The University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) on Sunday hosted a major intellectual gathering to mark the launch and public presentation of two new books examining the relationship between Islam, communication, media and popular culture in Nigeria.
The event, held at the Muhammadu Indimi Hall, brought together academics, scholars, government officials, researchers, students and other stakeholders for the presentation of Communication, Media and Islam in Nigeria: A Multidisciplinary Reader and Islam and Popular Culture in Nigeria.
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, was represented at the occasion by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar.
Representing the Vice-Chancellor of UNIMAID, Professor Mohammed Laminu Mele, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Central Administration, Professor Babagana Bako, commended the authors and editors for their intellectual initiative and contribution to scholarship.
Bako described the publications as valuable additions to global knowledge and scholarship, urging the authors to sustain their academic efforts and encouraging other scholars to emulate the initiative by producing research works capable of making meaningful contributions to society.
The books, published in 2026, were edited by Dr. Ibrahim Uba Yusuf and Dr. Abdulmutalib Ado Abubakar of the University of Maiduguri, alongside Abubakar Alhaji Bukar of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
The publications explore the complex intersections of communication, mass media, Islamic practices and popular culture in contemporary Nigerian society, providing multidisciplinary perspectives on how these forces shape public discourse and social life.
The Guest Lecturer, Professor Ishaq Olanrewaju Oloyede, immediate past Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), urged scholars, media practitioners and other stakeholders to make strategic use of modern communication platforms in promoting Islamic teachings, values and etiquette.
Oloyede also stressed the need for stakeholders to use the media to project positive narratives and contribute constructively to society.
Also speaking at the event, the representative of the Secretary to the Yobe State Government, Dr. Mohammed Goje, commended the authors and editors for their collaborative effort, describing the two publications as timely and intellectually relevant.
The gathering underscored the importance of sustained scholarship in promoting a deeper understanding of the role of Islam, media and popular culture in Nigeria.
The launch also provided an opportunity for academics and other stakeholders to reflect on the evolving influence of modern media and popular culture on religious discourse and contemporary Nigerian society.