The National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved the restructuring of the Department of Mass Communication at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), into five distinct undergraduate degree programmes, beginning with the 2026/2027 academic session.
The development makes UNN one of a growing number of Nigerian universities implementing the NUC’s policy of unbundling Mass Communication into specialised disciplines aimed at strengthening students’ expertise and aligning academic training with the evolving demands of the media industry.
The approval was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday in Nsukka by the university’s Acting Public Relations Officer, Mr. Inya Egwu.
According to the statement, the newly approved full-time programmes are Bachelor of Science degrees in Advertising, Broadcasting, Development Communication Studies, Journalism and Media Studies, and Public Relations.
The NUC conveyed its approval in a circular dated June 19, 2026, following a resource verification exercise conducted by a panel of experts to assess the department’s human and material capacity to run the new programmes.
Egwu explained that the approval applies exclusively to full-time studies, noting that any proposal to introduce part-time or postgraduate versions of the programmes would require separate notification to and approval from the commission.
He added that the university must retain the approved programme titles, while any changes to their nomenclature would be subject to further regulatory approval
The Head of the Department of Mass Communication, Prof. Michael Ukonu, expressed appreciation to the Vice-Chancellor for supporting the department throughout the verification process. He also commended the Director of Academic Planning, Prof. Anthony Attama, for providing guidance during the exercise.
According to Egwu, the department said the restructuring is consistent with the university’s commitment to maintaining world-class academic standards.
The NUC first announced plans to unbundle Mass Communication in January 2020 as part of efforts to promote specialised training in communication disciplines. Since then, several Nigerian universities, including Bayero University Kano and Akwa Ibom State University, have adopted the new structure. Supporters of the policy argue that the specialised programmes will better prepare graduates with industry-specific knowledge and practical skills for an increasingly digital media landscape.
