The management of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Ebeano City, has appointed Dr. Maxwell Menkiti Ngene as the new Head of the Department of Mass Communication.
Ngene’s appointment takes effect on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, and comes as the department begins a new phase of leadership following the tenure of Associate Professor Chidiebere Anthony Ezinwa, who has headed the department since August 2023.
The appointment marks a remarkable homecoming for Ngene, who is a graduate of the department and obtained his Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Mass Communication from ESUT.
A Senior Lecturer and the department’s Postgraduate Programmes Coordinator, Ngene brings more than three decades of academic and professional experience to the position. He has taught and supervised numerous undergraduate and postgraduate students, including candidates pursuing B.Sc., M.Sc. and PhD degrees, and has also served as Course Adviser to second-year students in the department.
Beyond academia, Ngene has extensive experience in broadcasting and public communication. He began his broadcasting career with ATV/ABS/ESBS Enugu and is also a public affairs analyst with the Guild of Public Affairs Analysts of Nigeria (GPAAN), Enugu State Chapter.
His professional experience also includes public service, having served as a Senior Legislative Aide at the National Assembly and as an Executive Assistant to a former Governor of Enugu State.
For more than 30 years, Ngene has worked as a Communication for Development (C4D) and Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) consultant with UNICEF, contributing to community engagement and development initiatives across Enugu, Benue, Imo and Cross River states.
He succeeds Associate Professor Ezinwa, whose tenure from August 2023 was characterised by what the department described as dedicated and transformative leadership.
The department expressed appreciation to Ezinwa for his service and wished him continued success in his future endeavours.
With Ngene’s appointment, the academic community is optimistic that his blend of academic scholarship, broadcasting experience, public-sector exposure and development communication expertise will further enhance the department’s academic and professional standing.
The Department of Mass Communication at ESUT trains students in broadcasting, journalism, public relations and development communication, with its graduates contributing to Nigeria’s media and communication landscape.
