By Abdussamad Yahya Sufi
Former President of the United Nations General Assembly, Prof. Tijjani Muhammad Bande, will chair the maiden International Conference of the Department of Mass Communication, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto.
The four-day conference begins Sunday, June 7, 2026 with the theme “Media and National Development in the Era of Artificial Intelligence.” It will bring together academics, media professionals, and stakeholders to discuss how media practice and AI are shaping a digital world that keeps changing.
Activities kick off on Sunday with a pre-conference lecture by Fatma El-Sayed of Cairo University, Egypt. The official opening ceremony holds Monday, June 8 at the university auditorium, with the Vice Chancellor set to host participants from Nigeria and abroad.
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Prof. Attahiru Jega, and council members are also expected at the opening.
The centerpiece of the conference is the keynote address by Kehbuma Langmia, a double Fulbright scholar from Howard University, United States. The conference will feature lead paper presentations, panel discussions, and scholarly engagements with participants from different universities.
The department will also launch the first edition of its academic journal, ALKALAMI Journal of Communication and Media Studies.
Organisers say the conference is aimed at anchoring serious conversations on the role of media in national development as technology continues to evolve.