Professor Pate elected as Fellow Nigerian Academy of Letters
By Anwar Usman
The Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Kashere, Gombe state Professor Umaru Alhaji Pate, has been elected a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL).
Pate’s election was approved by the College of Fellows during a meeting held on Tuesday, July 8, 2025.
The Academy also announced other new Fellows both Regular and Overseas as well as Honorary Fellows and recipients of its 2025 Awards of Excellence in Humanistic Practice.
Professor Pate, a scholar in Communication and Media Studies, was recognized for his works in journalism education and university leadership.
NAL, in a statement, said the formal inauguration of Professor Pate and other newly elected Fellows will take place on August 14, 2025, during the Academy’s 27th Convocation at the University of Lagos.
The statement in part reads “The investiture of the new Fellows and the conferment of awards will take place during the Academy’s 27th Convocation”.
Other newly elected Fellows include Professor Ebunoluwa Olufemi Oduwole and Professor Temisanren Ebijuwa in Classical Studies, Philosophy, and Religions; Professor Emeritus Alkasum Abba in Historical Studies; and Professors Gbemisola Aderemi Adeoti, Aderemi Raji-Oyelade, and Victor Chiagozie Ariole in Literary Studies.
In Cultural Studies, Creative Writing, Theatre, Visual and Performing Arts, the Fellows are Professors Mohammed Inuwa Umar-Buratai, Ameh Dennis Akoh, and Charles Emeka Nwadigwe.
In Linguistics, Professors Gideon Sunday Omachonu and Obiajulu Augustine Emejulu were named.
Professor Akinwumi Ogundiran was elected an Overseas Fellow in Historical Studies.
The Academy of Letters further revealed that, the event will mark a moment to reflect on “the profound contributions of these individuals to humanistic scholarship and practice.”