By Faith Edeh, Awka
The Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Prof. Bond Ugochukwu Anyaehie, has appointed Prof. Allen Nnanwuba Adum as the Acting Dean of the newly established Faculty of Communication and Media Studies.
The appointment, which takes immediate effect, was conveyed in a letter signed by the Registrar of the university, Dr. Chinenye Gloria Okeke, on the directive of the Vice-Chancellor.
Before his appointment, Prof. Adum served as the Head of the Department of Mass Communication, which was formerly under the Faculty of Social Sciences before its recent elevation to a full-fledged faculty.
Speaking shortly after receiving his appointment letter, Prof. Adum expressed gratitude to God and commended members of the faculty for their unity and commitment, which, according to him, made the transition possible.
“Our Department of Mass Communication has been upgraded to the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies. Glory to God! We did it by God’s grace. We transitioned by God’s grace. We shall be established, like the oak tree, by God’s grace. It was God’s grace, and it is still God’s grace all the way. Congratulations to us, and may God grant us more of His abundant grace,” he said.
The development follows the successful unbundling of the Department of Mass Communication by the National Universities Commission (NUC) during an accreditation exercise conducted last year.
The exercise resulted in the creation of four additional academic programmes alongside Mass Communication. The new programmes are Journalism and Media Studies, Broadcasting, Advertising, and Development Communication Studies, all of which now operate as separate departments under the new faculty.
Students were admitted into the programmes through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) during the last admission exercise and are expected to write their second-semester examinations in August.
Meanwhile, Prof. Chinwe Uzochukwu has emerged as the new Head of the Department of Mass Communication following a keenly contested election.
Prof. Uzochukwu polled 26 votes to defeat Prof. Uche Ebeze, who secured 23 votes.
Declaring the result, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Hilda Osisioma, congratulated members of the department on their successful transition into a faculty and urged them to embrace unity, peace and mutual understanding for the growth of the faculty and the university.
In her acceptance remarks, Prof. Uzochukwu thanked members of the department for the confidence reposed in her and assured them of an inclusive leadership that would carry everyone along.
Prof. Ebeze accepted the outcome of the election in the spirit of sportsmanship and thanked members of the department for their support.
Also speaking, Prof. Cornelius Ukwueze appealed for fairness and a level playing field, stressing that the progress of the faculty should remain the collective priority of all members.
The Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Michael Ezenwa, recalled that one of his major aspirations as dean was to see the Department of Mass Communication upgraded to a faculty.
He expressed gratitude that the vision had become a reality and urged members of the new faculty to uphold peace, unity and fairness for its continued growth.
Prof. Ezenwa also advised the Acting Dean, Prof. Adum, to lead with openness, tolerance and compassion, noting that such qualities would be essential in managing the new faculty effectively.
He thanked the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bond Ugochukwu Anyaehie, for approving the establishment of the faculty; the former Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Carol Arinze-Umeobi, for her role during the resource verification exercise for the new programmes; Prof. Chinyere Stella Okunna for her immense support from conception to implementation; and the entire staff of the former Department of Mass Communication for their collective efforts.
At his inaugural meeting with staff as Acting Dean, Prof. Adum pledged to operate an open-door administration anchored on consultation, transparency and inclusiveness.
He noted that the establishment of the faculty was the product of the collective efforts of successive heads of department, including Prof. Chinwe Uzochukwu, who initiated the process in 2021; Prof. Cornelius Ukwueze; Associate Professor Chioma Agbasimelo; and himself.
According to him, the new faculty is on a solid foundation and has the potential to become one of the leading communication faculties in Nigeria.
“There will always be consultation. We shall run a transparent administration. We lose nothing by having peace, but we lose everything by being at war,” Prof. Adum said.
Among those present at the election were the Director of UNIZIK FM, Prof. Ifeoma Dunu; the Sub-Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Dr. Kene Okeyika, and other members of the university community.
