Follow Us on Google
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The pioneer Executive Director of the Institute of Strategic and Development Communication (ISDEVCOM) at Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), Professor Emmanuel S. Dandaura, formally handed over to Dr James Daniel Chikada as Acting Director on Friday, February 20, 2026, during a boardroom ceremony attended by heads of departments, scholars, alumni, lecturers, and key stakeholders.
The event marked a milestone for the institute, founded in 2018, blending institutional reflection, renewal, and optimism under NSUK’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sa’adatu Hassan Liman, whose administration fosters academic growth.
In his address, Dandaura described the occasion as “quiet, yet historic,” rooted in 2018 convictions that “communication is not ornamental to development; it is central to it. Conviction that policy fails when it is poorly communicated. Conviction that nations stumble when narratives are left unmanaged.”
He reflected on his tenure as “a calling,” with pioneering demanding “labour. It is persuasion. It is patience,” amid “financial, administrative, structural” constraints and “resources leaner than ambition.” Dandaura positioned ISDEVCOM as a “bridge between research and policy, between scholarship and society,” crediting his leadership with establishing its interdisciplinary focus, development communication ethos, and strategic relevance.
Other News
Advising Chikada, he urged: “Guard the foundation. Strengthen the systems. Expand deliberately. Build capacity before scale. Protect the integrity and reputation of the Institute with vigilance. Reputation is slow to build and swift to erode.” He charged the incoming leader to sustain standards, innovate boldly, and elevate ISDEVCOM beyond expectations, measuring leadership by “continuity” and “growth.”
Accepting the role, Chikada hailed Dandaura: “It has not been easy. Today is quite memorable, and… a day of joy worthy of celebration,” noting the presence of HODs from Philosophy and Religious Studies, Mass Communication, Theatre Arts, and pioneer coordinators. Describing himself as a beneficiary of Dandaura’s mentorship, he pledged: “Where you pegged, our progress will continue from there, we will sustain the tempo and go beyond that.”
Chikada committed to building on foundational gains, ensuring his “personal interest will not stand in the way of the growth of the ISDEVCOM.” Priorities include “impactful projects… topics that are trending and dealing with societal issues,” diversifying beyond “just graduating mere students” through media partnerships for Nasarawa State documentaries, frequent ISDEVCOM bulletins, and alumni-driven recruitment: “Each person to bring five applicants.”
Scholars and alumni paid glowing tributes to Dandaura, thanking him for creating a “centre for rigorous learning” and a “conducive and intellectually stimulating environment” fostering networking, mentorship, collaboration, and innovation. They expressed confidence in Chikada’s longstanding role as a resource person, anticipating continuity and new frontiers.
