Mass Comm Lecturer Gets Presidential Appointment

By Daniel Kelechi, Ayomide Ogunseye, Blessing Famose, and Faith Enang

Dr Shaibu Husseini, Director General, National Films and Censors Board.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Dr. Shaibu Husseini, a lecturer at the Department of Mass Communication at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) as the new Director General of the National Films and Censors Board.

According to a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, on Friday, January 12, Dr. Shaibu was among the 11 appointed heads of agencies under the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture and Creative Economy.

Speaking with one of our correspondents, Shaibu stated his mission for the board to include digitisation and implementation of global best practices.

His words, “We’re in the digital era; we shouldn’t be talking about files and all that, especially for movies that have been classified. We should have a database where people can login and get as much information as possible on movies that have been classified by the board from 1994 when the board started operations till date.”

As regards the board, he said, “We are basically going to make the board responsive to stakeholders, responsive to the nation and responsive to the Ministry of Arts and Creative Economy, which is our supervisory authority and then we’ll also try and make sure that whatever we’re going to do aligns with the 8-point agenda of our Honourable Minister, Hannatu Musawa and the Renewed Hope agenda of Mr President.”

When asked how he intends to juggle his lecturing job with his new appointment, Shaibu noted that his new appointment will not in any way affect his lecturing job as he is ready to sacrifice his time to see that his students do not miss anything.

“I’ve been seeing a lot of their posts around. Some say ‘Oh, he is going’, ‘Oh, we are going to miss him’ and the rest. No, no, no, no, no, I won’t cut my relationship with the University of Lagos, University of First Choice and the Nation’s pride. I will still create time. Even if it means me sacrificing so much to be around, to be able to have classes, my classes going uninterrupted; I will do that”, he said.

Speaking further, he expressed his gratitude to God for his benevolence and also thanked the Honourable Minister of Arts and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for giving him the opportunity to serve the nation in this capacity.

“I feel great, like every other person that was appointed. I’m thrilled and I feel a sense of responsibility because as they say, to whom much is given, much is expected. It is a privilege and an honour to regulate an industry as vibrant as Nollywood and also to be in a space where you have been practising,” Shaibu said.

The distinguished Nigerians who were appointed to head a total of 11 agencies under the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture and Creative Economy included entertainment guru Obi Asika, who will head the National Council for Arts and Culture as Director-General, and veteran Nollywood actor and filmmaker Ali Nuhu, who will head the Nigerian Film Corporation as Managing-Director.