The Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (AE-FUNAI), Ebonyi State, has expressed strong support for the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN) as it prepares to host the association’s annual Empowerment Workshop Series in July.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sunday Elom, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Abel Ezeoha, gave the assurance when he received members of the Ebonyi State chapter of ACSPN in his office.
Commending the association for its forward-thinking vision and commitment to shaping well-rounded communicators in the digital and AI age, Prof. Elom revealed that AE-FUNAI is at an advanced stage of unbundling its Mass Communication department in line with the directive of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
He noted that the university is already strengthening infrastructure and staffing to meet the demands of the forthcoming expansion.
Describing the planned workshop as a welcome development, the Vice Chancellor pledged the institution’s support within its available resources, citing the mutual benefits of such academic engagements.
Earlier, the Deputy National President II of ACSPN, Prof. Ifeyinwa Nsude, who led the delegation, formally informed the university of its selection to host this year’s Empowerment Workshop Series.
She highlighted that the 2025 edition, themed Media, Security and Artificial Intelligence, falls under the association’s Eminent Persons Series and will be held in partnership with AE-FUNAI’s Department of Mass Communication.
Prof. Nsude emphasized the association’s role in bridging academia and the media industry through initiatives like the Eminent Persons Series, Empowerment Series, and History Series.
She commended the AE-FUNAI’s infrastructural progress and encouraged the institution to embrace the national shift toward unbundling communication studies.
She also invited the Vice Chancellor to deliver the opening address at the event and formally solicited the university’s collaboration.
The ACSPN delegation included the Ebonyi State Coordinator, Dr. Joseph N. Chukwu, who is also the Head of Mass Communication at AE-FUNAI; Dr. Wealth Udoh from AE-FUTHA’s Public Relations Unit; and staff of the university’s Mass Communication department.
The visit was rounded off with a symbolic presentation of ACSPN publications from the national body, led by its President, Prof. Rotimi Olatunji.
