Notes From PAU: Where Skills And Knowledge Collide (2) -By Muhammad Auwal Ibrahim

This is a continuation of my series on my programme at the School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University., Lagos.

Just before our lecturer for the day stepped into the class, I settled down and glanced through the timetable. I was excited to see one class. It’s UI//UX Design: Figma and Canva for Media Professionals. It was a class I had been looking forward to.

This was an area I was particularly interested in. As someone working in a digital outlet, I was aware of the growing need for graphic design in digital journalism. News consumption has changed. A breaking story is no longer a headline or a link, but a branded graphic. It carries an outlet logo, featured image, and story title. This makes it easier for readers to assimilate and for algorithms to push it more compared to when only text or link is used.

For a while, I was thinking how the lesson would unfold. But I didn’t bother my brain much, this was Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos. Their standard was nothing but the best.

When Anjolaoluwa Olowokere walked into the hall confidently and made her way to the podium, she changed the atmosphere. Everyone was amazed. She was the youngest or rather a “gen-z lecturer” as our director would say, to teach us.

Despite being a young lecturer, she has a vast experience and confidence required of any instructor.

I was sure media workers from digital, broadcast, and print equally needed this training owing to the growing media convergence. Beyond breaking news, media organisations increasingly package explainers and even quotes are into graphics that travel faster on social platforms than links. This was necessitated by the evolving social media landscape. For SMC-PAU to take this into cognisance, it showed nothing but the innovation in the programme.

She said there would be practicals. This time around, not the usual group exercise or individual presentations. It’s something unique. We would design a project together, using an existing idea we had developed in class.

We started with Canva. Laptops were opened simultaneously. We moved together as she clicked. Though not as fast as she was. But the good thing was that whenever someone fell behind, she would quickly respond, and address the issue before continuing. Everyone was carried onboard. Every click introduced something new.

We further delved into colours where we selected our brand colours. What looked like a simple task became a masterclass in branding and psychology. We were very sensitive in picking every colour. We learned why organisations deliberately choose certain colours like blue and green and how the familiar 60%-30%-10% helps create visual balance.

Exporting colours into Figma was not difficult for us, under her guidance. My classmates were so engaged. Even the programme director was carried away by the interactive class.

From colours, we moved to Figma, where the real magic happened. Not magic but where the idea began to take shape.

At the end of the class, we collaboratively transformed a classroom idea into the interface of a ride-hailing mobile application. Navigation screens became alive. It was something small but gratifying. There was excitement in everyone’s face.

As the session wrapped up, one thing stayed with me. PAU was not simply preparing students to get certifications but it was equipping them with valuable skills. It was the culture of the school to train students to shine beyond the classroom. Every lesson, every practical, every good work showed two things: creativity and innovation. Her story has also reinforced that. As a pioneer graduate of the school, she was part of the four-member team that designed a digital attendance system for the institution. An innovation still in use. Is it exciting? If this is not an example of excellence, what is it?

The above story portrayed how the school prepared students not only theoretically, but also practically. A key takeaway is that education is the ability to transform ideas into solutions.

For years, it has always been debated that universities are for knowledge production while polytechnics are for skills development. However, at PAU, it was entirely a different story

PAU is an academic institution that championed itself in the practical application of knowledge. Here, classes don’t end with theories. It extends to products and practical applications. Learning is not only tested by examinations but also by the ability to think and innovate.

That was what impressed me most about this institution. Therefore, if you are looking for a learning institution where skills and knowledge collide, then PAU is your go-to place. At PAU, excellence and professionalism are driven by skills and knowledge.

Lastly, this class was more than a lecture in design. It was a sign of how the school is training media professionals for a rapidly evolving digital landscape. For every media practitioner, the message is clear: learn new skills or perish. The future is for those who innovate.

Muhammad Auwal Ibrahim is an award-winning investigative journalist at Halal Reporters and a 2026 MTN Media Innovation Programme Fellow. He writes from Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos, and can be reached via awwalbinibrahim@gmail.com