Danfodiyo Varsity Set to upgrade Mass Comm Dept to Faculty
From Bashir Rabe Mani in Sokoto
Plans are at an advanced stage for the upgrading of Mass Communication Department of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, to the status of Faculty of Media and Communication, with no fewer than five degree programmes.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bashir Garba made this known at the ongoing Maiden Mass Communications International Conference, holding at the Institution.
The conference was organized by the Department of the Mass Communications of the University, and has theme, ‘Media and National Development in the Era of Artificial Intelligence’.
“A substantial number of new academic staff have recently been appointed to the department. With this, the future of Mass Communication in this University is bright.”
Prof. Bashir also said that the University Library in its effort to harness the potentials of AI, had developed two Artificial Intelligence-Powered chartbot platforms.
He listed them as the UDUS Digital Librarian and UDUS Research Robot, which were developed to enhance library services and research for staff and students as well as other library users.
Prof. Bashir said, “The development of these platforms was initiated to address the growing demand for timely information services.
“They also include research assistants, digital reference support, and user engagement in an environment characterized by increasing students’ enrolment and limited human resources.
“The chatbots provide twenty-four-hour access to information and capable of handling routine inquiries, guiding users to relevant resources, supporting research activities and promoting library services,” he said.
