Mrs Christiana Akpunonu, an octogenarian and retired broadcaster with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) has successfully defended her PhD thesis at the University of Abuja.

The Head of Department of Theatre Arts, Dr Roseline Yacim, who disclosed this in Abuja, said that Akpunonu was the first octogenarian to record such a feat in the department.

Yacim said the 85-year-old, on April 16, defended her thesis titled ‘The Impact of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria on Nigeria’s Health Watch – Fistula Programme on Women in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja’.

Dr Roseline Yacim(left) Head of Department, Theatre Arts University of Abuja and Christiana Akpunonu after her thesis defence.

According to Yacim, the defence was conducted before the external examiner, Prof. Irene Agunloye of the Centre for Gender and Women Studies, University of Jos.

“The defence also took place in the presence of the representative of the Dean, Postgraduate School, Prof. Isa Nurudeen of the Department of Economics, University of Abuja, as well as members of the Postgraduate Board of the Department of Theatre Arts, University of Abuja,” she said.

Akpunonu is a lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication at Baze University. She is pursuing a PhD in Media Arts at the University of Abuja. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu