Research Centre

Advancing the frontiers of knowledge.

A dedicated research centre investigating the most consequential questions at the intersection of communication, media, technology and society in Africa.

Research Themes

Nine areas of inquiry.

AI Communication

Exploring the impact of artificial intelligence on media, brands and institutional communication.

Media Studies

Researching media ecosystems, journalism practice and digital transformation in Africa.

Corporate Reputation

Investigating how reputation is built, measured, protected and leveraged in emerging markets.

Political Communication

Analysing political messaging, democratic discourse and the role of media in governance.

Digital Journalism

Studying the evolution of journalism in the digital age—practice, ethics and sustainability.

Communication Leadership

Examining the competencies and practices of effective communication leadership.

Marketing Communications

Researching consumer behaviour, brand strategy and integrated marketing in African contexts.

Behavioural Communication

Exploring how communication shapes behaviour, decision-making and social change.

Strategic Leadership

Investigating the intersection of leadership theory and communication practice.

Research Projects

Active investigations.

Multi-disciplinary research projects addressing the most pressing questions in communication and media.

AI Communication · Active

AI and the Future of African Media

A multi-country study examining how AI is reshaping media production, distribution and consumption across Africa.

Corporate Reputation · Active

Reputation Index for African Corporates

Developing a standardised reputation measurement framework for African corporations.

Digital Journalism · Active

Digital Journalism Ethics in the AI Era

Mapping ethical challenges and developing guidelines for AI-assisted journalism.

Political Communication · Ongoing

Political Communication and Democratic Resilience

A longitudinal study of how political communication shapes democratic outcomes in West Africa.

Faculty Publications

No published faculty publications yet.

Conference Papers

2025

Dr. Sammy Ajufo

Strategic Narrative and National Identity in Africa

IAMCR Annual Conference

↗

2025

Dr. Kenneth Ogbunehu

Crisis Leadership in Emerging Markets

Africa PR Summit

↗

2024

Dr. John Nkamiang

Digital Media Ecosystems in West Africa

African Media Convention

↗

2024

Ijeoma Eze

Executive Presence: Beyond the Stereotype

Forbes Woman Africa Summit

↗

Funding Opportunities

Support for research.

SCMS Research Grant

Up to ₦5,000,000

Funding for faculty and doctoral research in strategic communications.

Deadline: Rolling

Africa Media Research Fellowship

$15,000

Fellowship supporting research on media and democracy in Africa.

Deadline: 30 September 2026

Corporate Reputation Research Fund

$10,000

Applied research funding for corporate reputation studies.

Deadline: 15 November 2026

Research Reports

Published findings.

Definitive research reports and benchmarks for the communication profession.

Annual Report · 2026

State of Strategic Communications in Africa 2026

The definitive annual benchmark for the strategic communications profession across the continent.

Industry Report · 2026

AI Adoption in African Media Houses

How African media organisations are adopting AI technologies and the implications for practice.

Benchmark Report · 2025

Corporate Reputation Index: Nigeria

A comprehensive reputation benchmark of Nigeria's top 100 companies.