Founder says platform will empower students to tell their own stories while building skills for the future
For years, students at the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC) have been at the centre of groundbreaking projects, innovative ideas, academic excellence and leadership initiatives. Yet many of those stories have remained known only to a few.
On Friday, that narrative began to change.
Students, faculty members and invited guests gathered at the University’s South Legon Campus Auditorium for the official launch and logo unveiling of UniMAC Eye, a student-led media platform established to document campus life, strengthen communication and provide practical opportunities for students pursuing careers in media and communication.
The launch marks what organizers describe as a significant step toward creating a stronger culture of storytelling, student engagement and information sharing within the university community.
Leading the initiative is Hafiz Larry Alhassan, founder and team lead of UniMAC Eye, who believes students should play a more active role in telling the stories that shape their university experience.
“Today marks the beginning of something bigger than a media platform,” he said during his address.
“Today marks the beginning of a vision.”
According to him, the idea for UniMAC Eye emerged from a growing realization that many important achievements and activities taking place within the university often receive limited attention despite their impact.
“Students are winning awards, launching businesses, leading initiatives, conducting research, organizing impactful events and creating change in their own ways,” he said.
“Yet many of these stories never reach the wider community and the world at large.”
For Alhassan, the issue extends beyond visibility.
He argues that effective communication plays a critical role in building stronger campus communities and ensuring students remain informed about opportunities, programmes and developments affecting them.
“Today, we unveil a movement,” he declared.
“A movement that seeks to solve a problem—the problem of communication within the UniMAC community.”
Giving Students Ownership of Their Narratives
At the heart of UniMAC Eye is a commitment to student-centred storytelling.
Organizers say the platform was created to provide a space where students can share experiences, celebrate achievements and contribute to conversations that shape campus life.
“Every student has a story worth telling,” Alhassan said.
“Every achiever deserves recognition. Every voice deserves to be heard.”
The platform is expected to cover a wide range of content, including news reports, interviews, feature stories, student profiles, event coverage, multimedia productions and community-focused discussions.
According to organizers, the goal is to ensure that students become active participants in documenting their own experiences rather than relying solely on external platforms to tell their stories.
“UniMAC Eye is not merely a media platform,” Alhassan explained.
“It is a student-centred initiative established to document campus life, celebrate achievements, promote informed dialogue and serve as a bridge between students, leadership, faculty, management and the broader UniMAC community.”
Turning Classrooms Into Newsrooms
Beyond storytelling, UniMAC Eye is positioning itself as a platform for experiential learning.
The founder believes one of the biggest challenges facing many students is the gap between theoretical instruction and practical application.
As a result, the initiative has been designed to function as a learning laboratory where students can gain real-world experience while still pursuing their studies.
“The UniMAC Eye project is not just about amplifying student voices,” Alhassan said.
“It is supposed to give students the practical experience they need to transition well into the industry.”
Students participating in the platform will have opportunities to work in areas such as reporting, presenting, editing, photography, videography, graphic design, social media management and digital storytelling.
“If you are part of the team today as a presenter, it should not be difficult for you to get opportunities in any media house,” he noted.
“It should be a smooth transition from a student platform into the industry.”
According to him, the initiative seeks to produce graduates who enter the workforce with practical experience and professional portfolios already in hand.
Unveiling the Face of the Brand
The ceremony’s most anticipated moment came with the official unveiling of the UniMAC Eye logo.
Presenting the logo, Clemencia Apaga explained that every element of the visual identity was designed to reflect the mission and values of the platform.
“Our slogan, Eyes on Campus, Voice for Students, reflects our commitment to observing, documenting and telling the stories that matter to the student community,” she said.
She described the eye-shaped design as a symbol of observation, truth, awareness and vision—qualities closely associated with journalism and responsible communication.
At the centre of the design sits the official UniMAC emblem, reinforcing the platform’s connection to the institution.
“The eye symbolizes vigilance, insight and the responsibility of the media to observe events objectively and bring important issues to light,” she explained.
The logo also incorporates the university’s official colours, with each colour representing values such as professionalism, creativity, trust and transparency.
Creativity, Collaboration and Innovation
Following the unveiling, graphic designer Dogbatse Atsu Eugene shared details about the creative process behind the logo.
According to him, developing a visual identity capable of representing the platform’s mission required extensive brainstorming and collaboration.
“When the concept was presented to me, I thought that if it was UniMAC Eye, then the design had to reflect the eye itself while staying connected to UniMAC,” he said.
Several concepts were explored before the final version emerged.
“We tried so many brainstorming ideas,” Eugene explained.
“With the help of Hafiz Larry and myself, we were able to come up with this design.”
He noted that feedback from multiple stakeholders helped refine the logo and contributed to the final version unveiled at the event.
Students Welcome a New Opportunity
The launch generated enthusiasm among students, many of whom viewed the initiative as an opportunity to gain practical experience while contributing to campus development.
During the open forum session, students commended the initiative for addressing issues of communication, visibility and professional development.
Several attendees pledged their support and expressed interest in joining the platform’s growing team.
For many participants, the platform represents a chance to learn, create and contribute in ways that extend beyond the traditional classroom environment.
Looking Beyond the Launch
Although the official launch marks an important milestone, organizers insist that the event is only the beginning.
According to Alhassan, UniMAC Eye has already attracted more than 10,000 views across its digital platforms, including YouTube, TikTok and Facebook.
The team plans to expand its content offerings, recruit more contributors and strengthen collaborations with external media organizations.
“Those who are interested in joining the team, the doors are open,” he said.
“We have a lot of plans. Watch this space. There is more to come.”
As the ceremony concluded, Alhassan formally declared the platform launched, drawing applause from the audience.
Yet the strongest message of the day was not contained in the unveiling itself, but in the ambition behind it: a belief that students have the ability, the responsibility and the platform to tell their own stories.
For UniMAC Eye, that mission has now officially begun.
