UNILAG Dept. of Mass Com transitions into a faculty

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00:00It's a historic moment at the University of Lagos, what started as a modest initiative in media

00:06training has now matured into a full-fledged Faculty of Communication and Media Studies.

00:13The story began in 1966, not as a department, but as the Institute of Mass Communication.

00:22It was the result of a visionary partnership between Nigeria's federal government,

00:26UNESCO and the United Nations Development Program.

00:30Back then, it stood as one of the very first journalism training centers in sub-Sahara Africa,

00:37a boat step towards professionalizing media in Nigeria.

00:42Just two years later, in 1968, the Institute matured into a degree-awarding department.

00:50It found its first academic home in the Faculty of Arts before transiting, in 1974,

00:57to the Faculty of Social Sciences, where it will remain for the next five decades.

01:02Over the years, the department flourished under the guidance of pioneering scholars.

01:08Among them were Professor Alfred Okubo, Nigeria's first professor of mass communication,

01:14Professor Honora Ongonili and the widely respected Professor Ralph A. Akifeleye famously doubled the

01:23dagger band of mass communication. Their leadership helped shape the department into a reference point

01:29for media training in Africa. True to its founding mission, the department went on to produce some of

01:37the most iconic figures in Nigeria media and public service. These include Prince Tony Momo, former

01:45Minister of Information. Mrs. Abike Dabiri Erewa, chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission.

01:54Mr. John Momo, chairman of Channels Media Group. Mrs. Ruth Benamacia Opia, veteran broadcaster.

02:02Mr. Dele Olojede, the first African to win the Potliza Prize for international reporting.

02:10Chief Olusegun Oshoba and Mr. Bayo Ononuga, both highly influential media leaders and political figures.

02:18In line with a directive from the National University Commission, NUC, the university took a decisive step

02:26in 2023, initiating the onboarding of the mass communication discipline.

02:32What followed was the development of seven specialized programs, including journalism, public relations,

02:39advertising, broadcasting, and others tailored to meet the dynamic needs of the modern media landscape.

02:46Then came the mind-stunned moment. On June 20th, 2025, 58 years after its founding,

02:55the Department of Mass Communication officially transitioned into the Faculty of Mass Communication

03:02and Media Studies. The announcement was made in the presence of university officials by Mr. Abayomi Oshinawa,

03:11Principal Assistant Registrar, during a special election session. At the helm of this new faculty is

03:17Professor Olorutola Sunde, the immediate past head of department, who was unanonymously elected as

03:25Pioneer Dean. Assisting him is Dr. Ebony Oketumbi, elected as Sub-Dean, both entrusted with leading the

03:34faculty into its defining era. The transition stirred at felt emotions. Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences,

03:43Professor Adelaja Oddukoya, described it as a regretful exit, yet expressed hope and pride.

03:51In its words, children must be greater than the parents. You went further to proclaim the new

03:57faculty as the first of its kind in Nigeria, West Africa, and Africa. This year's convocation crowned

04:05the achievements with remarkable results, 12 doctoral graduates with awarded PhDs, 18 female students

04:13finished with first-class degrees, all while continuing to run Radio Unilog 103.1 FM, Unilog TV,

04:22MassCorp Magazine, and Unilog Sun Newspaper, all of which remain vital platforms for practical media

04:29training. The journey to faculty status didn't happen overnight. It was built on decades of academic

04:36excellence, industry impact, and visionary leadership. As the Faculty of Communication

04:42and Media Studies enters this new era, it carries the weight of a legacy and the promise of shaping

04:49Africa's media future.