By Ibrahim Suraj Adhama
I first met Malam Gausu Ahmad (as known then) as a Level 300 student of the Department of Mass Communication. He was invited by Dr AD Alhassan to speak to us on a topic in one of the print media courses. Dr Alhassan had established a practice of inviting experts from the industry to share their experiences with students. Malam Gausu, Dr Faruk Umar Usman and Malam Sabo Sarki Muhammad were, at different times, some of those invited.
Malam Gausu’s humble mien, his modest dressing as well as his assuming persona didn’t quite tell us who truly he was. But when his host Dr Alhassan took a few minutes to introduce him, it dawned on the class that before us was a print media giant and newspaper guru with tonnes of industrial experience to share. Shortly afterwards, we came to understand that Malam Gausu was not an outsider per se but was a lecturer in the Department.
My next contact with Malam Gausu was when I offered Critical Issues in Mass Communication, a Level 400 course he taught. It was the only course of his I offered as undergrad and for me it was one course too many. No course has changed my worldview about the media as an industry like it. The mode of teaching, the topics discussed as well as the lively interaction between and among members of the different groups made it quite a unique learning experience.
Through it I learnt the value of Mass Communication as a discipline and a field of study that goes beyond a few journalistic skills. Students discovered Mass Communication’s relevance and application on a wider and diverse contexts in addition to developing their critical thinking skills. In fact, my first major inspiration to toe the academic line came from it. For me, no Mass Communication graduate of the time would be complete without it.
This great learning and worldview shaping experience was taken further when, as MSc student, I offered Advanced Print Media, another Malam Gausu’s course. It was what I learnt about newspaper framing of especially major news events that changed the way I read and perceive news.
On a more personal note, there are several stories to share about Professor Gausu. Suffice it to say I owe a lot about what I have become as an academic to Malam his crucial intervention.
When I applied for MSc in Mass Communication in 2007, I was initially “denied” admission. Malam Gausu was either the Coordinator or the HOD at the time. I was visibly worried and agitated when I went and complained to him in one of the offices in the Department. The other lecturer with him tried very hard to console me and to persuade me to try again another session as according to him “kamar yau ne!”. I thanked them and I was about to leave Malam Gausu who was still pondering asked if I had a 2:1 and I replied “yes”. He promised to look into it and asked me to check again the following week. When I met him seven days after, he directed me to the PG School (then at Old Campus) where I found my name pasted and I immediately started the registration processes to go and meet the likes of Dr Hassan Ya’u, Dr Bishir Ruwan-Godiya, Abubakar Kurkushe, Eyitemi Diden and Yusuf Adamu.
This personal experience made me to handle issues of admission seriously while I served as MSc Coordinator in the Department. I took it upon myself that no deserving applicant would miss admission for no reason. I would prevail on the HOD and repeatedly go to PG School whenever necessary.
As Allah destined it, our graduation happened at a time the Department was planning to employ new academic staff mostly holders of Masters’ degree. The then HOD, Late Prof Maikaba (of blessed memory), based on our performance, invited us to a Departmental A&PC interview that marked the beginning of our academic career in the University. I use to wonder what it would have been without the admission that year or without finishing the programme in 2011.
Since we joined the Department, Prof Gausu, together with other senior colleagues, has been a great mentor. His doggedness as well as attachment to pure, unadulterated scholarship has been a source of inspiration to me. His humility has made him a model worthy of emulation. His contribution during defense sessions has been unusually invaluable. His fatherly counsel in the face of difficult situations has been immensely priceless. We can’t thank you enough, Allah ya gafarta Malam! We will miss you greatly!
Congratulations, Sir, as you exit honourably, fulfilled, accomplished, unblemished and in good health.
Allah ya ƙarawa rayuwa albarka, ya ƙara lafiya, ya sa a gama lafiya, ya albarkaci zuriya. Mu ma Allah ya sa mu gama lafiya. Allah ya ba da ladan tarbiyya!
Ibrahim Siraj, PhD is a lecturer, Department of Mass Communication, Bayero University, Kano can be reached via: isiraj.mac@buk.edu.ng