The importance of television in democracy: A cue for Nigeria

By Muhammad Jameel Yusha’u
(mjyshau@yahoo.com)

The twentieth century has seen a transformation in the nature of communication. Much of it is now mediated through print or electronic technology, bought and sold in a market system, and produced in institutions, marked by a complex division of labour (curran; 2000:19). Researchers begin inquiring into the effects of television almost as soon as these strange and marvellous new devices started to appear in living rooms across the land in the late 1940s and 1950s.

Researchers in Mass Communication were interested in knowing how specific messages, channels and sources could produce changes in attitudes or behaviours. This was the natural outgrowth of the way Mass Communication research had developed from the 1920s, fueled by public fear of power of the media, along with anxious politicians, eager adv ertisers, crusading social engineers, and others itching to use the massive reach of the media to get “their message across” quickly and efficiently. Government, military and corporate funding sources played an important role in the decision of those working within the field to take this direction. The goal was to determine what kind of pursuasive messages could be used most effectively in campaigns of various kinds - political, advertising, public health, educational, military and so on (Shanahan & Morgan; 1999:10).

An excess of 750 million T.V. sets in more than 160 countries are watched by 2.5 billion people per day (Kellner; 1990:1). Given television’s penetration into everyday life, the controversy sorrounding it is not surprising. The controversy intensifies in light of debates over its social and political functions.

There are of course voracious readers, movie fanatics, web surfers, magazine devotees and those who never turn off the radio. But for many people television dominates the media diet. For almost everyone, television viewing begins before we develop the tastes and selective patterns of consumption that we apply to other media, usage patterns for other media are informed by the fact of being born into households where television is virtually a amember of the family.

Unlike the print media, television does not require literacy. Unlike theatrical movies, television runs almost continuously and can be watched without leaving one’s home and without payment on a programme basis. Unlike radio, television can show as well as tell. Unlike Internet, television does not require computer skills. Most of all, Gabner and Gross argued that television is different from other media in its centralised mass-production and nationalistic use of a coherent set of images and messages produced to appeal to virtually the entire population (Shanahan & Morgan; 1999:21).

Despite the growth of new technologies and explosion of channels since 1970s, television remains the dorminant purveyor of stories and messages shared across lines of class, gender, race, age, religion, geography, ethnicity and so on. Television increasingly operates not only in a national, politically bounded space, but within the economic structures of a global market place (Stokes and Reading; 1999:248).

Recent changes to the technologies of television, and in particular the emergence of Satellite and cable modes of transmission, have already began to fragment television audiences and transform the relationship between television and thenation. The capacity of cable and satellite signals to cross national boundries has redrawn the lines of television and the ways it imagines and address the audience (Ibid: 248).

Therefore, the utilisation of the television in democracy is very crucial, because democracy required a vital and well informed public, eager to participate in debates and struggles concerning political issues of common interest.

Telelvision can serve as a check on excessive state power, but it also provides government with an incredibly powerful instrument of governance and social controlll. Telelvision provides the president with the power to address millions of people whenever he or she wishes (Kellner; 1990:105). Television mobilizes images, forms, style and ideas to present ideological positions. It draws on the process of social experience, uses familiar generic codes and forms, and employs rhetorical and persuasive devices to attempt to induce consent to certain positions and practices, yet this process of ideological production and transmissiion is not one dimensional process of indoctrination, but rather, is an active process of negotiation that can be resisted or transformed by audiences according to their own ends and interests (Ibid, 18-19).

It should be understood that its through excessive utilisation of the television that 3rd world countries and Nigeria in particular were deceived into western model of democratic governance which is detrimental to them, which resulted in cultural imperialism and the exporting of American television.

Having realised this danger, developing countries fought in the United Nations and elsewhere for a “new world information order” that would permit them to control the information and entertainment flowing into their countries. The United States, however fought for “freedom of information”, encouraging and supporting commercial television enterprises throughout the world that would be open to U.S. programming and advertising.

During the 1980s, U.S. domination of the world television market dramatically increased. In 1984, U.S. programmes accounted for 75 per cent of the 400 million international market place. By the end of the decade, U.S. television programme distribution were taking in more than $1.3 billion from programme sales; and by 1992 U.S distributers were taking more than $3.6 billion with $2.7 billion coming from western Europe. There was also increased investment by the U.S. networks in foreign television systems and the beginning of foreign co-productions (Kellner; 1990:81-82).

The television in Nigeria whether in the federal, state or those privately owned should try and explore the interest of the public. this version of the public interest requires equal access to education, information and the media of public debate. Instead of presenting presidential media chats or other programmes that are more favourable to the governments, more avenues should ge created for the public to air their views on how they are governed. In this regard, a high degree of social responsibility is required, where both the rulers and the ruled will respect their views by juxtaposing their arguments, and the right one should prevail.

Although the country pays lip service to these ideals, in fact, a large number of Nigerians are uneducated, uninformed, and deprived of all means of public participation and expression.

Achieving democracy, even in a minimal sense, thus requires greater access to education to diverse sources of information, and to participate in social and political processes.

I believe that, this notion of public interest is compatible with the views of those genuinely in support of democracy whether they are liberals or conservatives, democratic socialists, civil libertarians or minority rights advocates (Kellner; 1990:186). The relevant questions regarding broadcasting then are these: what is the role of broadcasting in a democratic society? How can broadcasting serve public interest in promoting democracy and creating a freer, more egalitarian, more participatory and hence more democratic society? As noted an era of new communications technologies and new industries such as cable and satellite television obviously requires new reflection on broadcasting, democracy and the public interest in terms of existing technological, political and economic capabilities (Ibid: 186).

Accountability, which has always been implied in the notion that broadcasting should serve public interest, acquires even more importance and urgency during an era when the mass media, especially television are of central in importance on our politics, society and everyday life. With television, so powerful and influential, broadcasting should be all the more accountable to the public for the effects of its programming, providing adequate news, information and public affairs programming is thus a civic responsibilsity for if the public is not well educated and informed,a vital, robust, functioning democracy is not possible. In a democratic public sphere the citizenry are informed and able to debate and participate in public decisions (Habermas 1989 cited in Kellner 1990: 186).

At this juncture, its very important for all tiers of government in Nigeria to realise the power of the television, because its a sight and hearing medium, and the consumption of its messages has more direct impact than the rest of the media. The type of dressing the youth wear, the behaviour of students in the campus are all a reflection of the kind of information people consume f rom the television. So if the government can utilise the television more effectively, it can change the tune of thinking of the people into a purposeful and goal oriented one.

For instance in a research conducted under the direction of George Gerbner (1986) at the University of Pennsylvania over a number of years suggests that those who watch television more intensely, an activity they define as ‘mainstreaming’ begin to articulate a view of their world that is uniquely television’s own, representing as it does, that world in terms at some remove from the realities of their daily lives. The world is seen through the television’s lens as it were and, they argue, such mainstreaming viewers are more anxious, more fearful, more conservative as a result (Silverstone, 1999:99).

Therefore, its important for those in the realm of power in the present civilian administration to realise that the importance of the television is to mediate between the leaders and the led, presenting the realities of life for the leaders to see and take corrective measures. Television managers whether the government-owned or the private ones should be allowed to exercise their job without interference, chanting praises for the president(s), governors, legislators will do no good to the culture of good governance. Appointment of the heads of these television stations should not be on political interest, but on professionalism, competence and in conformity with the bureaucratic hierachy. Failure to do so would continue to present the television as a mere sycophantic box imposed on the people and the result would continue to be excessive patronisation of foreign media, hence making the people to become psychologically dependent, marginalised and globalised..

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Give Women A Chance

By Amina Sa’idu Abubakar

A woman is a unique creature, a beautiful, dedicated and gracious human being, yet her life is filled with activities only she can shoulder. First of all, she is born into a family where girls are not prefered. Some men even say “not a girl again” to their wives or “why do you always give birth to girls, as if the mother had anything to do with the sex of her baby. How callous! The girl child grows up in a family where only the females participate in the housechores, cooking, washing, cleaning, in short any menial job you can think of. In some ethnic groups, the women grow up in the notion that her duty in this world is house-keeping and taking care of the men. In other cases, she is expected to be the breadwinner. In my place, you hear things like men don’t cook, wash or lift a single finger in the house. Tell me, who was born a cleaner, a cook or even a housekekeper? Circumstances mould a person depending on the situation in which he/she finds himself/herself.

Then, if she is opportuned, she gets educated. In the process of acquiring education, she goes through a lot, she has to go through school, child birth, exams and taking care of the”big babies”, if she is married. I have seen my mates who are married, performing alot of roles. Some who have understanding husbands get by while the less fortunate ones get frustrated and either drop out or keep carrying over,” “spillingover”or “flyingover” in the university. Some decide not to further their education and instead become full time housewives. I’m not complaining about being a full time housewife, if one wants to be, a full time housewife, its her life. The women wither but endures and it makes me swell with pride because they are patient and persevering. If she is newly wed, the husband comes at anytime and distorts her schedule, just wait till she gets pregnant that “double wahala”. She becomes three people, the student, the wife and the mother to be. Pregnancy is a long and trying time and when I see my fellow mates coming for lectures being the people they are, I get filled with admiration and I remark”, To be a woman is not easy. After she gives birth, sometimes a day to the exams, sometimes during exam, she endures all the pain and comes to school. Some lecturers even complain. I don’t blame male lecturers if they do, but the female lecturers, I don’t know why they can’t sympathise or relate with fellow women. I have a friend who had to defer a session because she couldn’t cope, she had a two year old and just gave birth to another baby. She got tired and droped everything for a while, I urged her to come back but her reply was “Na gaji” - I’m tired. I left it there.

A course mate was even blaming her for not planning typical sexiest remark. Do yuou think its easy? nothing is as easy as it looks.

Then she graduates, thank God! after years at the university because of one strike or another. If her husband is a dictator, he packs her certificates and keeps them where she wouldn’t find them in case she nurtures the hope of furthering her education or working. The liberal husband might encourage her to “move up the ladder”. A small collegue of mine said, ‘ba dole’ when he saw me writing this article. He said, “the way you make your bed, so will you lie on it”. He went on to say that a woman is supposed to put her mind in one place either home or school. I had to knock some sense into his head. In the first place, if you’re not educated, they will be the first to say your’re not on the same wave length with them or even marry an educated co-wife leaving you to wallow in your ignorance.

Then comes the career, I know we can’t have our cake and eat it but we can try. The average working woman, wakes up early in the morning, takes care of the children’s needs, clean the house, takes care of the husband before leaving her house. She’s already tired before even going for work. She has to prepare dinner and make sure the house is in order. the man comes home and shouts or complains if he’s dinner is not ready. He does not look at her tight schedule, her multiple roles. If you can’t appreciate a woman, then don’t frustrate her efforts.

At work, some bosses give women a hardtime, some even harass them physically and mentally. You’ve made to think it’s a man’s world and sometimes no matter how hard you work, you can’t go beyong a certain level because its for MEN only.

Some bosses even fire or refuse to employ a woman who is married with children because they want to exploit her fully and a family will prevent her from yielding maximum output. We all go through these just to get by or to have a place in the society.

Furthermore, women are skilled, they will never sit down and watch their family suffer. they engage in all forms of trade because sometimes they are the breadwinners of the house. Petty trading has been an old profession of ours, serving, catering, business, beauty salon, plaiting hairs, house keep or even working in between jobs. Men, I urge you to appreciate women, remember, a woman gave birth to you, know that a woman is a priceless gem, don’t try to bend or strenghten her because she might break.

Our society today, does not really provide a form of ease and comfort for the women. Instead, she is burdened with so much. In advanced countries, provisions are made for working women with babies, where a kind of nursery or day care centre is established, where they can be with their babies in their offices at certain times. Why can’t we adopt it in schools, the authorities should be more lenient towards women, in terms of pregnancy or certain ailment and provision for supplementary exams should be given.

Husbands or even men in our lives should try to be understanding and encouraging, since the common adage “to educate a woman is to educate an entire nation” is a fact and not fiction. You can’t live without women, so work hand in hand with them towards the development of yourself, your family and the society at large.

I’m no woman activist but I am a woman and I support all women like me.

Women, I salute you, you are indeed a jewel beyond price and anyone who does not appreciate you is an ingrate.

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The unwanted Companion

By Amina S. Abubakar

A woman is a unique creature, a beautiful, dedicated and gracious human being, yet her life is filled with activities only she can shoulder. First of all, she is born into a family where girls are not prefered. Some men even say “not a girl again” to their wives or “why do you always give birth to girls, as if the mother had anything to do with the sex of her baby. How callous! The girl child grows up in a family where only the females participate in the housechores, cooking, washing, cleaning, in short any menial job you can think of. In some ethnic groups, the women grow up in the notion that her duty in this world is house-keeping and taking care of the men. In other cases, she is expected to be the breadwinner. In my place, you hear things like men don’t cook, wash or lift a single finger in the house. Tell me, who was born a cleaner, a cook or even a housekekeper? Circumstances mould a person depending on the situation in which he/she finds himself/herself.

I was so engrossed in the movie up, close and personal which is succeeded in making me cry my eyes out, when it is just a work of art. I cried for the actress, Tally, I cried for myself, I cried for my lost ones, I simply cried.

My husband, Habib who was sleeping on the couch woke up on hearing my cries. “Beeba mai ya faru”? Why are you crying. I tried controlling myself and replied, my love, I am crying for the unknown. He gave me words of endearment and said lets go to bed. We did just that and I forget all miseries.

Habib and I have been married for six years and we have a daughter, Sauda, the apple of my eyes, she looks just like her dad and so adorable though we have been trying to give her some sisters and brothers. It seems Allah has other plans for us. My life with Habib has been a life beyond my dreams, because I got married for the wrong reasons, meaning it was a marriage of convenience, we started on the wrong side. I was not expecting much from him, but we fell in love gradually which changed my mind about falling in love before marriage. Our life together was wonderful, living together, being cautious towards each other, learning to smile and laugh together, going through the odds were all part of the beauty of our marriage. My life with Habib was that of dedication and contention, that of joy and sorrow, but above all it was a life planned by God.

Then came the changes, Habib, started keeping late nights blaming it on his work. He became distant and unapproachable, he stopped being affectionate towards me. We used to cuddle a lot but now it seems, he has forgotten how to express love, he even forgot my birthday and our anniversary. It made me see red, I asked about the changes but he couldn’t give me a straight answer. I became bored, because I am a full time house wife, I kept myself busy writing poems and short stories for an invisible audience because I was the only audience. I didn’t know the changes were for something else, THE DREADED CO-WIFE

Habib came home late one night, I fed up with his behaviour,I slept off leaving his dinner in the fridge, he woke me up and asked for his dinner. I replied, “BA A BA KA BA A INDA KA JE!? Didn’t you eat it from the place you went? I turned my back and pretended sleeping. He left and I heard movement in the kitchen. I guessed he was warming his dinner. He returned after a while and said “Beeba we have to talk. I ignored him, he called my name twice, the third time he gave me the shock of my life, he said Beeba I’m getting married. I jumped from the bed clutching my heart, a sudden rush of hot air came through me. My heart beat going faster by the minutes, “What are you saying Habib?” You heard me right he replied”. I kept saying the Kalmatus-shahada and Inna lillahi Wa Inna Illahi Raji’un. I couldn’t sleep that night. I left the bedroom and went to the sitting room. Why is Habib trying to destroy our marriage? Why is he bringing another woman into our home? Has he stopped loving me? Am I getting uglier or fatter? What qualities does she possess that I don’t have? What? When? How? Occupied my mind for a long time. I have seen my friends, relatives with mates, even I, was brought up in a polygamous home, but I was so foolish to think my husband will not marry again one day.

I was dejected, but I couldn’t cry, may be the shock was too much. I decided to pray, prayers were my only solace. The days that followed were days I wouldn’t want to remember because there was a gulf between me and Habib. I wasn’t comfortable in his presence and greetings were the only form of communication between us. Habib, didn’t volunteer to explain his actions and I was too proud to ask. Every time I looked at him, I thought hypocrite, so this is my reward for loving him. I started neglecting my duties as a wife, I picked quarrels. I nagged, I became a terror to my husband. Sometimes, he ignores me which is frustrating. Even his friends and relatives suffered because I believed they have a hand in this “AMARYA BUSINESS”.

Then one day a friend of mine came calling and what she sasid to me, I will never forget. She asked, “what is this nonsense I hear about you and Habib? I retaliated instantly telling her about the hell I was giving Habib. She said “KASH’! KIN BAN KUNYA” - I am disappointed in you. I said what have I done? Its only natural for me to fight against a mate. Mairo advised me and made me realized my mistakes. That was no way to treat my husband, but would you blame me? That is a man I love dearly and I can’t understand why he wants to bring another woman just like me. The more I pushed him, the more I succeeded in severing the ties of love and understanding we’ve built. My “terrorist activities” made him closer to the other woman. Mairo said it is a test from Allah accept it and pray, whatever will happen will surely happen.

I thanked her and decided on my mission: winning Habib back. I tried but the road was not easy, no one wants a companion in form of a mate. I keep wondering and sometimes may God forgive me, I can’t understand why men behave the way they do? Why are they polygamous by nature? If a woman can stay with one man for her entire life, why can’t the man do so? My sister, Teema says, I am too naive and full of optimism”, You better be realistic and accept men the way they are. Still I wonder, its true what someone said men are from mars, women from Venus.

Habib travelled for some days and before he came back, I decided to surprise him. Sauda was taken to her grandparent’s. I went to saloon, applied henna design on my hand and feet, prepared his favourite delicacy and dressed in the best way I could. I was looking like a bride all in anticipation of his arrival.

Immediately he came in, I rushed and embraced him, it felt so good reminding me of the old days. Habib was surprised but he held me tight as if there was no tomorrow. I was convinced he missed me and there was hope of rekindling the passion that was once there. That night I gave him a befitting welcome. Habib didn’t comment till the following day. What has happened to my wife? He asked. I replied she has grown up”. That was when the tap opened and the flow of information continued for a long time. He assured me of his love for me, I believed him. He gave me his reasons for bringing THE UNWANTED COMPANION as I named her. I accepted them for the sake of peace and love. He said ki kwantar da hankalin ki keep your mind at rest” I said na kwantar I have kept it.

We prayed for the best

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Mass Communications Department remounts Masters Programme

• Students to get their results each semester
• S.R.A. speaker resigns
• Print/broadcast dichotomy to stop and computer pool to be established in Mass Comm. Dept.

By Muhammed Jameel Yusha'u & Faith Olunyon

The Head of Department of Mass Communications, Dr. Abdurrahman Adam, has disclosed in an interview with Bayero Beacon that the masters programme in the department will be remounted this session. He further asserted that among the programmes slated for this session include: Introducing an Alumni Association for the department, reactivating the air conditions and opening an academic cooperation with other universities and organisations in Nigeria and abroad.

The H.O.D. further lamented that a computer pool will be opened to replace the old typing room so that anybody who graduates from Mass Communication Department (B.U.K.) will be a computer literate. Dr. Adam further revealed that the print and broadcast sequence in 400 level will hopefully be cancelled from this session, "because the market is squeezing, there is the need to broaden the scope of our students" he remarked.

As part of the staff development effort, some lecturers have been allowed to go for further studies, namely Malam Usman Abubakar (Unimaid), Malam Balarabe Maikaba and Abubakar Jika (South-Africa) while Abubakar Alhassan is already in the United States. He thanked the vice chancellor, Professor Musa Abdullahi for making funds available to the department.

Dr. Abdurrahman Adam became the head of department of Mass Communications last session (2000/2001). He pursued his first degree in education with major in English language from Ohio University in the United States, M.A. Organisational Communication, M.ed Guidance and Counselling from the same university, and a P.hd in radio, television and film from Northwestern University, also in the United States.

Moreso, the president of the Students' Union government, Munir Dahiru has said that about 20 points proposal was sent to the senate of the University and they have already received the approval of some of the proposals.

According to him, the University senate has agreed on issuing results to each student per semester, and about 2 buses will be repaired and will work upto 12.00 midnight in order to ease the problem of transportation in both campuses.

Asked to comment on the resignation of the Speaker of the Students Representative Assembly, Isyaku Yusuf Gwamnna and if it's is true that he has resigned because of the increment on the dues of the S.U.G. from N50 to N100, the president said he had a private meeting with the former speaker and that the resignation was voluntary and on personal ground. Efforts to meet the speaker by the Bayero Beacon up to the time of compiling this report proved abortive.

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Yobe Governor, others donate to Mambayya House

By MUHAMMAD KABIR MUHAMMAD

THE governor of Yobe state, Alhaji Bukar Abba Ibrahim, has made a donatiion of five hundred thousand naira to the centre for Democratic Research and Training, Mambaya House, Bayero University, Kano.

The governor made this known at a one day symposium organised by the centre in memory of Malam Aminu Kano. Narrating how he became a scribe of NEPU while he was still in primary school, he commended the centre for keeping the legacy of Malam Aminu Kano alive through its activities. The Yobe state governor also disclosed that two of his f riends who were present at the occasion, Alhaji Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya and Barrister Ali Sa'ad Birnin Kudu, former governors of Kano and Jigawa states respectivdely, had pledged to donate a bus to the centre on his behalf.

Other donations to the centre of five hundred thousasnd naira each, came from the Hon. speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Ghali Umar Na'abba and the House of Representative through Hon. Barau Jibrin, the chairman, House committee on appropriation.

The centre for Democratic Research and Training was established by Bayero University, Kano in November 2000 to promote theoritical and applied research with the aim of consolidating Nigeria's growing democratic heritage. The centre, located in the residence of Malam Aminu Kano Mambayya House, organises various programmes including the Malam Aminu Kano Memorial symposium and the Mambayya House Public lecture series for the discussions of issues of contemporary relevance in the country's political scene.

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B.U.K. Admits over three thousand students

By Babangida Baliya

OVER three thousand five hundred and eighty seven students were admitted by Bayero University, Kano during the 2000/2001 academic session.

This was disclosed by the registrar of the University, Alhaji Farouk Mohammed Yanganau in an interview with Beacon correspondent in his office. The registrar stated that eleven thousand candidates who applied for admission from all the 36 states of the federation including Abuja, which he said, the number exceeded the total number of the applicants into the remaining universities in the North-west zone.

According to Alhaji Farouk Yanganau, nine hundred and ninety nine (999) students came through direct entry, two thousand and thirty seven (2,037) were admitted through University Matriculation Examination (U.M.E.) as well as five hundred and fifty one (551) students are from the Remedial Sciences programme and re-admission exercise which is totally calculated to eight hundred and eighty one (881) are females and two thousand seven hundred and six (2,706) are males. However, Yanganau pointed out that, there is substantial increase in the female students in this session's admission exercise compared to previous sessions. The registrar further related this development as the societal realisation that educating female folk is like educating the whole society considering the role of women in training the young ones.

The registrar of the university, Alhaji Farouk Mohammed Yanganau urged the students to bear with the problems of congestion in the hostels, lecture halls as well as the theatres. According to the registrar, the University is intensifying its efforts towards provision of constant water and electricity supply and transportation system among others, with a view to making students live comfortably during their stay in the university.

He then advised the newly admitted students to enjoy their academic freedom for the time to make the optimum use of the new found freedom for learning purposes and also be serious in their studies.

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AKTH holds surgical lecture

By HALIMA ISHAQ

THE department of surgery of the Aminu Kano Teachiang Hospital (AKTH) has recently introduced Kano surgical lecture series. The lecture titled, "HIV Ethics and the Surgeon" was delivered by professor T.M. Shokumbo, from the University of Ibadan Teaching Hospital. The lecture is going to be conducted on quarterly basis in which the first session of this year has already been conducted by Prof. T.M. Shokumbi. Speaking during the occasion, the head, department of surgery of AKTH, Dr. Alhasan Sani said that the aim of Kano surgical lecture series to expose surgeons over their rights pertaining to their profession, because surgeons are often more mingling with blood and are in more danger than other medical doctors to contact HIV, therefore, surgeons are more prone to contact it than others which as at now no cure has been discovered. Therefore, there is a great need for some measures to protect surgeons from becoming victims.

Speaking further, Dr. Alhassan stated that it is one of the aim of this lecture to improve the public relations of AKTH because despite the fact that the hospital is well equipped with modern instruments that are never possesed by any teaching hospital in Nigeria and in most cases, the lack of such instruments force some hospitals to send their patients abroad, even when they have professional doctors but AKTH is yet to be recognised all over the nation. He however disclosed that in some parts of Nigeria, more especially southern part of the country, some people when you say AKTH they will ask you what AKTH means. So through this initiative, by inviting academic surgeons from different teaching hospitals from the southern part of the country, the image of the AKTH will hopefully be raised that is why the lecture was conducted by the guest which will continue like that - not because they don't have someone to deliver the lecture, but to let the world know about its existence and get patients from different parts of the country to patronise it.

However, one of the greatest problems stated by Dr. Alhassan was that some people suspected that doctors in AKTH are cultist because in so many cases when patients were brought to the hospital, they die instantly without considering that the patient was brought at his dying minute after going through various hospitals and doctors.

So AKTH is the last hospital to offer its help to the patient hence there is need to clarify the mind of people that AKATH is a tertiary institution that is the last stage for a patient to go through after all other hospitals failed to discover the patients problem, then his last hope is AKTH.

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Microbes are friends of Man - Dr. Wali

By MUHAMMAD KABIR MUHAMMAD

Microbes have been descvribed as the friends of man and not his enemies. This observation was made by the chief medical director, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Dr. Sadiq S. Wali at the presentation ceremony of a book titled Microbial World: A Mysterious Journey.

Dr. Wali, who was also the chief host at the occasion stated that the book aims at supplying the world of microbes for easier ordinary human under standing. This, he says, the author Faruk Sarkin Fada was able to do in an educative, entertaining and interesting manner, while recommending the book to all and sundry, Dr. Wali praised the author for bringing together the literary and medical worlds, describing him (the author) as an asset to both world.

In a guest lecture titled, "language literacy and the science world" the dean faculty of arts and Islamic Studies, Bayero University, Dr Abubakar Rasheed, posited that the occasion witnessed the contracting of marriage between literary language and scientific language. He also observed that the languages of science is only considered inaccessible by non scientists because we tend to regard it as a statement of fact like a divine statement that should not be subjected to criticism. He pointed out that scientific language is not as sacred and free of ambiguities as is generally assumed.' I am a scientist of the linguistic persuation, he said.

Presenting the book on behalf of the vice chancellor, Bayero University, Professor Musa Abdullahi, the deputy vice chancellor (Academic), Dr. Muhammed Yahuza Bello, commended the author for a job well done. He declared that the University would acquire twenty copies of the book at twenty thousand naira for distribution to the library and various faculties for research purposes. Dr. Wali also acquired 15 copies of the book for the various departments of AKTH for 15 thousand naira while the dean, FAIS, bought five copies at one thousand naira each for the faculty. Others who bought the book were the Kano state commissioner for finance, Dr. Hafiz Abubakar Siddiq, who bought four copies for 20 thousand naira and head of department of Microbiology who bought 5 copies for ten thousand naira.

The author, Faruk Sarkin Fada, is a lecture in the department of Medical Microbiology, Bayero University, Kano.

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Southern Universities do not dictate to ASUU - ASUU - BUK Chairman

By MUKHTAR ALKASIM

THE chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Bayero University Chapter Malam Nasir Fagge has debunked the argument that southern universities dictate ASUU affairs.

Speaking in an interview with Bayero Beacon he said, "you may say that there are more universities in the southern part of the country, but that does not mean that they always come with one position.

He further argued that, ASUU gives everybody equal opportunity wherever he may come from, and that is the principle of ASUU.

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... CELEBRATES "HOSPITAL DAY" TOO

By Atiku Muhd Tanko/Halima Ishaq

DR. Abubakar Imam has been commended for his wonderful contributions made not only to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital but to the medical profession in general. The commendation was made by B. Attah, a professor of pathology while delivering a speech in an annual lecture organised by the management of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital to celebrate this years hospital day.

Professor Attah who was the guest speaker at the occasion delivered a lecture titled "supposition, superstition and investigative medicine described Dr. Abubakar Imam as a person who devoted his life for the case of women in pregnancy and the better of the society.

The professor of pathodology further shed more lights on shallow medicure which according to him is an off hand method that does not study problems over time. He stated that, no accumulation of experience or expertise practise based on the supernatural or spiritual tapes the system further.

Professor Attah maintained that, scientific medicine is tangible medicine, because it seeks the cause of ailments so as to administer the scientific remedy. He however, went on to state the colossal failure of scientific medicine. "In Nigeria, the devastation of the health services in the many years of military rule is presumed to be a major factor and in some localities, absence of science constitutes a major impediment to the acceptance of scientific medicare, he lamented.

The widow of late Abubakar Imam, Mrs. Monica Imam received a gift in honour of her late husband. However, other awards were received by two medical doctors, two nurses, one radiologist and some staff of the hospital at the junior category awards.

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From Kano to Kalamazoo

By Abubakar D. Alhassan

The uncertainty surrounding my departure ended only a few minutes before the plane touched down, a word came from the travel agent confirming that there would be a seat for me. Thus, I said to myself the journey is about to begin.

The uncertainty of my trip had begun with the funding or lack of it to be more appropriate. Poor me had the ambition but not the wherewithal to embark on the expensive graduate studies in the United States. Fortunately for me, my magnanimous governor of Niger state, Engr. Abdulkadir Kure, my considerate employer, the Bayero University, Kano and my mentor, the gracious Prof. Ali A. Mazrui (yes, the same one), came to my aid with a year's tuition, paid study leave and books and medical insurance respectively. Also, my generous, foremost amongst them Jamil Yusha'u, Sani Bello and Bashir severally took care of my BTA and incidental expenses.

Perhaps one of the weeks that would remain in my memory as most engaging was the one following the issuance of my U.S. visa, which was jus a week before my departure. Too many relatives, friends, well wishers and colleagues to bid bye, too many things to clear from my desk, and too many auxiliary things to do when traveling, especially if one were going to be away for a long time. It was just impossible for me to personally bid all byes. Therefore I crave the forgiveness and understanding of all.

As my tentative departure date approached, good friends and others who helped me run errands surrounded me. My brother Yusuf and friend Bashir drove all the way from Abuja to Kano so did Danmusa from Katsina. The three joined Nura and Lamara, and all remained at my beck and call until it was time for me to board the flight. Throughout that very engaging week, the house of our Sheikh, Malam Rabi'u Inuwa, remained our rendezvous, providing accommodation for guests.

Came Sunday, day of departure. At the Aminu Kano International Airport., one person I am closely associated with was conspicuously missing. Bala A. Muhammad. He was on a tour to - guess where-my destination, USA. But the farewell was still pleasant, as there came the humble Dr. Bashir Galadanchi and his kids, This made me not just happy, but honoured by the presence of this complete gentleman. We had a photograph (copies of which I eagerly still await). It was a heavy farewell to my Kano adopted family. Leaving Kano about 6.35 pm that Sunday evening on board KLM, our first stopover was Abidjan, Reaslising that the plane would be in Abidjan for 80 minutes before taking off to Amsterdam, another fellow young academic on his way to he UK Shehu Adamu, two other young men and I requested that we be allowed to de-board and perform our Maghrib and Isha prayers. The crew refused on the ground that we had no visas to enter Cote d'Ivoire. I promptly reminded them that we are citizens of a fellow ECOWAS member country, so we required no visa to enter Cote d'Ivoire. The Europeans were not persuaded.

After an hour twenty minutes in Abidjan, we took off for the 7-hour flight to Amsterdam. After spending ten hours and forty-five minutes on board, one would expect to arrive Amsterdam at 5.20 a.m. having taken off from Kano at 6.35 p.m. right? Wrong. It was 6.20 am Amsterdam time. So I had lost one hour of my time. But the worst was yet to come.

As Allah would have it, the only person I earlier reported missing at the Kano airport for my departure, Bala Muhammd, and I were to run into each other at Amsterdam. Guessing that I was going to arrive Amsterdam at about the same time, he requested his co-travellers to help him be on the look for any man dressed the Hausa way. And lo and behold. There I was at one of the counters having my bag screened and my connecting flight confirmed. My cap was the mascot used to sight me in the midst of the multitude. I was so glad that this brother, mentor, friend and former lecturer of mine and I had the opportunity for us to say to each other, in the words of Yusuf Ali, Fare thee well, my brother.

Finally, I took my connecting flight, which departed at 8.00 a.m. as scheduled. It was to be my longest time in the air yet, eight hours and thirty five minutes nonstop. So having left Amsterdam at eight, and flying for eight and a half hours, one would expect to arrive at destination by 4.35 p.m. right? Wrong again. We arrived Detroit, Michigan, in the U.S.A. at 10.35 a.m. So what happened to the six hours? Well, after losing one hour upon arrival in Amsterdam, I gained six hours upon arrival at Detroit. But mind you, it was five hours I gained after subtracting the one lost at Amsterdam. Whether this was a blessing or not, I cannot say.

There was little or no apprehension for a Muslim arriving the pre-September 11th U.S.A. And for lucky me, the immigration chap asked only one question. What are you going to study? My answer was of course too handy and so did I pass without any hassle. I also observed a sister in Hijab go through the immigration check with no intricacies. I wonder if the situation would have been that easy for me with both Abu and Al in my names or for her in the Hijab in a post September 11th scenario.

Thus I said to myself. This is the USA! But while trying to find a means of getting to my final destination, the Hausa saying rashin sani ya fi dare duhu played out on me. I paid about $180 for a 49-munite flight to get to my destination, which would have cost me only $50 (taxi fares inclusive) to get to by either bus or train, even though in the longer time of three hours. But don't tell me the flight saved me time. Ironically, it was my longest wait for a flight - 21/2 hours. So that would have taken care of my bus or train ride.

Alhamdulillah, I finally arrived my destination, Kalamazoo at 12 midnight Monday. Upon arrival, I had an encounter with four Americans. One not too kind, the other three very caring and helpful. The first pointed out a public payphone to me to call a taxi but would not listen, let alone help, as I tried to ask him where. I could get some change, as I had no coins on me to use the payphone. Another American who was standing by brought out his cell phone and said I should use it to call the taxi. As I waited for the taxi, I picked up a conversation with a young lady who had flown in from Texas to see her father. She informed me that a bus would cost me no more than $2 to get to the campus.

The taxi came and demanded $15. I immediately had an inkling that it was expensive. I offered to pay half that amount but was rejected. As I was waiting to catch the bus, there came the third kind American: the young lady's father who had come to pick her up. He offered to give me a lift (Americans call it ride) to the campus. Since unlike our campuses in Nigeria, most campuses here have no elaborate gates or entrances with the emblazoned. "Welcome to "signs, it came as sudden when he informed me that we were already on campus and asked for my directions. Fortunately, my admission materials included a map and directions to Ellsworth Hall, which houses the office of International Students Services, OISS. The kind gentleman and his daughter dropped me off there. I was received and advised to go the office of Residence Life (ORI), and sign up for temporary accommodation. On my way to the ORI, I ran into a gentleman who stopped me and asked: "From Nigeria'" "Yes." I answered and he introduced himself as Apollos from Plateau state. I quickly introduced myself and we broke down into Hausa. Barely an hour after my arrival in Kalamazoo, I was conversing in Hausa. Again it was my Hausa cap that did the magic.

After a little rest, I said to myself. Now to look for a mosque. I had earlier seen a sign at the entrance of the university which read Kalamazoo Islamic Centre. Fortunately, I was able to locate it after about twenty minutes walking around and searching. The Islamic Centre had a reading room, an audiotape, library, a kitchen and of course, restrooms. I said my backlog of salat, thanked Allah for making my 20-hour journey safe and pray that He assist and guide me in this strange and lonely land. I returned to my room to rest for the day. It was a good thing to have arrived early. It gave one an opportunity to relax and look around seizing the opportunity to visit the Sprau Tower which houses the department of communication.

After the 3-day International Students Orientation, the following Monday classes began in earnest. Now let me try to answer the questions most of my former students e-mailed to ask me, generally about the school system here. Beginning with registration, which is hassle free here as one has the option of using the automated phone or the internet. If one needs guidance academic advisors are there to be consulted. Subsequent semester's registration usually begins midway into the current semester, so one has more than two months to choose and register for courses. Oh, lest I forget, one doesn't need to go to the bank to pay fees that can also be done online. Furthermore, dates of exams are known the first day of class and not only results but also copies of transcript are ready just ten days after the end of exams.

The normal size of classes is 16-22 students. Although introductory classes at 100=-200 levels may have 180 students (the maximum), the professor teaches the general class for one hour while the instructors usually Ph.D. students) conduct two-hour teaching session with no more than 20 students in each session. Maximum cap of class size is strictly enforced especially in professional courses like business, communications, engineering and computer science. Reputed to be the largest building in the world entirely covered with marble, the library here is very user friendly. However, the colossal resources therein compelled the university to have a course titled Library 101 required for all freshment (equivalent to Jambites). One can locate books, journals, articles, video or audiotapes using the online database. There are no card catalogues. All one needs is the author's name, title or even a key word to pull the relevant materials. The library is open from 8 a.m. to midnight, extended to 2 a.m. during examination period. No lights off/on to warn or signal closing, a charming voice comes through the networked speakers announcing library would be closing in 30 minutes.

Computers here remind me of the comments by Prof. Mazrui that some universities have more computers than some African countries (certainly not Nigeria. I must hasten to add). But I must admit that I don't know the number of the computer labs here, all I know is that my college (faculty to you) has three and my department has two. Students have 24 hour access to computers in their departments, the computer labs and hostels. All offices, hostels, rooms and public places like library and cafes have free on-campus telephones. Needless to say, all lecturers have computers, telephones, and TVs and VCRs in the case of communication lecturers.

Sports here is where culture meets capitalism. Here it is a cultural norm for people to go out but sports bring revenue from gate fees to advertisement rights. The university's stadium here has a 30,000 seating capacity. As communication department's representative in the Graduate Students Advisory Committee, I had a complementary ticket to attend the opening of the season of American football . Guess what is the school's nickname we had to shout in cheering up the team. Broncos! Yes Broncus, sounds like Bukites, ehn?

One impressive thing here is the university's policy regarding smoking and alcohol. There is no smoking inside ANY university building. And NO alcohol in any university sponsored event whether it is held on or off campus. Some Sharia?

ABUBAKAR D. ALHASSAN
Department of Communication,

Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan,
U.S.A.

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A Letter from Durban

By BALA A. MUHAMMAD

How time flies. It is almost four years since I last taught at the mass Communications Department of Bayero University. I vividly remember my last class. Level Three communication and development. It was near examination time and I remember my students as usual asking about areas of concentration. Happily, almost all my students passed that paper, some of them with flying colours. Incidentally, among the class was one Jamila Ahmed. She was later to become a Mrs. Bala Muhammed. But more of that later.

I left Nigeria in January 1998 to work for the Hausa Service of the BBC in London, where I was for two years. (I had written about that in a previous edition of the Beacon under the title A letter from London). I returned to Nigeria early in 2000 and experimented with being a government spokesman for about a year. For those who knew my philosophy of life really well, my joining government came as a shock. But they thankfully gave me the benefit of the doubt, maintaining that, if I was true to my philosophy and would not compromise, I would sooner or later leave. I did leave, and sooner.

Today, I write to you from the Centre for Cultural and Media Studies of the University of Natal, Durban, South Africa, where I am trying to complete a PhD. I hope that some day, another generation of BUK Mass Communications students would benefit from the little experience I have gathered over these past few years. But do not rush to blame me for starting a doctorate so late in my academic life. I had attempted once in 1996, fresh from my MA, I had enrolled for a PhD at the University of Jos, but my professor, Matt Mogekwu (who had once taught in this department) very soon after absconded' to greener pastures, first to Swaziland and later to South Africa (where we are now in constant contact). Though, I felt let down when he left me high and dry on the Plateau, I felt good when I later learned that, while Swaziland is not a rich country by any stretch of the imagination, his first salary there was nearly ten times what he earned in Jos, and the South African salary double that. I asked him whether he would consider returning to help build his country and consolidate the dividends of democracy, and he replied... I leave you to imagine his response.

Ahamdu Lillah, I have been around in this world, South Africa is about the 20th country I have visited on four continents. I have lived for some length of time in three, Egypt (where I did my MA at the American University in Cairo), United Kingdom (where I worked at the BBC); and now South Africa. In-between, I have been to, among others, Iran, Libya, Ethiopia, Niger, Ghana, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, the United States. But one thing I never lost sight of anywhere was that I am first and foremost an academic, and that I am happiest when in class with students. While in Cairo, I had held an assistantship, helping a professor teach international communications. Here in Durban, I also help in teaching and research. Even in London, I found time to teach Media and English at the Manchester College of Arts and Science during my free times

Now back to Durban, perhaps to Nigerian Muslims, Durban is synonymous with Sheikh Ahmad Deedat. You can read more about him on the Islamic Propagation Centre International Website (www.ahmed-deedat.Org.za). Alhamdu Lillah, Shaikh Deedat is alive, though bed ridden since he had a stroke in 1996. I visited him recently and try as I could the tears just kept on flowing. (The Shaikh incidentally asked that I seek everyone's du'a for him and that, were he to get well, Nigeria would be the first country he would visit. I had narrated how the Shaikh communicates using his eyes, interpreted by his son Yusuf Deedat, in a report I filed recently on the Hausa Service of Radio Deutschewelle, for whom I string). To all other people, Durban is perhaps the venue of choice for the international conference circuit. UN conferences take place here frequently. Recently, the city hosted the World Conference Against Racism.

I know some would ask whether the racial doctrine of apartheid is really ended in South Africa. Let me say, that during the years people were segregated based on the colour of their skin, black African people really suffered. Their fault. God created them black. (Makes me mad when I see those who bleach their skins to appear retrogressively non-black). Under apartheid, black people, whose ancestral home South Africa has been, were neglected to the lowest level of human (degradation). Officially in those days, Race Number One was the white settlers, mainly originally from the Netherlands (known as Afrikaners) and from Britain. On this inhuman scale, whites were followed by the Asians (most of whom were actually imported by the British from India as indentured labourers - a respectable title for slaves). Next came the 'coloureds' - any mix of two or more races. On this scale of human indignity, blacks were placed in no better a position than dogs, as in those days, many public places had signs which read: NO BLACKS OR DOGS ALLOWED.

The notorious Group Areas Act created the infamous 'Bantustan' system (much like the despicable and miserable place called 'reservations') created by the United States and Canada for Native Americans). Under this Act, black people were consigned to a 17th century existence, while the rest of the country marched forward in tandem with Europe and North America, Blacks could not travel anywhere without permission (although the Afrikaner Orange Free State had also banned Indians from even as much as passing through). Durban and other cities, built with the toil and mineral wealth of Africans, were no go areas if one was black,. Meanwhile, black leaders such as Mandela were languishing in prison for the better parts of their lives.

In April, 1994, everything changed. The African National Congress, ANC, won a landslide victory in the first democratic elections ever held in this country. Now black Africans are at the helm of affairs. Thanks to African countries such as Nigeria which provided refuge and education to many black South Africans in those days, the ANC government is not doing too badly, in comparison to other developing countries. But it will take many years, not the seven that have elapsed between 1994 and today, to bring the majority of the population from a miserable 17th century existence to modern times.

Now back to Jamila Ahmed. As I said, she was one of the students in that last class I taught in 1997. As I strongly believe that there could be a conflict of interest for a lecturer to marry a student while the student was still being taught by the lecturer, I swear I did not imagine I would one day marry her )though she insists I had once surreptitiously made a pass which was firmly and effectively repulsed with a gora). Whatever the truth of the matter, we kicked off when I returned from my BBC London sojourn, when I had another life other than being her teacher (and by then she had since graduated). It was a telephone call for an entirely different reason that led to another thing which led to another thing which... To cut the story, Jamila is now Mrs. Me, and is here with me in Durban, with a brand new Bala junior (named Ja'afar). As I had taken my senior wife (NEVER call your Senior wife old wife) to London, I have now squared the occasion, so to write, by bringing the Junior (NEVER call her New, especially if Senior was around) to Durban). Now I know some of you would want to know what Jamila scored in that Second Semester Level Three Communications and Development examination (Shame on you for being so inquisitive). She was a good student (so she tells me). She got a B. But one thing I must tell. It seems Jamila does not want me to return to Bayero and will not tell me why. But I have deduced a reason: off handedly, she had once mentioned that many lecturers are ending up marrying their students (and former students, apparently). A case of Wanzami ba ya son jarfa?

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