Department of Broadcasting

Department of Broadcasting

List of Academic Staff Members

1. Dr Ikems Konye Cynthia – Head of Department (+234 803 4883702)
2. Prof. Walter Chikwendu Ihejirika (Dean of the Faculty + 234 8034903041)
3. Dr Ntiense James Usua
4. Dr Titilayo Remikulun Osuagwu
5. Dr Moses O. Asak
6. Dr Innocent Kasarachi
7. Ebele Stella Ire

 

Personal Profiles Academic of Staff Members

    

Profile of Prof  Walter C. Ihejirika

 

Academic Motto: Dedicated to applying the means and principles of communication and media for cultural promotion and the integral development of individuals and social groups, especially in the developing parts of the world.

Walter C. Ihejirika did his post-graduate studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, graduating with Masters Degrees in Missiology, Communication Studies and a Doctorate in Communication Studies. He also has a Masters in Communication Pedagogy from the Salesian University Rome. Currently a Professor of Development Communication and Media Studies and also the Interim Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies at the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. He is an ordained clergy of the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara Mbaise, Imo State. 

Professional Leadership

1994 – 1996:   Director, Ahiara Diocesan Electronic Media Studio.

2008, July:       Co-directed the first International Conference on New Media and Religious

Transformation in Africa, held in Abuja.

2009 - 2011:    Chairman, Departmental Graduate Studies Committe, Department of Linguistics and

Communication Studies, University of Port Harcourt.

2009 - 2011:    Director of Programme, Radio Uniport.

2009 - 2011.    Co-convener, Media, Religion and Culture Working Group of the International

Association of Media and Communication Research (IAMCR).

2010 – 2011    Departmental Representative, University Research and Development Committee.

2010  -2021     Member, Faculty Research and Publication Committee.

2011, Aug.      Chief Organizer, 1st  Festival of Catholic Artistes & Entertainers (FESTICATE, 2011)

2011-2013 :     Acting Head, Department of Linguistics and Communication Studies, University of

Port Harcourt.

2013- 2015      Member, Senate Committee on Students’ Welfare.

2012 - 2018     Elected, President, SIGNIS-Nigeria – the Catholic Association for Communication.

2014-2015       Departmental Co-Ordinator, Radio Uniport, 88.5FM.

2014 -              Member, Governing Board, Radio UNIPORT.

2014 - 2017     Elected, Vice-President, SIGNIS-Africa – The Catholic Assocaition for

Communication.

2014 -              Member, World Governing Board, SIGNIS -  World Catholic Assocaition for

Communication.

2014 Oct.-       Chief Organizer, Second Festival of Catholic Artistes and Entertainers

(FESTICATE 2014).

Oct, 2015        Promoted to the rank of Professor of Development Communication and Media

Studies.

Oct. 2015 -      Permanent Member of the Senate of the University of Port Harcourt.

2015 - 2019     Re-appointed Chairman, Departmental Graduate Studies Committee.

Oct, 2016        Chairman, LOC for Annual Conference of the African Council for Communication Education (ACCE), UNIPORT 2016.

2017 - 2023     Member, Research Ethics Committee, University of Port Harcourt.

2017 - 2019     Member, Steering Committee for the UNIPORT Unit of UNESCO Chair in Bioethics.

2017 -              Member, Senate Business Committee, University of Port Harcourt.

2017 (June)     Elected President, SIGNIS-Africa.

2017 (Dec)      Chief Organizer, First Nigerian Catholic Video Films/Music Festival.

2018 -              Chairman LOC – Symposium on Bioethical implications on surrogate motherhood

and artisanal refineries - University of Port Harcourt.

2018 (Aug)      Appointed Member, Academic Board, University of Port Harcourt, Sports Institute.

2019 -              Appointed Member, Implementation Committee of the Masters in Health Promotion

and Communication, University of Port Harcourt.

2021 -              Appointed Interim Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies

 

Professional Consultancy

2003 till date: Consultant on media and communications to the Catholic Secretariat of  Nigeria.

2003 – 2005:   Member, team of experts to set up the Centre for the Study of African Culture and

Communication at the Catholic Institute of West Africa, Port Harcourt.

2005 – date:    Consultant, Communication Directorate, Mater Ecclesiae Diocese, Ahiara Mbaise.

2008 – 2012:   Member, Team of experts on the integration of communication in the curiculum of  Study of Catholic Seminaries and Houses of Religious Formation in Nigeria.

2015:               Resource Person Workshop for Journalists on professional coverage of the 2015

General Elections, organised by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

2015:               Resource Person - Central Bank of Nigeria for the professional translation from

English to Igbo of the following documents on the introduction of  BVN & Cashless Banking:  “Bank Verification Number (BVN): All you need to know! Why you must enrol. Cashless Banking - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)” and “How to lodge Complaints”.

2016:               Consultant to the Office of the National Security Adviser for the professional translation from English to Igbo, of the document: i) Handbook on Safety and Security Tips.

2017:               Facilitator of Workshop on The role of broadcasting in peace building, conflict management and prevention, organised by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

 2018:              Facilitator for the Capacity Building Programme for Energy and Business 

                        Correspondents by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board

(NCDMB).

2019:               Principal Consultant for the Centre for Environment, Human Rights and

Development (CEHRD) and the Federal Agency - Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) – Development of Communication and Stakeholder Engagement Strategy for the ‘Ogoni Environmental Clean-Up Exercise.

2019:               Resource Person TETFund – Team building skills for effective service delivery,

workshop for TETFund Staff.

2020:               Communication Adviser, Paeradigms, Switzerland.

2021:               Resource Person, TETFund – Effective communication and efficient service delivery

workshop for beneficiary institutions.

2021:               Communication Adviser on the Review ECOWAS Communication and Information

Policy 2000 and drafting of Communication and Information Policy 2020.

Assessor of Academic/Professional Media Works

1. Member of Jury, Nigerian Catholic Newspapers Award,       2009 - 2011
2. Member of Jury, SIGNIS Prize, Zanzibar International Film Festival, (Tanzania),  July, 2013
3. Member of Jury, SIGNIS Prize, Venice International Film Festival, (Italy), August, 2013
4. Member of Jury, SIGNIS Prize, Panafrican Festival of Cinema (FESPACO), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, February 2015.
5. Member of Jury, Ecumenical Prize, Locarno International Film Festival, (Switzerland),  August, 2016.
6. Member of Jury, SIGNIS Prize, Festival Lumiere d’Afrique, Besançon, France, November 2017
7. NUC Resource Person on Verification Visit to the proposed Post Graduate Programme in Wellspring University, Edo State,  December, 2020
8. NUC Resource Person on Accreditation Visit to the Department of Linguistics and Communication Studies, Osun State University, Osun State,  November, 2022

In addition to the above, I have assessed over ten candidates for promotion to the professorial cadre. I have also been external examiner for Masters and PhD students in: Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igboariam, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka and University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Academic Publications

I have over seventy publications in reputable local and international journals in the fields of religion and cultural communication, communication for development, strategic and organizational communication, youth and new media. My  research productivity is affirmed by high scores on the H-index and i10-index available on Google Scholar. Some of the publication can be assessed on the underlisted platforms:

‪Walter Chikwendu Ihejirika - ‪Google Scholar

Walter Ihejirika (researchgate.net)

(34) Walter Chikwendu IHEJIRIKA | LinkedIn

WALTER IHEJIRIKA - Academia.edu

 

Profile of Dr  Ntiense James Usua

Ntiense J. Usua was a celebrated journalist, presenter, reporter and staff writer in Radio Nigeria’s Metro FM, Lagos and Kapital FM, Abuja and later, a lecturer at Radio Nigeria’s Broadcast Academy Lagos to train staff of the Corporation. He later joined University of Port Harcourt where he rose to the rank of a senior lecturer. A demerger process and unbundling of communication programme took him to the Department of Broadcasting in the new Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, where he was the pioneer Head of Department. Usua is currently the Chairman, Graduate Studies Committee.

Dr. Ntiense Usua who obtained his first degree in Theatre Arts, specializing in media studies, also studied and obtained a Masters degree in Media Arts after a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism. Besides University of Port Harcourt, he has taught at University of Abuja, Edwin Clark University, University of Africa, Toru Orua, and the Catholic Institute of West Africa, affiliated to the University of Calabar, all as adjunct lecturer. He was also a Communication Consultant at the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Abuja (2019-2021). Dr. Usua teaches and carries out research responsibilities at the undergraduate and post-graduate levels in broadcasting, film studies, international communication etc. with many books, book chapters and articles in learned journals within and outside the country to his credit.

Dr. Usua belongs to a number of professional organizations, including the African Council for Communication Education (ACCE), the Association of Media and Communication Researchers of Nigeria (AMCRON), the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN and Journalism Educators Foundation (JEF).

Email:   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Phone number: +234 8032494200

Research works can be accessed on: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-1624-207x

 

Profile of Dr Ikems, Konye Cynthia

Dept:                                                   Department of  Broadcasting

Faculty:                                              Communication and Media Studies

Institution:                                         University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria

Sex:                                                     Female

Nationality:                                        Nigerian

Marital status:                                   Married

E-mail:                                                This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Phone No:                                          08034883702

Current Status:                                 Senior Lecturer and Acting Head, Department of  Broadcasting

 

Educational Institutions Attended With Dates

University of Port Harcourt                                                                2013-2019

University of Port Harcourt                                                                2008-2013

University of Port Harcourt                                                                2001-2006

Itolo Girls’ Secondary School, Lagos                                                 1992-1998

 

Academic Qualifications Obtained With Dates

Ph.D (Development Communication)                                   2019

Master of Arts (M.A)  Communication                                              2013

Bachelor of Arts(B.A.) Linguistics and Communication Studies      2006

West African School Certificate                                                         1999

 

 

 

Research Interest

Development communication: the use of different forms of communication to bring about change in the society. I am also interested in the area of health communication.

 

Published Works

1.https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=fz9n4GkAAAAJ&citation_for_view=fz9n4GkAAAAJ:u5HHmVD_uO8C+

+

2.https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Ikems+and+nwoziri&btnG=#d=gs_qabs&t=1709147833786&u=%23p%3DTc6czb58vrkJ

3.https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Ikems+and+Omojunikanbi&btnG=#d=gs_qabs&t=1709147948940&u=%23p%3DuilFPmlV2o0J

4.https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0,5&qsp=1&q=ikems+konye&qst=bb#d=gs_qabs&t=1709148020193&u=%23p%3DFV8ce2J7DigJ

5.https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0,5&qsp=1&q=ikems+konye&qst=bb#d=gs_qabs&t=1709148132345&u=%23p%3DNwaT3PLcNg8J

 

Profile of Dr Titilayo Remilekun Osuagwù

Name:                         Dr Titilayo Remilekun Osuagwù

E-mail:                        titilayo.This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it./This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Phone:                        08056761506/08101218064

Designation:               Senior Lecturer

Department:              Broadcasting

Faculty:                      Communication and  Media Studies

Titilayo Remilekun Osuagwu is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Broadcasting, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies. She earned a PhD in Communication Studies (Development Communication) from the University of Port Harcourt in 2016. She earlier bagged a Master’s Degree and a Post Graduate Diploma in Communication Studies from the same university in 2009 and 2005 respectively. She also obtained a Bachelor of Arts from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, in 2003.

Dr. Osuagwu is a dedicated, diligent, and hardworking academic who is always willing to take up additional responsibilities. She has published widely in reputable Local and International Journals and has demonstrated evidence of being a good academic and researcher in all her publications.

She is a grantee of the Early Career Award of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, London. She is a two-time recipient of the Award for Meaningful Contributions to Research from the Center for Research and Management (CEREM), University of Port Harcourt. She has participated in various international conferences including Singapore, Chicago, Dallas, Canada and Ghana.

Areas of Research Interest

Dr. Osuagwu’s research interests include Development Communication, Gender Studies, Cultural Studies, and Political Communication. A key thread in her research is how communication can engender gender inclusion and gender equity.

Leadership and Administrative Skills

She is presently the Deputy Director of the Confucius (Chinese) Teaching Center, University of Port Harcourt. She has held many leadership positions including Class President, Ph.D. Class, 2009, Departmental Chair Person, Events & Programmes Committee 2015-2019, Member, Departmental Ethics Committee, 2013-2018, Member of Faculty Welfare Committee 2016-2018, Treasurer, Journalism Educators’ Forum, 2014-till date, Treasurer, PTA Jephthah Comprehensive Secondary School, 2017 -2020, Nigeria Coordinator, ACSPN Female Researchers, 2018- till date. Coordinator, Master’s and PhD Degrees Result Computation 2020 till date. Faculty Coordinator, Community Service, 2021 to date, Chairperson, ASUU UNIPORT Welfare Committee, 2021 to date.

Editorship

1. Editor, ACSPN Book 6, Series:  Communicating Identities: Media and Inclusive Democracies, 2020.

2. Editorial Assistant: Media & Information Story Literacy Book: 2019.

3. Editorial Board Member, International Communication Research Journal. A Publication of the International Communication Division of the AEJMC, Texas, USA. 2018 till date.

Hobby

She is a polymath who strives to know a bit of everything. Her hobbies include reading, cooking, singing, travelling, football and public speaking.

Public Speaking/Panelist/Consultancy

Her passion for advocacy against gender inequality has made her appear as a panelist, facilitator and consultant to several organisations like the International Press Centre (IPC) in collaboration with the European Union (EU), Development Research and Project Centre (dRPC), Association of Communication Scholars and (Practitioners of Nigeria (ACSPN), Institute of Media & Society (IMESO), International Communication Association (ICA) Nigeria and Punch Media Foundation.

Unionism/Advocacy/Activism

Dr. Osuagwu is a human rights advocate, labour unionist, and gender activist. She belongs to several committees that cut across local and national chapters of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). Some of her activisms are listed below:

 

1. National Delegate to ASUU National Delegates’ Conference, University of Ibadan.
2. Member ASUU observer NEC, OOU, Ago-Iwoye. 12-13 August 2016.
3. Member, National Standing Committee on Welfare and Gender, Academic Staff Union of Universities. 2016-2018.
4. Delegate, 20^th ASUU National Delegates’ Conference, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.  3^rd -6^th May, 2018.
5. Member, Local Organising Committee, ASUU NEC, Uniport, 2019.
6. Chairperson, ASUU UNIPORT Welfare Committee, 2021 till date.
7. Delegate, ASUU National Delegates Conference, University of Jos. May 17^th-19^th 2023.
8. Member, National Standing Committee on Media and ICT, Academic Staff Union of Universities. 2023 to date.

 

Marital Status

She is a devoted wife and a committed mother, married to Engineer O.D. Osuagwu and the marriage is blessed with three children.

 

Links to Publications

https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=titilayo+osuagwu&oq=ti

https://uniport.academia.edu/TitilayoOsuagwu

https://www.google.com/search?q=titilayo+osuagwu+linkedin&oq=titilayo+osuagwu+linkedin&gs_lcrp

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Titilayo-Remilekun

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0798-4909

 

Profile of  Dr Moses Ofome Asak

Dept. of Broadcasting,

Faculty of Comm. and Media Studies

Dr. Moses Ofome Asak is a Researcher/Senior Lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt. He earned his BSc in Mass Communication, 1991, and a Masters degree in Public Relations in 1996 both at the University of Lagos. He obtained a second masters degree in Broadcasting from the University of Uyo before obtaining his PhD. In digital Communication from the North West University in South Africa.

Dr. Asak is experienced in the field of Broadcasting, Public Relations and Advertising, having worked extensively with NTA as an independent producer particularly in the popular Morning Ride Show; and worked with the public relations firm, Corporate & Financial Communication Ltd. and Advalue Ltd., both in Lagos in the 1990s and early 2000s. He became the pioneer HOD of Mass Communication Department at the Novena University in Delta State, where he was a member of senate and taught core PR and advertising courses. He was appointed Chairman of Radio Uniport, 88.5 FM when he moved to the University of Port Harcourt. Since then, he has served in various departmental, faculty and university committees.

Dr. Asak's research interest include digital and social media, broadcasting and marketing/change communication. He is affiliated to the Indigenous Language Media in Africa (ILMA) Research Entity at the North West University (NWU) in South Africa.

D1r. Asak is honoured as a fellow of the CODESRIA College of Mentees. He is a member of several professional bodies including South African Communication Association (SACOMM), Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Nigerian Institute of Management, Association of Mass Communication Researchers of Nigeria (AMCRON), Journalism Educators Foundation (JEF). Dr. Asak has co-authored four books and contributed to the academic field through the publication of book chapters and numerous articles in reputable peer-reviewed journals.

Publications

Link:

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=JMZHEvYAAAAJ&hl=en

E-2mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it./ This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Phone: +234 (0)8038625780

 

Profile of Ebele Stella Ire

Department:                                       Broadcasting

Faculty:                                              Communication and Media Studies

Institution:                                          University of Port Harcourt

Sex:                                                     Female

Nationality:                                        Nigeria

Marital Status:                                   Married

E-mail:                                                This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Phone No:                                          08037365295

Designation:                                       Lecturer I

 

Qualifications

BA . Linguistics.  (UNN) - 1998

MA. Mass Communication. (UNN) - 2002

MA. Phonetics and Phonology (UNN) - 2007

Job Description: Teaching/ Research/ University Community Services

Research Interests: Ebele Stella Ire' s research interests are in Phonetics, Phonology and Development Communication and had published some scholarly works in these areas.

Hobbies: Reading, writing and adventures.

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