The President of the International Communication Association (ICA), Prof. Noshir Contractor, has stressed the importance of regional chapters of the association across the globe, saying the establishment of regional chapters is part of the quest for the internationalisation of the body.
According to him, the association debuted in 1950 as the National Society for the Study of Communication in the United States of America.
Prof. Contractor, who made the remarks during the inauguration of ICA Nigeria Chapter at the University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Port Harcourt recently, said the chapter is the first in Africa, stressing that the internationalisation process of the body started with the hosting of annual and regional conferences outside the United States of America some years back.
According to him, since 2020, ICA had hosted over 10 regional hubs, mainly in the global South each year, that convened to coincide with the annual conference of the body.
The formation of the ICA Regional Chapters, considered as the height of the internationalisation of the association, beginning with ICA Indonesia as first, followed by ICA Nigeria as only the second globally, he noted started this year after approval by the Executive Committee of the association.
While commending the organizing skills of the organising team and the enthusiasm of members of the ICA Nigeria, Prof. Contractor said the aim of establishing the chapter is to bolster engagement globally with ICA conference and communication research as well as facilitate development of regional communication research networks and infrastructure, among others.
According to him, the regional chapters are, however, expected to create their own mechanisms by which local and regional communities can have sustained engagement with the goals of ICA to advance scholarly study of communication and facilitate excellence in academic research worldwide.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, in his opening remarks, said the establishment of ICA Nigeria was apt, in the light of the rapidly changing world where global interconnectedness and technological advancements have reshaped the landscape of higher education, adding that the gesture would bolster the responsibility of the university to prepare its students for the ever-changing world by providing them with the knowledge, skills and experiences they need to succeed both as individuals and professionals.
He thanked the association for the interest and choice of the university as the host for the ICA Regional Hub in 2022, which, according to him, reflected the institution’s culture of excellence in character and learning, which he said has motivated its continued commitment to creating a vibrant and creative community where different perspectives and ideas are embraced and celebrated.
The Vice Chancellor expressed the hope that ICA Nigeria Chapter would, by holding its kick-off event in the university, build a foundation base with the university community.
On her part, the ICA Nigeria Chair, Ms Ekaete George, commended and thanked ICA for its initiatives in Nigeria, and promised not to betray the confidence reposed in her but with passionate commitment pursue the ideals of the ICA anchored on excellence in communications research and scholarship in Nigeria.
George applauded the authorities of the University of Port Harcourt and the students for their tremendous support which she noted was pivotal to the establishment of the ICA Nigeria, and advised new members of the body to be tenacious in their quest for opportunities that would help them make positive impacts locally while staying globally-oriented.
At the event, the ICA Nigeria Chapter was presented a certificate of establishment while its inaugural Quarterly Seminar Series(QSS) was also held simultaneously with papers presented by ICA President, Prof. Noshir Contractor of the Northwestern University, United States of America; and Prof. Titilayo Osuagwu of the University of Port Harcourt.
Three similar seminars are billed to hold in June, September and December, 2023 at onsite locations across Nigeria.