The National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved the unbundling of the Department of Mass Communication at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) into five separate undergraduate degree programmes, a move expected to strengthen specialised training in journalism, broadcasting, advertising and other areas of media studies.
The approval will take effect from the 2026/2027 academic session and is part of ongoing efforts by the NUC to modernise communication and media education in Nigerian universities in line with global standards.
The development was announced in a statement issued on Thursday in Nsukka by the Acting Public Relations Officer of the university, Mr Inya Egwu.
According to the statement, the newly approved full-time undergraduate programmes are B.Sc. Advertising, B.Sc. Broadcasting, B.Sc. Development Communication Studies, B.Sc. Journalism and Media Studies, and B.Sc. Public Relations.
The statement disclosed that the approval was communicated to the university in a circular dated June 19, 2026.
It explained that the decision followed a comprehensive resource verification exercise carried out by a panel of experts from the NUC to assess whether the university had the required personnel, facilities and other resources needed to run the new programmes.
“The decision followed a comprehensive resource verification visit conducted by a panel of experts to assess the human and material capacity available for the proposed programmes,” the statement said.
The commission also made it clear that the approval currently applies only to full-time undergraduate studies.
According to the NUC, the university must obtain fresh approval before introducing any part-time, distance learning or postgraduate versions of the newly approved programmes.
The commission further directed that the approved programme titles must remain unchanged unless regulatory approval is obtained for any future modifications.
“The approval strictly applies to full-time mode of delivery. Any plan to introduce part-time or postgraduate components for these programmes will require further notification and approval by the commission.
“The programmes should retain their approved titles and nomenclature, as any modifications will be subjected to regulatory clearance,” the statement added.
The Head of the Department of Mass Communication, Prof. Michael Ukonu, welcomed the approval and described it as an important milestone in the growth of media education at the university.
He expressed appreciation to the Vice-Chancellor of UNN for providing the support that made the successful verification exercise possible.
Ukonu also thanked the Director of Academic Planning, Prof. Anthony Attama, for guiding the department throughout the resource verification process conducted by the NUC.
According to him, the approval reflects years of planning and preparation by the university to expand academic opportunities in communication studies.
He noted that the restructuring would enable students to receive more specialised training in their chosen fields rather than studying under the broader Mass Communication programme.
The department believes the development will produce graduates with stronger professional skills that better meet the demands of today’s media and communication industries.
The statement added that the unbundling is in line with the university’s ambition to maintain world-class academic standards and strengthen its vision of producing graduates equipped for national and global challenges.
The approval is also expected to increase research opportunities and encourage curriculum development in emerging areas of communication, including digital media, strategic communication and development communication.
In recent years, the NUC has encouraged Nigerian universities to unbundle Mass Communication into specialised disciplines following changes introduced by the Commission’s Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS).
The policy recognises that the communication profession has become more specialised due to rapid developments in technology, digital platforms, public relations, advertising, broadcasting and multimedia journalism.
Under the previous arrangement, students studied Mass Communication as a single degree programme with options for specialisation mainly at higher levels. However, the new structure allows universities to admit students directly into specific professional fields from the undergraduate level.
Several universities across the country have already begun implementing the NUC’s unbundling policy by introducing specialised degree programmes in journalism, broadcasting, advertising and public relations.
The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, founded in 1960 by the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, is widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s leading universities and has built a strong reputation for communication and media studies over the years.
Its Mass Communication Department has produced many journalists, broadcasters, public relations practitioners, media executives and communication scholars who have contributed to Nigeria’s media industry and public service.
With the latest approval, prospective students seeking admission into UNN from the 2026/2027 academic session will now have the opportunity to apply directly for specialised programmes that match their career interests.
University officials believe the new structure will improve teaching, practical training and research while preparing graduates to meet the changing needs of Nigeria’s media, advertising, public relations and communication sectors.