By Abdulkareem Haruna

The University of Lagos (UNILAG) on Friday, June 20, 2025, officially elevated its Department of Mass Communication to a standalone Faculty of Communication and Media Studies (FCMS), marking a significant restructuring within the institution. The move, announced at the Faculty of Social Sciences, culminates 58 years of evolution for the prominent media studies program.

Professor Oloruntola Sunday, formerly the head of the Mass Communication Department, was unanimously elected as the pioneer Dean of the new faculty. Dr. Ebony Oketunmbi was elected as the Sub-Dean. The elections were overseen by Mr. Abayomi Osinowo, Principal Assistant Registrar for Senate and Ceremonies.

The department, initially established in 1966 as an Institute of Mass Communication through a tripartite agreement involving the Nigerian Federal Government, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and UNESCO, was envisioned as a regional hub for journalist training. Its first Dean was Professor S. Scotten.

Professor Oloruntola Sunday, former HOD  Mass Communication  now  pioneer Dean of the new faculty.

Professor Adelaja Odukoya, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, expressed mixed emotions regarding the unbundling, describing it as a “regretful exit” but acknowledging the necessity for growth. He lauded the new faculty as the “first in Nigeria, West Africa, and Africa,” expressing hope it would achieve global recognition.

The Mass Communication Department has a rich history of transformations, moving from the University’s Library Complex to the Faculty of Arts before settling within the Faculty of Social Sciences in February 1974. Over the decades, it has been led by distinguished academics, including the late Professor Alfred Opubor, Professor Onuora Nwuneli, and Professor Ralph A. Akinfeleye.

The creation of the FCMS reflects the department’s consistent growth, from a one-year diploma program in 1966 to a degree-awarding program in 1968. At its 2025 convocation, the department celebrated the graduation of 12 PhD candidates and 18 all-female first-class bachelor’s degree recipients.

Dr. Ibitayo Popoola, speaking on behalf of the department, lauded Professor Sunday as “a man of history” and thanked the Vice-Chancellor for fulfilling the promise to unbundle the department.

The Dean’s tenure is a renewable two-year term, while the Sub-Dean serves for one year. The new faculty is expected to leverage its existing practical training facilities, including Radio Unilag 103.1 FM, UnilagTV, Unilag Sun Newspaper, and MassCope Magazine, to further its legacy of media excellence.

The unbundling of Mass Communication at UNILAG into a broader Faculty of Communication and Media Studies is not an isolated event but rather a reflection of a wider, strategic decision by the Nigerian government and its educational regulators. This move aligns with a growing global trend in media education to move beyond the traditional, often monolithic, “Mass Communication” umbrella. By creating specialized departments and faculties, the government aims to foster deeper expertise in areas such as journalism, public relations, advertising, broadcasting, film studies, and new media.