The Director-General of the Delta State Bureau for Orientation and Communications, Dr. Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, has congratulated Desmond Onyemechi Okocha on his emergence as Chairman of the International Communication Association (ICA), Nigeria Chapter.
Okocha and his executive team were inaugurated during the maiden national conference of ICA Nigeria, held from March 24 to 25, 2026, at the Nile University, Abuja. The conference, themed “Global Communication Shifts and Implications for Africa,” brought together scholars and practitioners from across Africa and beyond, participating both physically and virtually.
In a goodwill message issued on Saturday, Oghenesivbe described Prof. Okocha as an erudite scholar whose contributions have significantly advanced the growth of ICA Nigeria. He noted that Okocha worked closely with the immediate past Chair, Dr Ekaete George, to lay a solid foundation for the association.
Okocha expressed gratitude to colleagues and mentors for their confidence, pledging to build on the achievements of his predecessor.
He expressed confidence that Okocha’s extensive academic experience and international exposure would further strengthen the chapter, deepen research engagement, and expand its global visibility. Oghenesivbe also commended Dr. George for her impactful three-year tenure, which saw the expansion of membership, the introduction of quarterly seminar series, and strengthened global collaborations.
Prof. Okocha, a Professor of Digital Journalism and Applied Communication and pioneer Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies at Bingham University, is a member of the International Panel on the Information Environment (IPIE) and pioneer Chair of the United Nations Association of Nigeria (UNAN), Abuja Branch. He is widely recognised as a scholar-practitioner of the Third Wave in communication studies.
In his acceptance message, Okocha expressed gratitude to colleagues and mentors for their confidence, pledging to build on the achievements of his predecessor. He emphasised plans to grow membership, promote research, and amplify African perspectives in global communication scholarship.
The conference also featured high-level participation, including representatives of the Federal Government such as Mohammed Idris Malagi, represented by the Director-General of the News Agency of Nigeria, and stakeholders from academia, media, and regulatory bodies.
Founded over 50 years ago, ICA has evolved into a global network of more than 5,000 members across over 80 countries and has been affiliated with the United Nations as a non-governmental organisation since 2003. The ICA Nigeria Chapter, inaugurated on March 24, 2023, at the University of Port Harcourt, continues to position itself as a strategic platform for advancing African voices in global communication research.
Observers say the seamless leadership transition signals a new phase of growth for the association, especially as it engages emerging issues such as artificial intelligence, climate communication, and digital transformation.
AkweyaTV was among the partners that supported the successful hosting of the conference.
