Ndufu-Alike (Ebonyi), June 26, The Vice-Chancellor of the Alex Ekwueme Federal University (AE-FUNAI), Prof. Sunday Elom, said that the university has reached advanced stages of preparation to unbundle the Mass Communication department.
Elom gave the hint on Thursday at Ndufu-Alike when he hosted members of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN) in his Office.
He said that the unbundling exercise was in line with the directives of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
He added that the more human resources and infrastructure were being put in place to match the expected expansion that would be witnessed as soon as the action was carried out.
The Vice-Chancellor, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Abel Ezeoha, commended the association for its well spelt-out vision and mission association.
The association was at the university to formally inform the Vice-Chancellor that the Association in conjunction with the Department of Mass Communication of AE-FUNAI would host this year’s Empowerment Workshop Series.
Elom has assured the association of support as the institution hosts the Ebonyi chapter’s yearly workshop in July.
He said that the mission and vision of ACSPN tilted towards producing well-balanced communicators in this era of digital technology and artificial intelligence.
Elom said: “The university has reached advanced stages of preparation to unbundle the Mass Communication department in line with the directives of the National Universities Commission.
“The more human resources and infrastructure required are being put in place to match the expected expansion that will be witnessed as soon as the action is carried out.
“Your association’s decision to hold your annual workshop in our university is a welcome development and I want to assure that the school will assist within the limits of our resources because of the beneficial effects of the workshop.”
Earlier, leader of the delegation and Deputy National President II of the Association, Prof. Ifeyinwa Nsude commended the VC for receiving the association in his office.
She said they were in the VC’s office to formally inform him that the association in conjunction with the Department of Mass Communication of AE-FUNAI would host this year’s Empowerment Workshop Series.
She took time to brief the Vice Chancellor on the aims and objectives of the association, which she said was formed in 2012.
She said that the aim was to bring together all practitioners in the media industry, communication teachers in the classroom as well as students to ensure proper blending, enhanced productivity and improved teaching and learning.
Nsude said the Association has three distinctive programmes including; Eminent Persons Series, Empowerment Series and History Series which were usually executed by inviting experts to give motivational talks to members and students.
She explained that the idea was to challenge communication practitioners to greater heights.
She said that the 2025 workshop with theme: “Media, Security and Artificial Intelligence” would fall under the Eminent Persons Series and would be hosted in conjunction with the Department of Mass Communication of AE-FUNAI.
She used the occasion to solicit the assistance of the university in hosting the workshop and invited the Vice-Chancellor to perform the opening ceremony.
The professor commended the VC for the rapid infrastructure facilities recorded in the institution so far which she said had impacted positively on the academic programmes of the university.
She said that the association was in the forefront of the unbundling of Mass Communication and called on AE-FUNAI to embrace the change.
Members of the delegation included the Ebonyi State Coordinator of the Association, Dr Joseph Chukwu, Head of Department, Mass Communication, AE-FUNAI and Dr Wealth Udoh, secretary of the association.
Highlight of the occasion was the presentation of ACSPN books donated by the National body led by the President, Prof Rotimi Olatunji.
