Professor Dike Harcourt Whyte, the first Professor of Strategic and Corporate Communication at Rivers State University (RSU), Port Harcourt, has described his elevation as a call to greater responsibility, pledging to advance academic excellence, student development, and the promotion of strategic communication.
Speaking in an interview with our correspondent in Port Harcourt on Friday, October 9, 2026, Professor Whyte said his elevation would motivate him to extend his influence beyond the university community and contribute more to the development of communication practice and scholarship.
He expressed happiness over the achievement, noting that attaining professorial status was a major aspiration for academics who remained committed to their work.
“I feel happy. For every lecturer who is putting in their best, this is what they expect. Each and every one of us is working hard towards becoming a professor someday.
“I will continue to do my best. At this point, I am looking at how we can influence more people because it is not just about the university. We also have to represent the university outside this place,” he said.
Professor Whyte noted that becoming a professor came with responsibilities beyond academic qualifications, expressing his determination to meet the expectations associated with the position.
Speaking on the importance of Strategic and Corporate Communication, he said the discipline was essential to individuals, organisations and institutions, stressing that effective communication involved knowing when to speak and when to remain silent.
According to him, strategic communication should not be mistaken for constant speaking, as silence could also serve as a deliberate communication tool.
“Strategic communication is something everybody needs, and every organisation needs it. Sometimes, when people hear strategic communication, they think it means they must communicate or speak all the time.
“But sometimes, you also have what we call strategic silence. We need to understand how to bring these elements together,” he said.
The professor reaffirmed his commitment to equipping students with the knowledge and practical skills required to apply Strategic and Corporate Communication in organisational management, relationship building and reputation management.
He also called on lecturers to embrace student-centred teaching approaches, emphasising the need to understand students’ perspectives to improve learning outcomes.
Professor Whyte said academics had a responsibility to encourage students, help them appreciate the purpose of university education and communicate knowledge in ways they could easily understand.
“As a professor, you need to put in your best. First and foremost, you need to encourage your students and make them understand why they are in the university.
“You must put yourself in their shoes because if you judge them by what you already know, nobody will learn anything from you. You need to bring yourself down to their level and make them understand,” he said.
Highlighting the importance of effective communication in teaching, he cited a fundamental principle of the discipline, stating: “In communication, if the message sent is not the message received, then communication has not taken place.”
Professor Whyte expressed appreciation to the university’s Vice-Chancellor, the Pro-Chancellor, his colleagues in the department and faculty, and the wider university community for their support throughout his academic journey.
He explained that attaining professorial status in the university system required sustained academic commitment, particularly in research and publications.
“In the university, we say you either publish or perish. If you do not publish, it becomes a problem. My colleagues have supported me, and I thank them for standing by me throughout this journey,” he said.
The professor also acknowledged the contributions of his students, describing them as an important source of motivation in his daily academic activities.
He said their contributions had remained invaluable to his academic journey, expressing gratitude for their role in his professional growth and renewed commitment to teaching, research, and the advancement of Strategic and Corporate Communication
