By Osahon Osahon Jnr.
The Faculty of Communication and Media Studies of the University of Benin has elected Professor Marcel Okhakhu as its substantive Dean in its first-ever deanship poll.
The election, held on February 19, 2026, marks a historic step for the Faculty which was unbundled in April 2025 as part of efforts to strengthen academic development and professional training in media-related disciplines.
Professor Okhakhu, who had been serving as the pioneer Protem Dean since the Faculty’s creation last year, was returned by members of the Faculty, signaling confidence in his leadership and vision for the young academic unit.
The Faculty commenced operations with five departments — Mass Communication, Film and Multimedia Studies, Public Relations, Broadcasting, and Advertising — and has since admitted students who are already undergoing training.
The successful conduct of the maiden election demonstrates administrative stability and institutional growth within the University system.
With a substantive Dean now in place, the Faculty is set to consolidate its structures and advance its mandate of producing skilled media and communication professionals for the global media industry.
