The Jacksonites Professional Development Series initiative is best described as a child of destiny. It is the crystallization of the passion Jacksonites have for social responsibility and continuous personal and professional growth. Jacksonites are graduates of the foremost Department of Mass Communication in Sub-Saharan Africa, The Jackson College as it was known then was founded in 1961.

Over the years, Jacksonites have supported the professional development of the department’s undergraduate and post-graduate students by donating books and guest lecturing on the invitation of the Department’s lecturers. Early in 2018, Jacksonites led by Mr. Jerry Agada (a 2013 graduate) and Dr. Chidiebere Nwachukwu (a 2011 graduate) decided to up the ante by organizing periodic seminars for Jacksonites. Prof. Pat. Utomi (a 1977 graduate), the President of Jacksonites Worldwide &– the Alumni Association of Jacksonites – was the speaker at the first seminar. These seminars did not have a formal structure and were pretty irregular as a result. After a couple of poorly attended sessions, the initiative went into hibernation. It was not sustainable. 

Chinedu Mba (Afigbo), a 1987 graduate saddened by the waning interest and participation in the seminars reached out to Mr. Jerry Agada and Dr. Chidiebere Nwachukwu and mooted the idea of giving the initiative a formal structure and a chance at sustainability. After a couple of meetings, it was agreed that a setting up steering committee would be the first step. The trio drew up a list of potential steering Committee members and Chinedu was charged with the responsibility of selling the idea to them and convening the first meeting. As is her practice, Chinedu went about this task with dedicated passion and conviction and “recruited” 8 Jacksonites to steer the initiative with her as the Chair. This committee held several meetings lasting into the wee hours of the morning. At these meetings they crafted the name, mission, and vision as well as a strategic plan. With these in place, they presented the idea to the Jacksonites Worldwide late in 2020. Three working groups (Logistics, Publicity & Mobilization, and Sponsorship) were set up in line with the strategic plan. Since its set up, Jacksonites Professional Development Seminar series has held 4 well -received and attended virtual seminars. It has added a new brand Knowledge Hub to its stable. Knowledge Hub is dedicated to the creation and exchange of interdisciplinary research-based knowledge and processes that advance scholarship, solve societal problems and accelerate development. Under the leadership of Chinedu Mba (Afigbo J87), JPDS has raised over a million naira thanks to the generosity of Jacksonites.