Bolaji Akinola

Former president of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria MARAN, Bolaji Akinola, has successfully defended his PhD thesis at the School of Media and Communication SMC, Pan-Atlantic University.

The SMC Ph.D. in Media and Communication is a highly structured programme consisting (consecutively) of two semesters of course work, one half-semester, part of which is spent on an overseas study visit, one semester (minimum) of field work or experiment, and two semesters of thesis writing.

Akinola, who doubles as CEO, Ships & Ports Communication Ltd is among the two students of the PhD 4 class, and the other is Ijeoma Onyeator of Channels Television, both of who have successfully defended their thesis on 29 and 30 October, 2020 respectively.

A statement issued by the SMC, says Akinola’s thesis entitled: Millennials, Digital Natives and the Future of Print Newspapers, was defended before an online panel.

The examining panel was made up of Dr. Mike Okolo as Chairman, Prof. Akashoru, the external examiner; as well as Dr. Nelson Okorie and Dr. Kingsley Ukaoha, the internal examiners from the School of Media and Communication. Dr. Ikechukwu Obiaya supervised the thesis.

Onyeator’s thesis entitled: Gatekeepers, Gatewatchers and the Construction of News in Nigeria, was also defended before an online panel.

The examining panel was made up of Dr. Mike Okolo as Chairman, Prof. Lai Oso, the external examiner; as well as Prof. Victor Ayedun-Aluma and Prof. Cecil Blake, the internal examiners from the School of Media and Communication. Dr. Ikechukwu Obiaya also supervised the thesis.

The university sends its congratulatory messages to the duo and wished them success in all their endeavours.