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UNILAG Dept. of Mass Com transitions into a faculty
Guardian Nigeria
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00:00
It's a historic moment at the University of Lagos, what started as a modest initiative in media
00:06
training has now matured into a full-fledged Faculty of Communication and Media Studies.
00:13
The story began in 1966, not as a department, but as the Institute of Mass Communication.
00:22
It was the result of a visionary partnership between Nigeria's federal government,
00:26
UNESCO and the United Nations Development Program.
00:30
Back then, it stood as one of the very first journalism training centers in sub-Sahara Africa,
00:37
a boat step towards professionalizing media in Nigeria.
00:42
Just two years later, in 1968, the Institute matured into a degree-awarding department.
00:50
It found its first academic home in the Faculty of Arts before transiting, in 1974,
00:57
to the Faculty of Social Sciences, where it will remain for the next five decades.
01:02
Over the years, the department flourished under the guidance of pioneering scholars.
01:08
Among them were Professor Alfred Okubo, Nigeria's first professor of mass communication,
01:14
Professor Honora Ongonili and the widely respected Professor Ralph A. Akifeleye famously doubled the
01:23
dagger band of mass communication. Their leadership helped shape the department into a reference point
01:29
for media training in Africa. True to its founding mission, the department went on to produce some of
01:37
the most iconic figures in Nigeria media and public service. These include Prince Tony Momo, former
01:45
Minister of Information. Mrs. Abike Dabiri Erewa, chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission.
01:54
Mr. John Momo, chairman of Channels Media Group. Mrs. Ruth Benamacia Opia, veteran broadcaster.
02:02
Mr. Dele Olojede, the first African to win the Potliza Prize for international reporting.
02:10
Chief Olusegun Oshoba and Mr. Bayo Ononuga, both highly influential media leaders and political figures.
02:18
In line with a directive from the National University Commission, NUC, the university took a decisive step
02:26
in 2023, initiating the onboarding of the mass communication discipline.
02:32
What followed was the development of seven specialized programs, including journalism, public relations,
02:39
advertising, broadcasting, and others tailored to meet the dynamic needs of the modern media landscape.
02:46
Then came the mind-stunned moment. On June 20th, 2025, 58 years after its founding,
02:55
the Department of Mass Communication officially transitioned into the Faculty of Mass Communication
03:02
and Media Studies. The announcement was made in the presence of university officials by Mr. Abayomi Oshinawa,
03:11
Principal Assistant Registrar, during a special election session. At the helm of this new faculty is
03:17
Professor Olorutola Sunde, the immediate past head of department, who was unanonymously elected as
03:25
Pioneer Dean. Assisting him is Dr. Ebony Oketumbi, elected as Sub-Dean, both entrusted with leading the
03:34
faculty into its defining era. The transition stirred at felt emotions. Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences,
03:43
Professor Adelaja Oddukoya, described it as a regretful exit, yet expressed hope and pride.
03:51
In its words, children must be greater than the parents. You went further to proclaim the new
03:57
faculty as the first of its kind in Nigeria, West Africa, and Africa. This year's convocation crowned
04:05
the achievements with remarkable results, 12 doctoral graduates with awarded PhDs, 18 female students
04:13
finished with first-class degrees, all while continuing to run Radio Unilog 103.1 FM, Unilog TV,
04:22
MassCorp Magazine, and Unilog Sun Newspaper, all of which remain vital platforms for practical media
04:29
training. The journey to faculty status didn't happen overnight. It was built on decades of academic
04:36
excellence, industry impact, and visionary leadership. As the Faculty of Communication
04:42
and Media Studies enters this new era, it carries the weight of a legacy and the promise of shaping
04:49
Africa's media future.
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