Professor Ladi Adamu: First Professor of Broadcasting in Northern Nigeria
Professor Ladi Adamu is a distinguished abusite, a pacesetter, and a prominent academic who is the first professor of broadcasting in entire northern Nigeria.
Reputed for her firm disposition, her disciplinary and ‘no-nonsense” attitude has always put students on their toes. But behind her tough mien is a humane woman who as a trained broadcast journalist has seen both of the journalism profession, namely training and practice. By a dint of hard work, she rose to become a role model to many.
Professor Ladi Adamu was born on 17 July 1958 at Yaba, Lagos. Her father, Adamu Pankshin, died as a soldier in the line of duty while she was still very young. The late Pankshin was better known to many old-time soldiers as Sgt Major Adamu Pankshin, and he had made history as the first Nigerian to become a Regimental Sergeant Major of the Nigerian Army Corps of Engineers in Kaduna.
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She started her academic carrier at Army Children’s School, Ribadu Cantonment, Kaduna, and later went to Queen Amina College, Kakuri, Kaduna. She proceeded to obtain her B.A. Mass Communication (specializing in radio and television) at Columbia College, Los Angeles, California (USA) and B.A. Journalism and Mass Communication, at City University, London, Credits transferred to Columbia College, Los Angeles (USA).
The quest for intellectual acquisition took Prof. Ladi to obtain her MA (Communication Arts – Film), at Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, California (USA).
To gain academic prowess, Professor Ladi Adamu went further to enrich herself with a PGD (Development Studies), from Mount Carmel Golda Meir Institute, Haifa (Israel), and finally settled down for Ph.D. (Sociology of Mass Communication), at her home university of ABU, Zaria in Conflict/Criminology/Development.
Professor Ladi Adamu’s Career
Distinguished Professor Ladi Adamu started her professional carrier as a PRO at Nigerian Consulate, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, between 1982 and 1984; News Editor, NYSC, NTA Jos, from 1984 to 1985. She was also at Nigerian Television Authority, NTA Jos, between 1985 and 1987.
Between 1987 and 1995, the great academician served as Deputy Editor Weekly, with The Democrat Newspapers, Kaduna. she later became Lecturer/Director of Training, Catholic Media Service Centre, Kaduna, from 1995 to 1999.
In what seemed like a final destination for the seasoned scholar, Professor Ladi Adamu finally settled down as Lecturer in the department of Mass Communication, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1999, where she has remained till date rising through the ranks to become the first professor of broadcasting in Northern Nigeria.
Prof Ladi She said: “When I began my education, I never thought that one day, I would become the first professor of broadcasting in Northern Nigeria. I didn’t know that I would make or break any academic record in that field of study or write my name in gold as reported by the broadcast stations.
“The idea of becoming the first professor of broadcasting was hatched by my postgraduate students in the Department of Mass Communication, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria when I became an Associate Professor in 2014.
“Having attained the full chair of professor (backdated to October 2017), I was given the specialization of broadcasting because anybody promoted to the rank of professor must have a specialization attached to it, based on qualifications and academic publications.
“At a luncheon in honor of my professorship as the first female professor of broadcasting in Northern Nigeria, industry people present at the occasion made it known that I was not only the first female but the first broadcast professor in the region. All I can say is to God be the glory.”
She believe in one indivisible north
She said: “As a Northerner, I believe in one indivisible north. Culturally, I am Hausa. Many will be surprised at this remark because I come from Plateau State. Most of my life is spent in the midst of Hausa people. Where you grew up is more important than your ethnic background.
“… Growing up in Kaduna in the old Northern Region has a lot of impact on my life. We were considered the same people.
In her chosen carrier, Professor Ladi Adamu has not failed herself and the society. She has worked assiduously and round the clock to improve on the society and those that came across her.
She has not relented in any way in contributing her quota in her chosen profession. She has contributed immensely to Media Management, Media Programme Evaluation, Media in-house Training, Workshop Management, Conflict Management, Curriculum Development and Training Workshops in diverse fields.
As a lecturer, her disciplinary attitude has always put students on their toes. She was fondly referred to as a ‘no nonsense lecturer’. In a region where women are lacking behind the rest of the world in Western education, rising to the level of a first professor in a particular field is no mean achievement.
Ladi has received several awards including the best Lecturer 2017/2018 session, Dept of Mass Communication, Faculty of Social Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and published Over 40 academic and personal publications.
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