Benue State University, Makurdi

Mass Communication, now Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, was among the foundation Departments when Benue State University was established in 1992 under the Administration of His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Moses Oshio Adasu. The Department started as Department of Communication Arts under Faculty of Arts but was subsequently changed to Mass Communication and relocated to Faculty of Social Sciences even before the pioneer students graduated. This change was necessitated by the fact that Communication Arts was a broader umbrella to which courses like Theatre Arts, Music and Arts, Film production and Mass Communication itself belong. Since the central focus of our curriculum was in the mass media covering broadcasting, journalism and media studies as well as public relations and advertising, the nomenclature had to change.

It is important to state that over these 32 years of the existence of Benue State University and particularly, Mass Communication Department, thousands of our graduates had been churned out and continued to be churned out. These are quality graduates who have over the years occupied strategic positions in the media and corporate world and in government. We continue to hear the names of our graduates on the national television stations including NTA, Channels, AIT and radio stations like FRCN, Radio Benue, Joy FM, Harvest FM, Agate Radio, Brothers’ FM and many others. Our graduates have been serving as Chief Press Secretaries to successive administrations in Benue State. Some of them have served as local government chairmen and women while others are serving as Information Officers/Public Relations Officers in government ministries and agencies. The Department secured license for the Campus (Radio 89.9 FM) on 13th July, 2015 while the full accreditation of our programmes by NUC was received in 2016. As at today the Department has produced not less than 75 PhD holders who are spread across many Departments of Mass communication in various Universities across Nigeria and other endeavours.

The new faculty participates in various professional conferences that are affiliated to our profession such as African Council for Communication Education (ACCE), Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), AfriCast, Advertising Practitioners’ Council of Nigeria (APCON) and many others. It is on note that our Department through the research effort of Prof. Rev Fr. Vitalis Torwel won a TetFund research grant for the University.

The Department houses the Campus Radio, 89.9 FM and TV studio yet to be licensed for broadcasting; all for students’ practical training.

The Department has produced notable people in the society. The list is almost endless but include:

i. Sir Tersoo Kula – Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Benue State, His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Alia.

ii. Dr. Gabriel Tivlumun Nyitse – He is an Associate Professor with Department of Mass Communication, Bingham University, Karu. Former Permanent Secretary, Government House Administration, Makurdi, former Chief of Staff to the former Governor of Benue State, His Excellency, Samuel Ortom.

iii. Right Hon. Dr. Josiah Sabo Kente – Associate Professor, Department of Mass Communication, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Former Speaker, Taraba House of Assembly.

iv. Right Hon. Marcus Useni – Former Speaker, Taraba State House of Assembly and Current Member of House of representatives.

v. Mr. James Mnzuulgha (T. Jimmy) – Director General, Radio Benue Corporation, Makurdi.

vi. Dr. Ben Ebe – Former General Manager, Benue Printing and Publishing Company Ltd.

vii. Dr. Catherine Oby Christopher – Head of Information, Federal High court, Abuja.

viii. Dr. Adakole Elijah – Senior Manager, Corporate communication, Jos Electricity Distribution Company.

ix. Prof. Mohammed Rabbiu – Dean, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Nasarawa State University, Keffi.

x. Prof. Andrew Asan Ate, Dean, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Edo University.

xi. Dr. Patience Achakpa-Ikyo – Director General, Benue Television.

xii. Dr. Eugene Ovihi Ivase – Former principal Secretary to former governor/MD &CEO Soundsmith FM, Gboko.

xiii. Prof. Andrew Ogah Ijwo – Pioneer graduate of the Department and First professor of Communication and media studies from zone c, particularly Igedeland.