VC Celebrates Three TSU Lecturers on Successful PhD Completion, Describes Feat as Boost to Academic Excellence

By Charity Paul Apaji

The Vice-Chancellor of Taraba State University, Professor Sunday Paul Bako, has congratulated three lecturers from the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Department of Mass Communication, on the successful completion of their Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programmes.

The lecturers — Dr. Jesse Ishaku, Dr. Livinus Jesse Ayih and Dr. Stephen Victor Gana — successfully defended their theses between January and February this year.

Professor Bako described their academic milestone as a significant boost to the quality of teaching, research and service delivery within the department and the university at large. He commended their resilience, dedication and sacrifices in meeting the rigorous demands of doctoral studies.

According to the Vice-Chancellor, the achievement reflects the culture of growth, commitment and professional advancement that the university encourages among its academic staff.

“This is the kind of commitment expected of every lecturer in the university. Academic progression is a mark of growth and professional responsibility. Their accomplishment is not only personal but institutional, as it strengthens the intellectual capacity of the department and positions them for higher responsibilities in the academia,” he stated.

Professor Bako further noted that the successful completion of the PhD programmes places the trio on the path to attaining senior academic ranks, including Senior Lecturer and ultimately, Professor, in line with the University regulations and career progression benchmarks.

In their respective research contributions, the scholars addressed critical national and regional issues. Dr. Jesse Ishaku’s doctoral thesis, completed at Bingham University, Karu examined “Assessment of Socio-Political Challenges in Select Nigerian Newspapers’ Coverage of Banditry in Nigeria.” The study interrogated media framing of banditry and its implications for public perception and national security discourse.

Dr. Livinus Jesse Ayih and Dr. Stephen Victor Gana earned their PhDs from Glorious Vision University (formerly Samuel Adegboyega University), Ogwa, Edo State. Dr. Ayih’s research focused on “Analysis of Newspaper Coverage of Human Rights Violations in Northeast Nigeria,” providing insights into media accountability, conflict reporting and the protection of fundamental rights in crisis-prone regions.

Dr. Gana’s study, titled “Taraba State Government Strategic Communication Approaches for Enhancing Agricultural Practices,” explored the role of structured communication strategies in improving agricultural productivity and rural development. 

The research offered practical recommendations for strengthening government–farmer engagement through integrated communication channels.

Collectively, the three doctoral theses proffer practical solutions to pressing societal challenges, particularly in the areas of security, human rights and agricultural development.

The Vice-Chancellor reaffirmed the university management’s commitment to supporting staff development, describing the feat as a reflection of Taraba State University’s steady progress in advancing research excellence and academic competitiveness in Nigeria’s higher education sector.