By Gabriella Ogbu
Dr. Gever Verlumun, a mass communication lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, has received a German grant to support a special edition of his Scopus-indexed journal, the Ianna Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies. The grant, valued at €3,580, was awarded by the Centre for Advanced Internet Studies in Bochum, Germany.
During a Zoom news conference, Verlumun, the creator and editor-in-chief of the journal, announced that the theme of the special issue is “Digital Media and Research in 21st-century Society: Assessing Current Trends and Projecting the Future.” He explained that the grant would cover costs for distribution, printing, archiving, editing, and promotion. The funds will be reimbursed upon completion of the publishing process.
Verlumun emphasized the importance of the theme, noting that digital media and modern technology have significantly impacted various aspects of contemporary life, particularly in research. Over the past few decades, advancements in technology have transformed data collection, literature reviews, data processing, and the delivery of research interventions.
The special issue aims to explore how new technology and digital media have altered the nature of research. Topics of interest include software and data analysis, digital media and intervention delivery, digital media and data collection, digital media and conveying research findings, and artificial intelligence in modern research.
Verlumun also highlighted his recognition as the top communication scholar in Nigeria, based on the Scopus SciVal author ranking of the country’s top 500 scholars. He maintained this position for the ranking years 2020–2023 and 2019–2022. SciVal, a research analytics tool by Elsevier, evaluates metrics from the Scopus database and is used for university rankings and assessing scholarly output. In Nigeria, publication in Scopus-indexed journals is regarded as a significant achievement.
The upcoming special issue of the Ianna Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies will contribute to understanding the profound impact of digital media on research, reflecting Verlumun’s ongoing commitment to advancing scholarly discourse in Nigeria.