IMSU Restructures Mass Communication into Six Specialized Departments
Imo State University (IMSU) in Owerri has restructured its Mass Communication Department into six specialized departments: Film and Multimedia Studies, Advertising, Public Relations, Development Communication, Journalism and Media Studies, and Broadcasting. Dr. Adeline Nkwam-Uwaoma announced that this change aligns with a National Universities Commission directive aimed at modernizing education in Nigeria.
Faith Orji 
Imo State University (IMSU) in Owerri has officially restructured its Mass Communication Department into six distinct departments, marking a significant shift in its academic offerings.
Dr. Mrs. Adeline Nkwam-Uwaoma, Head of the new Department of Film and Multimedia Studies within the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, announced that students will now pursue specialized degrees rather than a single Mass Communication course. The six new departments are: Film and Multimedia Studies, Advertising, Public Relations, Development Communication, Journalism and Media Studies, and Broadcasting. Dr. Nkwam-Uwaoma emphasized that IMSU is the first university in the Southeast region to implement this restructuring.
This change aligns with a national directive from the National Universities Commission (NUC) issued in 2020, which called for the unbundling of Mass Communication into separate degree programs. This initiative aims to modernize university education in Nigeria and was influenced by recommendations made during a national conference held in 2018. The conference, facilitated by Bayero University, Kano, and supported by the McArthur Foundation, advocated for the division of the discipline to better align with global trends and best practices.
The reform aims to provide students with focused education in various branches of communication, enhancing their preparedness for the evolving landscape of the industry.
