Prof Saudat Abdulbaqi Becomes FCIS’s First Female Dean

Prof. Saudat Salah Abdulbaqi has made history as the first woman elected Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences (FCIS) at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State.

Her appointment marks a groundbreaking moment for gender representation in academic leadership and is a landmark achievement for both the university and Nigeria’s communication field. This milestone highlights the University of Ilorin’s commitment to inclusive excellence and progressive institutional development.

While Professor M.O. Mejabi served as the Acting Dean during the faculty’s early years in 2008, Professor Abdulbaqi is the first woman to hold the position in a substantive capacity, marking a significant step forward for gender inclusivity and academic leadership at one of the nation’s most respected federal universities. Professor Abdulbaqi has long been a trailblazer in her field. PRNigeria reports that she was the first female Professor of Mass Communication at the University of Ilorin, a distinction that has opened doors for countless women in media and academia.

Her leadership extends to her previous roles as Head of Department at both the University of Ilorin and Al-Hikmah University, where she demonstrated strong administrative foresight and a passion for mentoring the next generation of communicators. Her academic background is equally impressive. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Bayero University, Kano, a Master’s degree from the University of Lagos, and a Ph.D. from Universiti Utara Malaysia, thereby gaining both local and international academic depth.

Professor Abdulbaqi’s influence extends far beyond academia. A Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), she previously chaired the Kwara State chapter and currently serves as a member of the national council. Her contributions to the public relations profession have been widely recognised, positioning her as a symbol of integrity and visionary leadership in both education and communication.

She is also a respected member of several professional bodies, including ARCON, APRA, ACCE, ACSPN, and IAAQREL. Her groundbreaking accomplishments have earned her commendation from a wide range of stakeholders, including accolades from the Governor of Kwara State upon her re-election to the NIPR governing council.

As Dean, Professor Abdulbaqi will now lead an interdisciplinary academic hub that includes Mass Communication, Computer Science, Information and Communication Science, Telecommunication Science, and Library and Information Science.