Taraba State University Commences Unbundling of Mass Communication as NUC Verifies New Specialized Programmes

The Vice-Chancellor of Taraba State University, Jalingo (TSUJ), Professor Sunday Paul Bako, has commenced the unbundling of the Department of Mass Communication into five specialised departments, as the National Universities Commission (NUC) on Monday began a resource verification exercise at the institution. The verification is aimed at assessing facilities and manpower for the commencement of new communication-based programmes.

The NUC team’s visit followed the university’s successful full accreditation of Mass Communication in 2023 and was undertaken at the invitation of the Vice-Chancellor. The programmes presented for verification include Advertising, Broadcasting, Journalism and Media Studies and Public Relations, in line with the Commission’s directive for Nigerian universities to unbundle Mass Communication due to its expanding scope.

Recall that in July 2020, the NUC approved the restructuring of the former Faculty of Management and Social Sciences into three distinct faculties—Communication and Media Studies, Management Sciences and Social Sciences. However, the take-off of programmes under the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies was delayed due to unforeseen challenges, including the absence of a formal NUC resource verification exercise.

Speaking on the development, Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Professor Tine Vaungwa Apaa Nyihar, commended the Vice-Chancellor for his commitment to innovation and institutional growth. He expressed optimism that the verification exercise would yield positive results, noting that its success would significantly expand the university’s academic offerings in communication-related disciplines.

Also speaking, the Head of the Department of Mass Communication, Dr. Destiny Apuke, disclosed that the NUC had earlier directed all Nigerian universities offering Mass Communication to unbundle the programme, stressing that it has evolved to the status of a full faculty. He noted that only a few public universities have complied with the directive, describing TSUJ’s initiative as a major milestone that would create more opportunities for Tarabans seeking to study communication and media courses.

Explaining the rationale behind the ongoing reforms, Professor Bako stated that the initiative aligns with the blueprint he submitted when applying for the vice-chancellorship position. He attributed the university’s progress to the support of the Taraba State Government under Governor Dr Agbu Kefas, whose administration prioritises education. 

The Vice-Chancellor expressed confidence that, upon a successful verification, TSUJ would commence admission into the new programmes in the next academic session.