Vice Chancellor of the Akwa Ibom State University , Prof Otoabasi Akpan
Unbundling of Mass Communication studies in Nigerian universities as directed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) will present limitless opportunities for students to excel in various specialized areas .
Mass Communication has recently been unbundled into many courses including media and film studies, broadcasting, strategic and corporate communication, Public Relations and Advertising as well as journalism among others.
The Vice Chancellor of the Akwa Ibom State University , Prof Otoabasi Akpan stated this when he received staff members, faculty of Communication and Media Studies at the university’s liaison office in Uyo.
Akpan said the unbundling of the department will equally prepare students to have their footprints in the “rapidly digitalised world.”
“The unbundling will give students more specialised areas to focus on and horn their skills. It will prepare students for a rapidly changing, digitalised world.”
He assured that the university “will give full and required support to enable this Faculty to achieve its potential.”
While urging the leadership of the Faculty to explore avenues for self-financing and sustainability, challenging them to tap into the social media world for content creation and revenue generation, he .disclosed that the institution has recently undergone another round of resource verification exercise from the NUC for seven more undergraduate programmes including Nursing Science, Science Laboratory Technology among others.
Earlier, the Acting Dean of the Faculty, Philomena Umoren lauded the Vice Chancellor for his proactive leadership style which she noted had given birth to the Faculty.
Dr Umoren briefed the Vice Chancellor on the progress so far recorded in the Faculty since the unbundling and her assumption of office as the pioneer Dean.
She promised that the Faculty will maintain high academic and moral standards in order to produce students capable of adding value to society.
Others, who spoke at the meeting were the former Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof Mbok Mboho; Acting Head of Department, Advertising and Public Relations, Dr Bassey Bassey and Dr. Daniel Akarika, Acting Head of Department, Mass Communication.
