Benue State University, Makurdi

The Department of Strategic Communications of the Benue State University Makurdi was birthed as part of the unbundling process of Mass Communication discipline in Nigerian Universities under the policy direction of the National Universities Commission (NUC). The Vice Chancellor of the Benue State University Makurdi, Prof. Tor Joe Iorapuu acted swiftly and domesticated the NUC’s unbundling policy by ensuring that Benue State University ranked among the first Universities in Nigeria to have a Faculty of Communication and Media Studies with Six Departments out of the total of nine approved courses unbundled from Mass Communication. The structure of the newly created Faculty of Communication and Media Studies at the Benue State University Makurdi with the accompanying Departments and names of persons appointed by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Tor Joe Iorapuu in February 2024 to be in charge is as follows:

FACULTY DEAN
Dean, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies – Rev. Fr. Prof. Vitalis Torwel

It is also to the credit of the Vice Chancellor Prof. Tor Joe Iorapuu, to have received a four-member team from the National Universities Commission (NUC) for the purpose of Resource Verification held on the 7th of April, 2024. The Untiring efforts of the Vice Chancellor during the resource verification visit culminated into a positive report from the NUC which was conveyed to the Vice Chancellor in a letter dated 21st may 2024. The NUC gave approval for the six degree programs to be started through the full-time mode commencing during the 2024/2025 Academic Session.

At present, the Department of Strategic Communications has two full time academic staff and six adjusts staff. This total number of staff is adequate for now however more staff will be needed in a few years’ time. A breakdown of the Department’s staff need will be as shown below:

Teaching Staff
2 professors
2 senior Lecturers
1 Lecturer I
2 Lecturer II
3 Assistant Lecturers

Non-Teaching Staff
The non-teaching staff needed include:
a - Secretary/Computer Operator
b - Dispatch Clerk/ Caretaker
c - Clerical officer
d - Chief clerical officer

Offices and Equipment
The department needs offices for staff and a library.

(a) Need for a Faculty building that can house Offices, Studies, Facilities and Equipment for the Department of Strategic Communications
(b) To design post-graduate programs in the Department of Strategic Communications.
(c) To create linkages with government organizations, institutions, and non-governmental organizations where students can have practical experiences in the practice and operations of Strategic Communication.