The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, in a bid to keep its students productively engaged during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic lockdown as well as aid the development of complementary hard skills, is organising an online Basic Digital Filmmaking Course for a duration of four weeks, starting on August 4, 2020 at 9am. The programme would be anchored by Tunde Kelani, distinguished filmmaker and currently Visiting Fellow at the University, based at the Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies (CENTS).

According to the Director of CENTS, Prof. Babatunde Adewumi, the course is designed to run on Virtual Learning Management System in line with standard practices in open and distance learning programmes. The Director noted that the training would be based on workshop approach in which participants would be engaged in hands-on tasks, based on regular film screenings of instructional and exercise materials supported with discussions. The course would also supplement the students’ academic development to make them more productive and marketable graduates. The first batch of 50 students has already reported to the two virtual classrooms of 25 participants each and a team from the Information and Communication Technology Resource Centre (ICTREC) of the University, among other resource professionals.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kolawole Salako would formally declare the course open while eminent personalities expected at the occasion include Principal Officers of the University; renowned Engineer/Linguistic and Culture Activist, Dr. Tunde Adegbola; Art and Culture Journalist/Executive Director, Committee for Relevant Art (CORA), Mr. Jahman Anikulapo; Information Technology Consultant, Mrs. Yetunde Elebuibon-Craig; Filmmaker/Creative Director, Mr. Bola Bello; and ex-international Football Star/Sports Analyst, Chief Olusegun Odegbami.