Unilorin MassComm gets two new professors

The Governing Council of the University of Ilorin (Unilorin) has approved the promotion of two lecturers from its Mass Communication Department, L.K. Mustapha, and Kehinde K. Kadiri, to the rank of professor.

According to a statement by the university’s Registrar, Mr. Mansur Alfanla, the communication scholars were promoted alongside 18 other lecturers of the institution from Readers to the professorial level, while 31 Senior Lecturers were upgraded to the position of Reader.

The statement noted that the promotion followed recommendations from the Appointments and Promotions Committee of the university, as presented to the Council meeting held on Monday, January 27, by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Wahab Egbewole, SAN.

The statement reads, “The Appointments and Promotions Committee (A&PC) at its 186th meeting held on Monday, 27th January, 2025, considered the recommendations from the 2024 promotion exercise for the promotion of some eligible members of the academic staff of the University to the positions of Professor and Reader.”

The promotion of the two communication experts, who both served as the head of the institution’s Department of Mass Communication at different times, takes effect from October 1, 2024.

Mustapha, who specialises in political communication and media effects, served as the department head from August 2019 to July 2022. He holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Mass Communication from the University of Lagos  (UNILAG), as well as a PhD in Communication from the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM).

Kadiri, an expert in health communication, led the department from August 2022 to July 2024. She earned a BSc in Mass Communication from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), an MSc in Communication Studies from the University of Ghana, and a PhD from Universiti Utara Malaysia.

The 20 newly promoted professors of the institution include: Olufunmilayo A. Abiodun and Fausat I. Kolawole, Department of Home Economics and Food Science, Faculty of Agriculture; A.G. Animasawun, Peace and Conflict Studies, Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, Faculty of Arts; A.S. Afolabi, Department of History and International Studies, Faculty of Arts; E.E. Anyebe, Department of Nursing, Faculty of Clinical Sciences; H. M. Omokanye, Department of Orthorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences.

Others are: K.T. Omopupa, Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences; L.K. Mustapha and Kehinde K. Kadir, Department of Mass Communication, Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences; A.O. Akanbi, Department of Science Education, Faculty of Education; J. A. Adeniran, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology; Olubunmi A. Mokuolu, Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology; A. M. Ismail, Department of Business Law, Faculty of Law; and O. A. Iyiola, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences.

Also promoted Professors are: Shakirat I. Bello, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences; A. A. Kilishi, Department of Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences; A. Y. Ahmed, Department of Geography and Environmental Management, Faculty of Social Sciences; O. A. Fawole, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences; Nusirat Elelu, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; and L. O. Raji, Department of Theriogenology and Production, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.