Handbook of Research on Deconstructing Culture and Communication in the Global South

Desmond Onyemechi Okocha, PhD, is a Social Scientist with specialization in management, development, media, journalism and communication with over 15 years experience in consulting, research and lecturing. Aside his numerous professional certifications, he obtained a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Management from the United Kingdom, a Master of Arts (MA) degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Sikkim Manipal University, India and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Journalism and Mass Communication from Nims University, Rajasthan, India. Additionally, he has Postgraduate Diplomas in Education Management and Leadership, and Logistics and Supply Chain Management. Aside working and consulting for World Bank, Global Fund for Women and Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) funded projects, he was the pioneer National Knowledge Management and Communication Coordinator for the International Fund for Agricultural Development project in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. He also served as Special Adviser on Digital Media and Strategic Communication to the Executive Governor of Abia State, His Excellency Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu from 2020 to 2022. His working career spans over several countries including The Gambia, Ghana, India and Nigeria. Presently, Dr Okocha is a Senior Lecturer and Postgraduate Programme Coordinator at the Department of Mass Communication, Bingham University, Nigeria. He is also the Founder of Institute for Leadership and Development Communication, Nigeria. As a prolific writer, he has published widely and has more than 40 scholarly publications in reputable local and international journals to his credit, in addition to being on the editorial board. He is a reviewer for some Scopus journals including Journal of Information Technology Research (JITR), International Journal of Virtual and Augmented Reality (IJVAR), International Journal of Digital Literacy and Digital Competence (IJDLDC), International Journal of Social Media and Online Communities (IJSMOC) and Jurnal Studi Komunikasi (Indonesian Journal of Communications Studies). As an international voice, Dr. Okocha is a frequent speaker in conferences across continents. In 2018, he was invited to speak at Harvard University, USA, Vienna University, Austria, and at the MIRDEC-8th, International Academic Conference on Social Sciences, Portugal. Melchizedec J. Onobe , PhD, is a Communication Scholar with socio-scientific interest in media and society development issues, cultural communication, digital media and brand communication. He has about 18 years combined work exposure and experiences as a researcher, journalist and editor. He holds a B.A degree, M.A and a PhD in Mass Communication from universities in Nigeria. He has taught in some prestigious universities in Africa and published widely. He is a co-editor of a book of Reading, Nigeria: Journeying in Socio-Economic and Political Development and also Social Spiral of Silence and the Narratives of African Culture in Contemporary Media. He is a Reader in the Department of Mass Communication, Bingham University Karu. Nasarawa state, Nigeria and was a sabbatical Professor in the Department of Mass Communication, Nasarawa State University Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.