By Edem Ekpo
The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Cross River State Council, Comrade Archibong Bassey, has applauded the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Banku Obi, for her role in upgrading the Department of Mass Communication into a full-fledged Faculty of Communication and Media Studies.
Bassey, reacting to the development, described it as a landmark achievement that will reposition UNICAL as a leading hub for media education in Nigeria and West Africa.
“This bold step by Prof. Florence Obi is highly commendable. It will not only strengthen media education in Cross River State and Nigeria at large but also provide fertile ground for grooming a new generation of journalists and communication experts equipped for today’s realities,” Bassey stated.
She assured that the NUJ is ready to partner with the new faculty in research, training, workshops, and professional development, stressing that such collaboration will enhance the quality of graduates and bridge the gap between academia and industry. She also encouraged students to seize the opportunity and uphold the highest ethical standards, noting that the media remains a critical pillar of democracy and development.
The Senate of the University of Calabar recently approved the creation of the faculty, which will operate with seven departments: Mass Communication, Public Relations, Development Communication, Journalism and Media Studies, Advertising, Strategic Communication, and Broadcasting.
Head of the Department of Mass Communication, Dr. Lawrence Ekwok, hailed the approval as a remarkable milestone for the university. He recalled that under his leadership, the department secured full accreditation in November 2023 for B.Sc., M.A., and Ph.D. programmes, and also acquired a new Mass Communication complex that laid the groundwork for the unbundling into a faculty.
“To the glory of God, the Senate of the University of Calabar today approved the creation of the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies. Under my leadership as Head of the Department of Mass Communication, our department has transformed into a faculty with seven departments. We are deeply grateful to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Florence Banku Obi, for her purposeful leadership,” Ekwok said.
The journey toward upgrading the department into a faculty, however, began under the leadership of Prof. Chukwuemeka Uzoma Okugo. Under his watch, Mass Communication secured full accreditation and a new departmental complex, milestones that prepared the ground for the eventual unbundling in 2025.
A student union activist representing the Faculty of Arts in the Postgraduate Students’ Union Government, Senator Eta Agbor, also praised Dr. Ekwok and his team for their tenacity and drive, which culminated in the unbundling in line with the vision of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
He commended Prof. Obi’s dedication to expanding academic frontiers and urged the university management to mobilize pending batches of Mass Communication graduates so they can proceed with the mandatory National Youth Service Corps scheme.
With the Senate’s approval, the University of Calabar has joined the ranks of Nigerian universities offering specialized training across diverse fields of communication and media studies, marking a new chapter in the institution’s academic growth.