In the late 1990s, a gentleman with a humble demeanor made his way up the stairs of the Mass Communications Department, a figure no student registering for classes could overlook. It was September 1998 when I first encountered Malam Gausu Ahmad while walking through the famous FAIS corridor.
I had seen him occasionally in the department, but I cannot recall any significant interaction with him during the 1998/99 academic session when I was enrolled alongside other students to study Mass Communications at Bayero University, Kano.
Our real contact was established in the following academic session when I registered for one of his classes on Editing and Design. Unlike today’s students, we did not have the luxury of computers and had to engage with traditional learning methods. One of Bayero University’s best decisions was to employ academics like Malam Gausu, who possessed a strong professional background in the media industry. He was among the country’s finest newspaper editors, having worked with the New Nigerian during its prime and with Concord Newspapers. Some of the stories I learned about the late MKO Abiola, the Presidential Candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the 1993 elections, came from Malam Gausu, as Chief Abiola was the owner of National Concord newspapers.
Malam Gausu dedicated himself to teaching us about newspaper production, editing, and design. He was meticulous in explaining typesetting, headline casting, font selection, and the intricate details of the editorial process. Taking that course partly influenced me to consider a career in print journalism, eventually leading me to become the editor-in-chief of Bayero Beacon, the official newspaper of the department where students honed their skills in print journalism.
Malam Aminu Hotoro, one of our typists in the department, often joked with me, saying, “You are a typical student of Malam Gausu. I always feel jittery when either of you brings work for typing because I know I have to redo it several times. You will find mistakes even at the last minute.” A defining trait of Malam Gausu was his commitment to providing students with copies of books, handouts, and relevant articles to enhance their learning. His desk was always cluttered with photocopies of manuscripts.
We truly came to know the real Malam Gausu in our final year when he taught a unique module called ‘Critical Issues in Mass Communication.’ In my opinion, no experience as a student in the Mass Communications Department at Bayero University is complete without taking this course. More than 20 years after graduation, we still discuss it fondly. This class brought out the best in students, as Malam Gausu employed a dynamic teaching method, dividing the class into groups.
He would assign topics to these groups, requiring students to research, prepare papers, and present them in class. Each group would select two to three presenters, while the rest of the members would respond to questions arising from the presentation. The class became a weekly intellectual feast, promoting an atmosphere of healthy competition among students. Everyone wanted to belong to a group they believed would outperform others to earn higher marks. Malam Gausu acted as a moderator, inviting guests to discuss topics of general interest as the semester progressed.
The learning experience was immense. The class covered international relations, sociology, history, religion, politics, culture, and the environment, laying the foundation for aspiring journalists to become generalists, as one definition of a journalist suggests. It was also a training ground for public speaking.
Our group typically included Shamsudden Muhammad, Mustapha Ahmad, Mukhtar Elkasim, Osita Nwankwo, Amina Saidu Abubakar, Halima Ishaq, Dallatu, and others. The class nurtured several opinion leaders, including Mainasara Kurfi, Samson Ode, Binta Kasim Muhammad, Abdussalam Sani, Ahmad Balarabe Said, John Otu, Isa Kontagora, Abu Sadiq Loko, Adamu Abdullahi, and Chimfunanya Azinge, e.t.c.
That class has produced two full professors: Mainasara Kurfi at Bayero University and Shamsudden Muhammad at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Mukhtar Elkasim is also on track to become a full professor following his recent promotion to associate professor at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Additionally, it has led to numerous doctorate degree holders across Nigeria and beyond.
I truly got to know the real Malam Gausu in the months leading up to our graduation. The lecturers I was closest to in the department were Dr. Abdurrahman Adam and Malam Gausu, both of whom strongly encouraged me to consider a career in academia. Among other senior academics, they did everything possible to ensure I was hired by the Mass Communications Department as a graduate assistant.
One of my most memorable experiences came after our graduation. Dr. Adam asked me to stay on and assist the department with various tasks. Malam Gausu, who was like a twin brother to Dr. Adam would often drop me at Bayero University Old Campus after working hours. It was a challenging time in academia, with frequent strikes forcing the university to compress the academic calendar. We worked tirelessly to complete the marking of scripts, compile results, and prepare them for Senate approval.
Every day, I joined Malam Gausu and Dr. Adam in the Office of the Head of Department from morning until night. Sometimes, we would stay until 10 PM, working on the compilation of results. I assisted Malam Aminu, the departmental typist, and Mrs. Aina, the departmental secretary, with typing and other secretarial work. It was a period filled with hard work and little breaks, with our lunches consisting of ‘awara’ (bean curd or tofu) along with ‘pure water,’ a staple that became popular during the era of structural adjustment in Nigeria.
Malam Gausu took scholarship seriously; he consistently presented papers at conferences and responded to calls for articles in journals and edited collections. He is an excellent administrator who understands the nuances of university politics and knows how to navigate them while maintaining his integrity. I have personally benefited from his wisdom on numerous occasions.
His book, The Rise and Fall of New Nigerian Newspaper, will remain a key reference in any academic study of the newspaper industry in Nigeria. Malam Gausu rose through the ranks to attain the professorial cadre, and this week he has reached the age of 70, marking his retirement from university service.
On behalf of myself and my family, I extend heartfelt congratulations to Professor Gausu Ahmad for achieving this significant milestone. May Allah (SWT) bless him with continued health, wealth, and strength to keep contributing to society. His legacy has been inscribed in gold, and his intellectual contributions will remain indelible for generations to come. Accept our best wishes as you enter this new phase of life.
Dr Yushau writes from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (mjyushau@gmail.com)
*Opinion expressed in this piece is strictly personal
