UNIMAID Theatre Arts Department Sweeps International Awards, Presents Trophies and Maiden Journal to VC

The Department of Theatre Arts at the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) has formally presented its recent harvest of national and international awards to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Muhammed Laminu Mele, alongside celebrating major developmental milestones, including the commencement of a dedicated performing arts theatre and the launch of its maiden academic journal.

Leading a departmental delegation on a courtesy visit to the Vice-Chancellor’s office, the Dean of Arts, Prof Shettima Abba Kura introduced the team to the VC and invited the Foundation Head of the Department, Professor Sunday E. Ododo to make his presentation on behalf of the Department of Theatre Arts. Prof Ododo expressed profound gratitude to the university management. He specifically commended the Vice-Chancellor for taking decisive steps to activate the construction of the much-anticipated performing arts theatre cottage. According to Professor Ododo, the vital infrastructure project had been in the pipeline since 2011, but through the proactive efforts of the current administration, it has now been fully appropriated and awarded for immediate construction. 

Highlighting the rapid growth of the young department since its establishment in 2019, Professor Ododo proudly presented the maiden edition of the department's academic publication, the "TAMTAM" Unimaid Journal of Theatre Arts. Named after the Kanuri word for entertainment and enjoyment, the journal made a strong academic debut by simultaneously releasing Volume 1, Numbers 1 and 2. 

The highlight of the courtesy visit was the official presentation of three major awards recently won by the department's students and faculty. The laurels included the Emem Isong M. Sodi Award for Best Screenplay, won by 26-year-old undergraduate student Emmanuel Kanatopwa Samuel; the Best Documentary Filmmaking Award, won by the current Head of Department, Dr. Uwaoma Nwazue; and an international award of excellence on Global Peace and Dialogue bagged by Professor Ododo himself at the prestigious Amed International Theatre Festival held in Diyarbakir, Turkey.

Professor Ododo noted that the Vice-Chancellor, who recently attended one of the department's live drama productions, was immensely proud of their achievements and familiar with their success story, being from the same faculty. 

While presenting a progress report, Professor Ododo also announced a major academic leap for the department: the University Senate has officially approved its postgraduate program, and the pioneering set of postgraduate students has already arrived on campus. To sustain this momentum and support the new advanced program, he used the opportunity to appeal to the management for an increase in academic staffing.

Responding positively to the department's strides, the Vice-Chancellor, reassured the delegation of the management's continuous backing, expressing his firm belief that with adequate support, the UNIMAID Department of Theatre Arts will continue to break new ground in scholarship and theatrical practice on the global stage.