The National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved the unbundling of the Department of Mass Communication at the University of Nigeria Nsukka into five distinct undergraduate degree programmes, marking a major milestone in the institution’s efforts to strengthen media and communication education.
The approval, which takes effect from the 2026/2027 academic session, paves the way for the introduction of five full-time Bachelor of Science degree programmes: Advertising, Broadcasting, Development Communication Studies, Journalism and Media Studies, and Public Relations.
The approval was conveyed in an official communication dated June 19, 2026, signed on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof. Abdullahi Yusuf Ribadu.
According to the commission, the approval followed a comprehensive resource verification exercise conducted by a panel of experts to assess the human and material resources available for the proposed programmes.
The NUC clarified that the approval applies strictly to full-time mode of study, noting that any future plans to introduce part-time or postgraduate programmes under the newly created departments would require separate notification and approval from the commission.
The regulatory body also stressed that the approved programmes must retain their official titles and nomenclature, adding that any subsequent modifications would be subject to regulatory clearance.
The development has been hailed as a major achievement for staff and students of the Department of Mass Communication at the University of Nigeria.
Reacting to the approval, the Head of Department, Prof. Michael Ukonu, expressed appreciation to the university management for its support throughout the resource verification process.
He specifically thanked the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, and the Director of Academic Planning, Prof. Anthony Attama, for their guidance and commitment, which he said contributed significantly to the successful outcome.
“As we celebrate this significant achievement, the department looks forward to the continued support of the University Management and other stakeholders as we progress towards our ultimate goal of attaining Faculty status, the logical culmination of the unbundling exercise,” Prof. Ukonu said.
He added that the unbundling would further strengthen the department’s tradition of academic excellence while aligning its programmes with global best practices and the transformational vision of the current leadership of the University of Nigeria.
The approval is another milestone in the University’s rebirth under the innovative leadership of its 16th Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ortuanya. And it is expected to expand academic opportunities for students, deepen specialisation in media and communication studies, and position the University of Nigeria as a leading centre for communication education in Nigeria and beyond.
…Adapted from The Nation Newspaper Ltd.
