Reading time:8 min read

Second Communication Seminar: Preparations Complete, Programme Postponed

After months of planning and extensive preparations, the Second Communication Seminar of Adh-Dhikr Press Organisation was postponed on the eve of its scheduled date, with no new date announced for the programme.

The organisation announced the postponement in a statement issued on Friday, 14 August 2026, citing “circumstances that require further consideration” as the reason for the decision.

The seminar, themed “Beneath the Signs,” was scheduled to take place at the Zoology Lecture Theatre, University of Ibadan, and was expected to feature a keynote address, a fireside chat, a skill-building session, a picture-prompt speech, and an oratory contest.

Speaking on the circumstances surrounding the postponement, Abdullateef Isa, the Editor-in-Chief of the organisation, said everything that needed to be provided by Adh-Dhikr Press had been provided to a very large extent, adding that preparations for the seminar had been substantially completed across three key areas: content, publicity, and finance.

According to Isa, all resource persons had been confirmed by Friday evening, while other dignitaries had also been invited. He added that publicity activities had equally been carried out, including the distribution of flyers, pasting of posters, visits to halls of residence, and physical mobilisation of students.

Addressing concerns raised by many students that financial constraints may have led to the postponement, Isa said, “In all sincerity, by Allah, money was not what led to the postponement.”

He also explained that the organisation had already paid the venue rental fee and was preparing to purchase foodstuff and other cooking ingredients before the issue that eventually led to the postponement emerged as an internal rumour.

Isa further clarified that the development was not an issue originating from Adh-Dhikr Press, but one that was beyond the organisation, adding that the seminar may have become “the major sacrificial lamb” of the situation.

“The postponement is not an Adh-Dhikr Press issue. It was beyond Adh-Dhikr Press. It is only that the Second Communication Seminar being organised by Adh-Dhikr Press has perhaps become the major sacrificial lamb,” he remarked.

The postponement of the Second Communication Seminar has, however, sparked reactions among prospective attendees. While it left many disappointed, others were left confused, with some still hopeful that the programme would eventually hold.

For Mutmainah Sulaiman, a student at the University of Ibadan who attended the first communication seminar, the postponement represented more than just a change of date. She expressed that the seminar sparked her interest in communication and transformed her understanding of its significance beyond just students of Communication and Language Arts.

“I was kind of inspired. I developed more interest in communication and I learnt that communication is not just for CLA students alone; it is for all of us, no matter our field of study,” she said.

The postponement, she added, came with mixed feelings, particularly because she had already cleared her schedule for the programme.

“I was a bit disoriented because I had something to do that day, but I already cleared my schedule for the programme. I had to start rearranging things again,” she said.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the programme, she expressed hope that it would eventually hold, while praying for ease for the organisers.

The anticipation extended beyond the University of Ibadan. Abdulsalam Lukman, a student of Abiola Ajimobi Technical University, Ibadan, had also made arrangements to attend the seminar, driven by his interest in improving his oratory skills.

According to Lukman, the announcement of the seminar was great news, prompting him to make arrangements to attend despite his school being located along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

“It was great news when I saw that MSSN UI was hosting a communication seminar and I made the decision that I must attend. Though my school is far from UI, it's along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, I decided to stay outside the school campus on Friday to join the programme early,” he said.

However, a few minutes before going to bed on Friday, he received the news that the seminar had been postponed.

“I got a heartbreaking message that the programme has been postponed. It was a great disappointment, but I believe it was necessary; that’s why the organisers made that decision,” he said.

Despite his disappointment, Lukman acknowledged the effort put into organising the programme and expressed hope that the organisers would eventually hold a similar programme.

“I appreciate the effort of the organisers. May Allah ease their affairs. I'm still looking forward to a similar programme from them. I hope it will be a successful one,” he concluded.

For Ubaydatullah, a University of Ibadan student in the Department of Psychology, the initial reaction to the postponement was one of disbelief.

“I felt confused at first. I thought that was impossible,” she said. “I thought the organisers would never want something of such to happen, so they probably really couldn’t help the situation,” she added.

Reflecting on the experience, Ubaydatullah acknowledged the demands involved in organising a programme while also suggesting that organisers finalise plans to prevent obstacles that may affect the event in the future.

“I would say planning an event is indeed a lot of work. They should try to finalise plans with higher powers that might be obstacles to the programme being held,” she concluded.

For Aishat, a Physiotherapy student, the postponement was met with disappointment, having looked forward to attending the seminar. She, however, acknowledged the fact that the decision could have been informed by circumstances beyond the organisers’ control.

“Honestly, I was disappointed when I heard about the postponement because I was looking forward to attending the seminar. However, I understand that there may be reasons behind the decision, and I hope the new date will be announced soon,” she said.

Despite the setback, she affirmed that the postponement had not diminished the anticipation surrounding the programme, adding, “I’m still looking forward to the seminar and what we’ll learn from it.”

As of press time, the organisation has neither announced a new date for the seminar nor provided further details on the circumstances surrounding the postponement. It only stated that further details would be communicated in due course, if Allah wills.

For now, the Second Communication Seminar remains postponed, with its organisers yet to determine when it will return to the calendar. While the delay has disrupted plans for prospective attendees, their reactions suggest that interest in the programme remains strong.