Unilag has unbundled its Mass Communication Department to establish a new Communication Faculty, marking a historic leap in media education in Africa
Unilag Communication Faculty has officially been inaugurated as the University of Lagos unbundled its long-standing Department of Mass Communication. This significant milestone marks a new era in media education, not only in Nigeria but across the African continent.
Professor Oloruntola Sunday, who formerly headed the Mass Communication Department, has been unanimously elected as the first Dean of the new Faculty of Communication and Media Studies. Dr. Ebony Oketunmbi will serve as the pioneer Sub-Dean.
The election was formally announced on 20 June 2025 by Mr. Abayomi Osinowo, Principal Assistant Registrar for Senate and Ceremonies. He was joined by three committee members at the Faculty of Social Sciences.
This transition arrives 58 years after the department’s founding in 1966 as the Institute of Mass Communication. Its creation followed a tripartite agreement involving the Federal Government, UNDP, and UNESCO, with a mandate to train journalists across West Africa.
The first Dean was Professor S. Scotten, who laid the academic and professional foundations for what would become one of Nigeria’s most respected media institutions.
The department has evolved steadily over the years. From its early days in the University’s Library Complex, it later moved to the Faculty of Arts before finally becoming part of the Faculty of Social Sciences in 1974.
Its leadership has included renowned scholars like the late Professor Alfred Opubor, Professor Onuora Nwuneli, and the widely revered Professor Ralph A. Akinfeleye.
The launch of the new faculty was met with mixed emotions. Professor Adelaja Odukoya, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, described the event as a “regretful exit”, yet acknowledged the importance of progress.
“Children have to be greater than the parents,” he said, urging the new faculty to become the best globally.
For decades, the department has trained prominent figures in Nigerian media and governance. Notable alumni include Prince Tony Momoh, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Mrs. Ruth Benamaisia-Opia, Mr. John Momoh, and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Mr. Dele Olojede.
The legacy also includes former Ogun State Governor Chief Olusegun Osoba and Mr. Bayo Onanuga.
The 2025 convocation ceremony highlighted the department’s achievements, graduating 12 PhD students and 18 first-class B.Sc. graduates, all female.
Dr. Ibitayo Popoola, representing the department, described Professor Sunday as “a man of history” and thanked the Vice-Chancellor for her commitment to the faculty’s autonomy.
The new faculty is poised to uphold and expand the department’s longstanding tradition of excellence. It will continue to offer hands-on experience through platforms such as Radio Unilag 103.1 FM, UnilagTV, Unilag Sun Newspaper, and MassCope Magazine.
These platforms provide vital training for students in both broadcast and print journalism.
The Dean will serve a renewable two-year term, while the Sub-Dean’s tenure is one year. With strong leadership and historical roots, the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies is expected to elevate Unilag’s global academic standing and reinforce its influence across African media landscapes.
