From Department To Faculty: How Truth Is Powering UNIMAID Mass Communication’s Rise -By Zainab Odunayo Haruna

For years, the Department of Mass Communication at the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) has stood tall as one of the most vibrant and respected in Northern Nigeria. It has consistently produced competent journalists, media scholars, public relations experts, broadcasters, and communication officers who serve both within and outside the country. But in recent months, whispers have grown louder: Is the department truly becoming a faculty, or is it just another university corridor rumor?

While no official public announcement has been made by the university’s top management, strong signs suggest that the transition is very much in motion. Staff and students alike have noticed internal restructuring efforts, introduction of new courses, and expanded teaching staff — all of which align with the requirements needed for a full faculty upgrade.

This development, if confirmed, is not far-fetched. In 2020, the National Universities Commission (NUC) directed Nigerian universities offering Mass Communication as a single course to unbundle it into distinct degree programmes such as Journalism, Broadcasting, Public Relations, Advertising, and Development Communication. Many universities have already followed through. Therefore, the potential transition of UNIMAID’s department into a faculty is consistent with national academic reforms.

In UNIMAID’s case, the department has long demonstrated readiness. It boasts of dedicated lecturers, functional media labs, a digital studio, and a departmental radio station that allows students to learn hands-on. It has also updated its curriculum to include contemporary fields like online journalism, media entrepreneurship, and strategic communication. These are all strong indicators that the department is not only growing, but evolving into something bigger.

Though there has been no press release or official circular confirming the move, the signs are difficult to ignore. Academic planning meetings have recently focused on expanding Mass Communication into multiple academic units. Proposed courses, faculty-level committees, and infrastructure upgrades are pointing toward a significant transformation.

So, is it true? Is UNIMAID Mass Communication becoming a faculty?

The answer appears to be yes — but unofficially, for now. It may not be declared yet, but it is clearly in progress. What started as a department committed to truth and academic excellence is on the verge of becoming a full-fledged faculty, powered by hard work, foresight, and alignment with national reforms in higher education.

As students and lecturers await the final confirmation, one thing is certain: UNIMAID’s Mass Communication is no longer just a department. Whether formally renamed or not, it is already functioning with the vision, structure, and ambition of a faculty.

ZAINAB ODUNAYO HARUNA IS A 300 LEVEL STUDENT FROM MASS COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT UNIVERSITY OF MAIDUGURI.