Chinedu Okafor and Toye Fisher
The Dean, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Professor Chika E. Asogwa, has emphasized the urgent need for communicators to drive societal transformation across Africa, describing communication as the backbone of development and national progress.
Speaking during an exclusive interview with FUOYE News at the opening of the Faculty’s maiden International Conference themed “Navigating Change: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Communication, Society, and Development in Africa,” Prof. Asogwa said the faculty is committed to inspiring change through truth-driven communication practice and holistic scholarship.
She explained that communication remains central to all aspects of social, political, and economic change, noting that no sector can function effectively without informed, ethical, and well-coordinated communication. According to her, transformational development in any society begins with communicators who uphold truth and accuracy.
Prof. Asogwa expressed concern over the rising influence of fake news and misinformation, stressing that the faculty is committed to training “communicators with conscience” who understand the responsibilities that come with shaping public narratives. She said producing graduates who prioritize truth will go a long way in redefining national values and strengthening democracy.
The Dean also highlighted the need for African communicators to reclaim the continent’s narratives from foreign voices who often misrepresent Africa due to lack of cultural understanding. She recalled experiences of stereotyping abroad, noting that such misperceptions persist because Africans have not sufficiently told their own stories from authentic perspectives.
According to her, Africa is far more advanced than it is portrayed globally, but negative narratives tend to dominate because those who control global storytelling frameworks are not Africans. She maintained that the conference aims to strengthen indigenous knowledge production and equip scholars to project Africa more accurately.
Prof. Asogwa further explained that the conference’s interdisciplinary nature underscores the wide relevance of communication in politics, psychology, sociology, technology, science, and education. She stated that communication is the only field capable of collaborating seamlessly with every other discipline, making it indispensable to national and continental development.
In her formal address at the conference held on November 27 and 28, 2025 at the Fasina Conference Centre, Prof. Asogwa declared the event a historic milestone for the young faculty, describing it as a bold step from “momentum to movement” in Africa’s communication scholarship.
She recounted recent initiatives, including the ACSPN Empowerment Series on Media Entrepreneurship and the Dataphyte Academy partnership on Data and AI Literacy, noting that such programmes reflect the faculty’s commitment to building capacity for innovation, media sustainability, and accuracy in the digital age.
Prof. Asogwa emphasized that communication in contemporary society goes beyond information dissemination, adding that it now serves as a tool for empowerment, structural reform, and sustainable development. She said Africa must take charge of its own narrative by using communication to interrogate power, amplify marginalized voices, and drive collective progress.
She stressed that the conference serves as a manifesto for the faculty’s future, promising to produce research that influences policy, train ethical communicators, strengthen global partnerships, and uphold truth as a core professional value. She described the faculty as a growing force for justice, innovation, and development.
Challenging scholars and participants, Prof. Asogwa urged them to go beyond passive listening by engaging actively with the sessions, asking critical questions, and forming collaborations that address Africa’s challenges. She encouraged every attendee to leave with at least one actionable strategy capable of shaping development.
The Dean reiterated that communication remains central to navigating Africa’s complex realities, from political instability to digital disruption, and called on professionals across the continent to take the lead in redefining the future of communication research and practice.
She concluded by affirming that the future of communication in Africa will be anchored on truth, transparency, innovation, and technological competence, urging participants to initiate conversations and actions that will shape the next phase of development in the continent.
Photo Credit: Toye Fisher
