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From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
The story of Prof. Ayuba Bello, the Principal Private Secretary (PPS) to Kaduna State governor, Uba Sani, is that of moving from the proverbial grass to grace as he moved to earn his professorship as well as finding himself in the various positions of endeavours.
He is a professor of business administration.
When he interacted recently with members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State Council, the PPS narrated, among other things, how he began his life from a humble background as a newspaper and magazine distributor in Bauchi State to other states in the Northeast region of the country in the early 80s to the late 90s.
Prof Bello also recalled with excitement how the Kaduna State governor, Uba Sani wooed him to leave his lecturing job at the University of Abuja to join him in serving Kaduna State.
“His Excellency, Governor Uba Sani deemed it appropriately to say, my brother, come back home, you have served the university, leave your marks over there, and come back home and join me in the service of Kaduna State and let’s see what you can do. The following day the governor was sworn in I left Abuja to join him as his Principal Private Secretary (PPS),” Bello said.
While narrating his humble background and his journey into the academic world to attain professorship in business administration, he explained, “I feel honoured, overwhelmed and elated to be in the midst of my formal professional colleagues after about 24 to 25 years. I want to inform you that I am now back home. I am here to parley with the members of the fourth estate of the realm, just to interact with you, for me to acquaint with all of you, for me to understand your problems while trying to discharge your official responsibilities as journalists in the state. Then on my own part, coming from the government side, for me to talk about certain policies as they affect the government of Governor Uba Sani.
“For the purpose of introduction, let me take you back to memory lane so that you can understand me better as the PPS. I started as a sales agent, sales representative in Bauchi State as far back as in 1984. I was the sole distributor of national newspapers and newsmagazines, distributing New Nigerian Newspapers, The Reporter newspaper, The Democrat newspaper, Nasiha, Almizan, Telex and others in the entire Northeast of the country before the creation of the then Gombe State as well as Adamawa and Yobe states. It was during the period of Bauchi, Borno and Gongola states before the creation of Adamawa and Taraba states out of the former Gongola State. So, I was responsible for the distribution of the newspapers and newsmagazine. Any newspaper being sold in the Northeast, I was entitled to some percentages and commission as an agent.
“So it was during this journey that I was able to learn the act of writing through professional colleagues, through our mentors like Waziri Garba who was then the state editor of the New Nigerian Newspaper in Bauchi State. At different intervals Alhaji Tajudeen Ajibade would come around to take over from him during his annual leave and that was when I came in contact with Ajibade. That was in the early 80s. So, I was able to learn the act of writing and at the same time furthering my education.
“So, I went to the University of Maiduguri, bagged my first degree, B.Sc in business administration, and from the University of Maiduguri I proceeded to Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria where I had my masters degree in business administration. After my master programme at ABU, I decided to further my education again. This time around I went to ATBU Bauchi where I had my PhD in management. So, immediately after my masters as I told you, I joined journalism profession. I started reporting for Today Newspaper. And at a certain stage I was appointed as the Bureau Chief of Northeast for Today Newspaper. While covering the entire Northeast, I was elected as the welfare officer of the Correspondent’s chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bauchi State. So, I was once welfare officer of the Correspondent’s chapel of the NUJ in Bauchi State. Later on again, I was elected as the Secretary, Correspondent’s chapel of the NUJ in Bauchi State. I am a person with great interest in sports. I used to cover sports alot. And in the course of my journey into journalism, I was elected as the chairman, Sports Writer Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Bauchi State. At the time Mr Frank Nwabueze was the National President of SWAN, who later handed over to Sani Mohammed Zaria, who also handed over to Mr Madason and so on and so forth.
“Later on I was there during the NUJ tenure of Sani Zoro as the National President. And also during the time of Smart Adeyemi. At the time I was in journalism, my very good friend, Idris Yusuf was a young chap trying to cut his teeth in journalism. We were always together in Bauchi. I am taking you to this memory lane so you can understand how I metamorphosed into journalism, academic and now an administrator in the state. Immediately after my journalism career, I decided to take up the challenge and ventured into the academia for me to contribute my own quota because as a journalist I have seen it all. I put in 19 years of journalism practice. And I started from the scratch as a newspaper distributor. I chaired publicity subcommittee of the Nigeria 1999 world cup. So, I did alot, I was able to cut my teeth in journalism.
“So, when I left journalism, I joined academic in the service of the University of Abuja. I started as an Assistant Lecturer in the department of business administration as far back as the year 2000. By the dint of hard work I was promoted to the rank of Lecturer One. From Lecturer One, to the Senior Lecturer after bagging my PhD. And I was granted promotion by the Governing Council of the university. I was able to be more productive. In academic there are a lot of research activities which involve investigations, alot of writing. And when you are coming from journalism background, you find it easier. But one thing that I lamented that time, during our promotion meeting, we were asked to file our papers for promotion, all our publications. So, I went to my archive, brought all my newspaper cuttings, all my bylines in those years to the venue of the promotion exercise. The entire academic staff were laughing at me, telling me that this was not the kind of publications they wanted. They are looking for the research articles in journals. So, my newspaper publications would not attract any point. I was able to take up the challenge, and I took it. And through that hard work I was able to double my efforts for the research.
“What I am telling you is that if you are moving from journalism to academic, you find it easier. It is just for you to know the rudiments of research. By the time you combine it with your own skills, you will excel. So, I became a senior lecturer, I was appointed head of business administration department. Later on I was appointed deputy dean of the business school of the University of Abuja. While I was there as the dean, I was promoted as associate professor of management. Again, after about three years, I was appointed a pioneer director of the university of Abuja Business Venture. The venture is saddled with the responsibility of generating more revenue internally for the university. Why? Because under the University of Abuja there is what we call University of Abuja Petrol Station, University of Abuja Bakery, University of Abuja Confectionery, University of Abuja Outside Services, University of Abuja Microfinance Bank and many other business ventures. So, I was made the financial director. And as at that time, I was made to combine the two offices, serving as the deputy dean of business school and at the same time pioneer director of that unit.
“After another three years, I was appointed director, centre for distance learning and continue education. University of Abuja was first to establish distance learning and continue education by the act of the Federal Government with the mandate to combine the conventional and distance learning. At the centre we graduated not less than 68,000 students. They are in various sectors of the Nigerian economy contributing to the development of the sector. So, I want you to understand the kind of centre that I was appointed to lead. And as the centre director, we made the centre to become the cash cow of the university. Even now, it is the centre that is being used to service other units. The university can stand on its own even without getting subvention from the Federal Government. It is the centre that conducts what is called distance learning, open admission through e-learning activities. We want to make sure that there is flexibility in life.
“There are some people who don’t have the opportunity to further their education because of their commitment. We want to provide convenient so that wherever you are you can study. You can study online. You can learn virtually. So, while I was serving as the director, centre for distance learning, His Excellency, Governor Uba Sani deemed it appropriately to say, my brother, come back home, you have served the university, leave your marks over there, and come back home and join me in the service of Kaduna State and let’s see what you can do. The following day the governor was sworn in I left Abuja to join him as his Principal Private Secretary (PPS). I want to assure you I am going to bring government closer to journalists as a professional body”.
