TSUJ Begins Unbundling of Mass Communication as NUC Verifies New Programmes

Taraba State University, Jalingo (TSUJ), has commenced the process of unbundling its Department of Mass Communication into specialised programmes as the National Universities Commission (NUC) begins a resource verification exercise at the University.

The verification exercise, which commenced on Monday, is aimed at assessing the University’s facilities, academic manpower and other requirements for the commencement of new communication and media-related programmes.

The NUC team’s visit followed the successful full accreditation of Mass Communication at the University in 2023 and was undertaken at the invitation of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sunday Paul Bako.

The programmes presented for verification include Advertising, Broadcasting, Journalism and Media Studies, and Public Relations. The development is in line with the NUC’s directive for universities in Nigeria to unbundle Mass Communication in recognition of the expanding scope and specialisation within the communication and media industry.

Background to the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies

The development builds on the restructuring approved by the NUC in July 2020, which saw the former Faculty of Management and Social Sciences reorganised into three distinct faculties: Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Faculty of Management Sciences, and Faculty of Social Sciences.

However, the commencement of programmes under the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies was delayed due to a number of challenges, including the absence of a formal NUC resource verification exercise.

Speaking on the development, the Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Professor Tine Vaungwa Apaa Nyihar, commended the Vice-Chancellor for his commitment to innovation, academic development and institutional growth.

Professor Nyihar expressed optimism that the verification exercise would produce a positive outcome, noting that successful verification would significantly broaden the University’s academic offerings in communication and media-related disciplines.

The Head of the Department of Mass Communication, Dr. Destiny Apuke, also explained that the NUC had earlier directed Nigerian universities offering Mass Communication to unbundle the programme in response to the evolution and growing specialisation of the discipline.

According to him, Mass Communication has developed to the point where its various areas of specialisation require dedicated academic programmes and departments. He noted that only a limited number of public universities had so far taken significant steps towards implementing the directive.

Dr. Apuke described TSUJ’s initiative as a major milestone that would create additional opportunities for students in Taraba State and beyond to pursue specialised programmes in communication and media studies.

Vice-Chancellor Reaffirms Commitment to Academic Expansion

Explaining the rationale behind the reform, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sunday Paul Bako, stated that the initiative is consistent with the institutional development blueprint he presented during his application for the position of Vice-Chancellor.

Professor Bako attributed the University’s recent progress to the support of the Taraba State Government under the leadership of Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas, whose administration, he noted, has continued to prioritise education and institutional development.

The Vice-Chancellor expressed confidence that, following a successful NUC resource verification exercise, the University would be positioned to commence admissions into the newly proposed programmes in the next academic session.

The development marks another significant step in TSUJ’s efforts to expand its academic portfolio, strengthen specialised programmes and provide students with broader opportunities in emerging areas of communication and media.