BACKGROUND OF BFA AS A PROFESSOR

BACKGROUND OF BFA AS A PROFESSOR

While functioning as the ES/CEO of National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), BFA found time to teach as a Visiting Senior Lecturer at the Department of Theatre and Cultural Studies, Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), starting from March 2010. He was eventually appointed Visiting Associate Professor and subsequently Professor of Film and Cultural Studies at NSUK, upon the completion of his tenure at NICO. He was the pioneer Coordinator, Post Graduate Programme, Department of Theatre and Cultural Studies, as well as the Institute of Strategic and Development Communication (ISDEVCOM), NSUK. However, in April 2019, Prof BFA answered another call of duty from then Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, His Excellency Henry Seriake Dickson, to move over to University of Africa, Toru-Orua, Bayelsa State, where he was appointed Head, Department of Theatre Arts, until his appointment as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), in April 2022.

As the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof BFA brought his Midas touch to the administration of the University. As he had assured the then Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kingston Nyamapfene, that he would work towards UAT admitting 1,000 candidates from the meagre 306 admitted in the 2021/2022 JAMB Admission Cycle, he succeeded in getting about 1,020. Though, a few of the candidates did not register, due to one reason or the other. Since then, the admission figure has been on the increase, hitting 1,604 in the 2024/2025 JAMB Admission Cycle.

With the expiration of the tenue of Professor Kingston Nyamapfene on Thursday, 31 August 2023, the Governing Council of University of Africa, under the Chairmanship of Barr. Kemela Okara, OON appointed him as the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University. As usual, Prof BFA brought his goal-oriented approach to bear in the administration of the University from September 2023 to 16 April, 2024, when Professor Solomon Tamarabrakemi Ebobrah was appointed the substantive Vice-Chancellor of the University.

With the space of eight (8) months, approximately, Prof BFA recorded the following landmarks:

1.    Publishing UAT News, a newsletter of University of Africa Toru-Orua.

2.    Attracting a Bayelsa State Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF)-funded solar-powered water project for UAT Staff Quarters.

3.    Getting a 350 KVA and 60KVA generators from the State Government to take care of the electricity power supply need of the Staff Quarters and Student Hostel.

4.    Provision of solar street lights in the Main Campus, Student Hostels and Staff Quarters – funded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

5.    Securing approval for the construction of an Accounting Research Centre – a Legacy Project of Dr. James Ekerare Neminebor, the 13^th National President of Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN).

6.    Initiating the process of National Universities Commission (NUC) to carry out Resource Verification Visit for new programmes to be mounted by UAT.

7.    Securing the Executive Governor, His Excellency Senator Douye Diri’s financial approval for UAT’s Maiden (Combined) Convocation.

8.    Securing the Executive Governor, His Excellency Senator Douye Diri’s financial approval for NUC Accreditation of programmes in the Faculty of Agriculture.

9.    Defending and securing the Executive Governor, His Excellency Senator Douye Diri’s approval for the recruitment of academic and non-teaching staff.