History was made on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, as the first school of Journalism in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Department of Mass Communication, University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), recorded the promotion of three of its lecturers to professorial cadre.
The lecturers are Professors Luke Ifeanyi Anorue, Michael Ukonu and Greg Ezeah.
The promotions were part of the general elevations made by the university as approved by the vice chancellor, Professor Charles Arizechukwu Igwe. The decision as it affects Mass Communication Department of the university was, however, made public on Tuesday by the Head of the Department, UNN, Professor, Joseph Wogu.
Join our WhatsApp Channel“I happily announce to our Jackson family the promotion of our brothers: Anorue, L.I., Greg Ezeah, and Michael Ukonu to the full rank of Professor in our university and Mass Communication Department,” Prof. Wogu wrote to the Jacksonite Alumni Association on Tuesday, November 8, 2022.
The promotion is coming two years after Wogu was elevated to the rank of a Professor and six years after that of Professor Nnanyelugo Okoro who is currently the Director of the UNN Centre for Business Development.
The Department had waited for many years for a professorial appointment after Professor Sylvanus Ekwelie retired from the university in the early 1990s.
It had also been a long wait for Professors Anorue, Ukonu and Ezeah who experienced undue delay after rising to the rank of senior lecturer and meeting all requirements for professorship many years ago.
Prof. Greg Ezeah
Born on January 16, 1964, at Idi-Opi in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria, Ezeah got his O’Level GCE in 1980, and worked as a Secretary in the Registrar’s office UNN. He got a Diploma in Mass Communication and thereafter enrolled for Bachelor of Arts programme in Mass Communication and graduated in 1995. Ezeah also obtained M.Sc (PR) in 1999, M.A. (Mass Comm.) in 2001, all from UNN. He bagged his Ph.D in Mass Communication from the University of Uyo Akwa Ibom State in 2010.
He got appointed as Assistant Lecturer in 2004 in UNN and rose to rank of senior lecturer in 2010 and has also served as Head of Mass Communication Department.
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Prof. Ukonu
Professor Ukonu, who was born on March 17, 1975, graduated with First Class honours, Master of Arts in Mass Communication both from UNN.
He became the first Ph.D student to successfully defend his Thesis before a panel of examiners in the department on December 14, 2012.
He is currently the staff adviser for The Record Newspapers published by the Mass Communication Department, UNN.
Prof. Anorue
Prof. Anorue, born on August 3, 1970, graduated in 1992 with Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication from UNN, has been teaching in the department since 1996. Anorue got his Ph.D in 2012 from the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. He has also served as HOD of the Mass Communication Department UNN.
The trio have published research works in several local and international journals.
The UNN Mass Communication Department began in 1961 as the first School of Journalism in Sub-saharan Africa. In 1982, the Master of Art in Mass Communication was added. However, it took 25 years for its Ph.D programme to take effect. The first batch of Ph.D students began classes during the 2006/2007 academic session, with Professor Ukonu as its first graduate.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
