Profile

Okwudili Ben Okanume, Snr. (KSJ) was groomed at All Hallows Catholic Seminary, Onitsha, Anambra State, where he made division 1 in W.A.E.C., and earned a diploma from Urbaniana University, Rome, Italy. Born an Igbo-Ehim prince, he hails from Umunoko-Ukpor in Nnewi South Local Government Area, Anambra state. He earned B.Sc. (Summa Cum Laude) in Mass Communication at Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi, USA; M.A in Mass Communication at University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, Missouri, USA, and Ph.D. in Mass Communication from Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam, Anambra State. Dr. Okanume was conferred with honourary Doctor of Letters by Catholic University, Washington, D.C, USA, for outstanding dedication for the advancement of Journalistic Arts and Letters. For two decades, Okanume worked as an investigative reporter in Washington, D.C, USA, before a brief stint as SPDC sustainable development consultant in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Since 2007, he has been a senior lecturing staff at Novena University, Ogume, Delta State, and former H.O.D of Mass Communication in the same institution. Dr. Okanume is a former H.O.D of the Department of Journalism and media Studies. Under his steadfast HOD-ship/leadership of the Department of Journalism and media Studies from October 3, 2023 – December 13, 2024, the National University Commission (NUC) unbundled the department into seven other departments, namely Digital Advertising, Digital Broadcasting, Development Communication, Film and Multi Media Studies, Information and Multi Media Studies, Mass Communication and Public Relations; these culminated into eight departments of the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, now a thriving hub of media studies research of global standard. Dr. Okanume is currently Acting Head of the Department of Public Relations, Southern Delta University, Ozoro, Delta State. Dr. Okanume is credited with several international novels on Amazon.com: Bold Enough, Wanted Dead, Motive for Revenge, Pilgrims of False gods, Red Sun in the East, Tongues of Rage; screen plays include co-scripting of the original Coming to America, Rainbows of Rage: A Niger Delta Saga, Accusers of Amaka, Disappearance of Cheta and several research/academic publications. His most recent books are History of Nigeria Mass Media; Trend in Modern Investigative Journalism. Dr. Okanume’s awards include: Jackson State University Dean’s list Scholar, Who is who among American universities, Central Missouri State University Best International Student, California State Best Poetry and City News Service Award of Excellence for Best International News Coverage. Affiliations include: State Editor Georgia State, USA. Poetry Society, American Writers Association (AWA), Association of Black American journalists, Fellowship: Forum for Ethnics in Journalism, Rockefeller Centre, Washington, DC., U.S.A., Member: Nigerian Institute of Industrial Management (NIIM), Member: Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Member: African Council on Communication Education (ACCE) and Member: Catholic Knights of St. John International. He has lectured numerous courses at all levels, supervised several undergraduate and post graduate projects/dissertations. As a Goggle scholar, his research interest focus emphases on investigative journalism and social media. A resourceful editor, whose editing credits include several books and Courage of a Fisherman, the biography of late Senator Melford Okilo of Bayelsa State. He is married to Lady Celestina Okanume and blessed with children.

• 

• Lecturer I

• Email: okanumeb@sdu.edu.ng

• Google Scholar