The Faculty of Communication and Media Studies at the University of Benin has elected Professor Marcel Okhakhu as its pioneer substantive Dean following its maiden deanship election held on February 19, 2026.
The Faculty, which was officially unbundled in April 2025 in line with the National Universities Commission’s directive on the restructuring of Mass Communication programmes in Nigerian universities, commenced operations with five academic departments. These include Mass Communication, Film and Multimedia Studies, Public Relations, Broadcasting, and Advertising. All departments have since admitted students and are fully operational.
Professor Okhakhu, who had been serving as the pioneer Protem Dean since the Faculty’s establishment, emerged successful in the election, thereby transitioning into the role as the first substantive Dean of the Faculty.
The creation of the Faculty reflects ongoing reforms in communication and media education in Nigeria, aimed at deepening professional specialization, strengthening industry relevance, and aligning academic programmes with global best practices in media studies.
In his acceptance remarks, Professor Okhakhu expressed gratitude to members of the Faculty for the confidence reposed in his leadership and track record. He pledged to provide purposeful and inclusive leadership, assuring staff and students of his commitment to consolidating the foundation already laid.
He further solicited the unalloyed cooperation and support of academic and non-academic staff to collectively move the Faculty forward and position it as a leading hub for media and communication scholarship, research, and professional training in Nigeria.
The election marks a significant milestone in the institutional development of the Faculty, barely a year after its creation, signaling a transition from foundational administration to a fully structured academic leadership framework.
