectations shaping the industry.

• *Solar Power Installation to Support Academic Activities*

Complementing the department’s digital learning initiatives was the installation of solar power to improve electricity access within the department.
Reliable electricity remains essential to teaching, research, and practical training in Mass Communication, particularly as students increasingly depend on digital equipment and technology-driven learning resources.
The solar power intervention was, therefore, an investment in the department’s learning environment, with the potential to support lectures, practical sessions, and other academic activities.
By pursuing an alternative power solution, the administration sought to address an important infrastructural need while supporting the department’s broader academic and professional development objectives.
The installation also complemented the department’s growing engagement with digital learning, where access to reliable power can influence the effective use of electronic devices and other learning resources.

• *Breaking New Ground in Student Publishing*
Olohungbebe’s tenure recorded a notable milestone in the department’s publishing history with the release of Anthology of Campus Stories, its first book publication.
Written by HND II Print students (2022/2023 session). The book represented a significant achievement in student publishing and an opportunity for emerging writers to translate classroom learning into a tangible literary and journalistic product.
The publication demonstrated the creative potential of the students while providing a platform for their storytelling and writing abilities to reach a wider audience.

For students specialising in print journalism, opportunities to participate in a book project offer valuable practical experience in writing, editing, content development, and the publishing process.
Beyond its significance as the department’s first book publication, Anthology of Campus Stories stands as a testament to the value of practical learning and student-led creative initiatives.
It also adds to the department’s academic and creative record, providing a foundation upon which future student publications and literary projects can be built.

• *Promoting Student Creativity Through Film Production*

The administration also encouraged practical media production through the premiere of two student-produced films, Ayeniromo and Àjàntálà.
Produced by the students of the Department of Mass Communication students (2022 and 2023 sets, respectively, the films showcased the creative abilities of the students and their capacities to explore storytelling through audiovisual media.
The premieres provided a platform for students to present their work and demonstrate skills in areas central to contemporary media practice, including storytelling, production, and audiovisual communication.

In a communication industry being increasingly shaped by video contents, digital storytelling, and multimedia production, such experiences provide students with opportunities to develop practical competencies beyond theoretical classroom instruction.
The projects also highlighted the department’s capacity to nurture creative expression and encourage students to experiment with different forms of media production.
Together with the publication of Anthology of Campus Stories, the films formed part of a broader record of student-led creative outputs during Olohungbebe’s tenure.
These projects reinforced the importance of practical learning in preparing students for the diverse opportunities available across journalism, broadcasting, film production, advertising, and digital communication.

• *Beyond the Classroom: A Commitment to Sports and Team Spirit*

Olohungbebe’s engagement with student development extended beyond academic activities. It also extended to sports, where he demonstrated consistent support for students representing the department in interdepartmental competitions.
During his tenure, he regularly attended matches involving the department’s teams at the Rector’s Cup tournament held at the school stadium.

He also maintained a strong presence at the opening kick-off and final matches of the HOD’s Cup, demonstrating his interest in sporting activities and the development of talents outside the classroom.

Under his watch, the Department of Mass Communication has for three sessions consecutively won the Institute of Information and Communication Technology (IICT) Director’s Cup making his department a champion among three other departments; Computer Science, Office Technology and Management and Library and Information Science. Olohungbebe’s tremendous support for the department’s team also spurred them to reached the Rector’s Cup final in two consecutive editions, an achievement that reflected the team’s competitive spirit and sustained participation in the tournament.
Although the department did not emerge victorious in those final appearances, Olohungbebe continued to encourage the players, offering them cash gifts and commending their performances.

His support for the team was not limited to moments of victory. Rather, he used such occasions to recognise the players’ efforts, reinforce their morale, and encourage them to remain committed to improvement.

Importantly, his support for departmental sports predated his appointment as HOD, reflecting a longstanding interest in students’ welfare and extracurricular development. His involvement demonstrates an understanding that the educational experience extends beyond lectures and examinations to include teamwork, discipline, resilience, and healthy competition.

For the students, such encouragement provided an additional source of motivation and reinforced the importance of having departmental leadership that recognises their contributions across different aspects of campus life.

• *An Academic and Professional Background in Communication*
Olohungbebe’s tenure as a Head of the Department was supported by an academic and professional background spanning mass communication, education, and advertising.
He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Mass Communication from the University of Ilorin, alongside a Postgraduate Diploma in Education.

He is also a Fellow of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) and is currently pursuing a PhD in Mass Communication.

His academic qualifications and professional affiliation reflect his engagement with the communication industry and its relationship with education, research, and professional practice.

Before his appointment as Head of the Department of Mass Communication, Olohungbebe served as a Deputy Director of the polytechnic’s Open, Distance, Flexible and eLearning Centre, a positing he still occupies to date.

He has served as a staff adviser for National Association of Mass Communication Students (NAMCOS), and Muslim Association of Mass Communication Students (MAMCOS).

That experience provided an additional dimension to his administrative background, particularly in relation to educational delivery and technology-supported learning.

Olohungbebe’s three-year stewardship has added a distinct chapter to the development of the Department of Mass Communication at the Kwara State Polytechnic.

After three years of leadership, the greatest Achievement of Mr. Olohungbebe was passing the baton over to Mr. Olufadi Balarabe Ayuba, a staff member he once taught in the department, who is the first alumnus of the Department of Mass Communication to be appointed as the HOD by the polytechnic management.

As the new head of department, Mr Ayuba’s task will include consolidating the existing gains, identifying new opportunities, and strengthening the department’s contribution to media education and professional practice.