Unilag School
Lagos, Nigeria – June 21, 2025, …ONN…
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has officially upgraded its Department of Mass Communication into a standalone Faculty of Communication and Media Studies (FCMS), 58 years after it was first established.
At a formal election ceremony held on June 20, 2025, Professor Oloruntola Sunday, a former Head of Department, was unanimously elected as the pioneer Dean, while Dr. Ebony Oketunmbi emerged as the Sub-Dean. The announcement was made by Mr. Abayomi Osinowo, Principal Assistant Registrar (Senate and Ceremonies), at Board Room 2 of the Faculty of Social Sciences.
Originally founded in 1966 as an Institute of Mass Communication through a collaboration between the Federal Government, UNDP, and UNESCO, the department has evolved over decades into one of Africa’s premier journalism training centers. It produced Nigeria’s first-degree holders in mass communication and currently operates platforms such as Radio UNILAG 103.1 FM, UNILAG TV, UNILAG Sun Newspaper, and MassCope Magazine.
Speaking before the announcement,
, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences described the department’s transition as “a regretful but proud exit,” expressing hope that the new faculty would rise to global prominence, just as it has already become first in Nigeria, West Africa, and Africa.
Over the years, the department has been led by iconic figures such as the late Professor Alfred Opubor, Professor Onuora Nwuneli, and Professor Ralph Akinfeleye. It boasts of notable alumni including the late Prince Tony Momoh, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, John Momoh, Dele Olojede, the first African Pulitzer Prize winner, and former governor Olusegun Osoba.
From a diploma course in 1966 to awarding bachelor’s degrees by 1968, the Mass Communication department has continued to expand. At the 2025 convocation, it graduated 12 PhD candidates and 18 all-female first-class B.Sc. graduates, a milestone achievement.
Dr. Ibitayo Popoola, speaking on behalf of the department, praised Prof. Sunday as “a man of history” and thanked the Vice-Chancellor for her role in actualizing the long-awaited unbundling.
With this upgrade, UNILAG joins other Nigerian institutions in implementing the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) directive to unbundle Mass Communication into specialized programs to meet industry demands.
The Dean’s tenure is renewable every two years, while the Sub-Dean serves a one-year term. The new faculty is expected to further UNILAG’s legacy in producing top-tier media professionals across Africa.
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