Prof Suleiman Salau: Iconic Professor Of Mass Communication
Prof Suleiman Salau is an Icon in ABU. He is the first professor of mass communication in the University as well as the father of the mass communication department who was instrumental to the establishment of the department in the mid-nineties and has tutored, mentored and graduated several students.
Professor Suleiman Salau, an indigene of Irepon Kwara State was born in Agege Lagos State Nigeria in 1947. He began his working carrier with the Nigerian broadcasting corporation (now FRCN) before joining the service of ABU Zaria
He obtained his M.A in journalism from Voronezh State University Russia in 1975 and holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Education from ABU Zaria and a Ph.D. in Media and Literacy Education from the University of Ibadan in 1999. He has over 40 years of working experience in Journalism, Public relations, Development Communication, Advertising, and Instructional Technology.
He joined the service of the Centre for Adult Education and Extension Service of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria as a Graduate Assistant in 1976. Professor Salau moved from Adult Education and Extension Service to join the Department Of Mass Communication in 1996 following the closure of the former.
Since he joined the Department Of Mass Communication, professor Salau has taught virtually all the courses, though his contributions to teaching in the department are most glaring in the areas of Development Communication, and Broadcasting which constitutes his primary areas of research interests. He has several publications and conference papers most of which are also in the areas of Development Communication and Broadcasting.
Professor Suleiman Salau has over time successfully supervised several PhD candidates, masters, professional masters, and undergraduate students across various departments of the University especially in Mass Communication, Theatre and Performing Art, Library and Information Science, and Faculty of Education. These are testimony not only to his intellectual versatility but also to his inclination to interdisciplinary scholarships.
His leadership and administrative contribution to his former and current students as well as the Department Of Mass Communication And Centre For Adult Learning And Extension Services respectively are commendable. Professor Suleiman Salau has been head of the Mass Communication Department for 3 terms while he was Head of Department Centre for Adult Education and Extension Services for many years and several occasions served as Acting Director of the Centre.
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Salau Suleiman Salau is currently a visiting professor at the Department of Mass Communication Kaduna State University, resource person to Centre for Disaster Management and Development Studies ABU. He is an external examiner to several universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education in Nigeria. He also serves as National Secretary of Reading Association of Nigeria. Member editorial board of KASU journal of social and management sciences. And a PRO Muslim forum ABU Zaria.
He is a member of Nigerian Institute of Public Relation, member, Association of Communication Scholars. Professor Salau has attended both local and international conferences.
Retirement and Honor for Prof Suleiman Salau
On 13th July 2019, Former students of the Mass Communication Department of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria unveiled a media book (of over 700+ pages, 35 chapters) titled “Mass Media in Nigeria: Research, Theories, and Practice” edited by Akeem Mojisola Adeyanju, Ibrahim Jimoh and Hashim Mohammad Suleiman, all former students of Prof Suleiman Salau in honor of the father and first Professor of Mass Communication in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria who was retiring from the service of the institution.
The unveiling was held at a dinner organized to give the honor to whom it was due in the person they so much hoped to emulate in the academic and professionalism which was held at the ABU Business School Conference Hall.
Prof Suleiman Salau becomes a father, a mentor to all students that passed through his door without any discrimination. A lot of speakers said so much about Professor Suleiman Salau’s lifestyle and his relationship with students particularly when it comes to academic matters.
The ceremony was not only for former students as lecturers both senior and junior were not left behind testifying about Prof Salau.
A former student of the professor who is currently a lecturer in the department, Dr. Ibrahim Jimoh said; “Indeed, very few are like Prof Suleiman Salau who has touched so many lives and this has given him the position of a father in the lives of many, thus honoring him with a book is the least we can do to show him appreciation.
“A man who has spent all his life since joining ABU in the 70s nurturing men and women and overseeing a department to what it is today, is worth celebrating.”
In his testimony, a former Director-General, Media, and Publicity to the Kaduna State Governor Alhaji Ahmed Maiyaki described the celebrant as a role model and a father for all Mass Communication students. He said the ceremony was to symbolize how good, hardworking, and love the former students of Professor Suleiman Salau enjoyed from him while in the school and even after their studies.
In his short remarks, the celebrant, Professor Salau described the honor done to him by his former students as a surprise saying it has touched his heart. Professor Suleiman Salau thanked his former students for honoring him and charged them to maintain the training and knowledge they acquired while in the university.
Many veterans, seniors, young journalists, and students of Mass Communication of ABU Zaria attended the ceremony.
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