By AbdurRaheem Sa’ad Dembo
As an undergraduate student at the department of Mass communication in Bayero University, Kano between 2001 and 2006, I must say God really blessed me and others because of the kind of lecturers that tutored us. Moreover, in 2008/2009 academic session when I returned to the same department for my Masters programme I got to meet, again, an outstanding lecturer, Professor Umaru Pate; indeed, a man of proven erudition, excellence and scholarship. He was in charge of Communication Research and methodology.
Prof. Pate is not just a teacher but an embodiment of true knowledge of Mass communication. He is versatile and lively. There was never a dull moment in his class. He used the simplest method to teach.
A credible source revealed that Prof. Pate started his career from University of Maiduguri. He was on sabbatical to Bayero University, Kano before he finally became a permanent staff there. To students of Mass communication, he is an outstanding communication scholar who handles teaching with all alacrity, simplicity and dynamism.
Interestingly, it would be appropriate if I dwell into his early life before juxtaposing it with his current attainment in life.
Professor Umaru Pate was born on the 4th of January, 1964 at the Destrict Head’s Palace, Song Local Government of Adamawa state. He attended Nassarao Jeleng LEA Primary School where he obtained his leaving certificate in 1976. He proceeded to Government College Maiduguri where he emerged as the best out of those who sat for West African Examinations Council (WAEC) in the Arts class of 1981. Furthermore, he attended College of Preliminary Studies, Yola in 1982 for an interim Joint Matriculation Board (IJMB) that made him eligible for a direct admission into 200 level in 1984. The young Pate bagged a degree in Mass Communication from University of Maiduguri in 1987. He obtained Master’s in Philosophy in University of Ghana, Legon in 1990 and had his PhD in 1997 from the University of Maiduguri.
Prof. Pate is currently the Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Kashere, in Gombe state and the first Dean of Faculty of Communication, Bayero University Kano. Also, he was a former Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies in the same institution . He is also the President of Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN), and a member of UNESCO Network of Communication Professors.
Prof. Pate has served as a consultant to numerous organizations both locally and internationally, such as UNICEF, NSAID, UNFPA, UNESCO Ford Foundation, and so on.
It is imperative to say that he does not neglect his culture and tradition, hence he is the Kaigama of Adamawa state, i.e. one of the Kingmakers of the state. Prof. Pate has over 66 national and international publications in different parts of the world.
Significantly, the Vice Chancellor of Federal University Kashere has received several awards, one of which was an “Award of Excellence for Service to Humanity” by the National Association of Women Journalist (NAWOJ).
At this juncture, It is important to emphasize that the heavy richness of Prof. Pate’s personality cannot be accounted for by a person, given the innumerable minds he has touched and that have crossed his path. According to an Associate Professor, Dr Haruna Ismail from the Department of Mass Communication, Bayero University, Kano, “There are no perfect humanbeings on earth but generally, Professor Umaru Pate is a good person and he relates very well with people. He can go all out to assist anyone, if he or she has a challenge. Sometimes he renders help to people even without them requesting for it. He is approachable, lively and cheerful. One must also give him the credit that he has National Connection with other Communication Scholars Nationwide”.
Hajiya Naimatu Abdullahi (Mrs) is the current Regional Manager, Northwest, Jaiz Bank,Kano, captured Prof. Umaru Pate’s personality thus: “Pate is a versatile communication scholar and a father to all his students. He is an international communication scholar”.
Patrick Agbo, a Chief Lecturer at the Federal Polytechnic, Bida and a PhD student in Nasarawa State University opines that “Professor Pate is a prolific academic, Lecturer, and mentor to all his students. He is a symbol of Mass Communication in Nigeria”.
In his own comment, Usman Minjibir of BBC Hausa described Professor Pate as an encyclopedia. Also, Mallam Abubakar Jibrin Adam, the Danmadamin Gwallarei in Bauchi State said: “Pate is an erudite communication scholar and a philanthropist because he does help indigent students.”
Anywhere in the world you can’t describe great men without the presence of the word ‘philanthropy’. If you are a stingy figure; you can’t go far.The account of Danmadamin Gwallarei about Professor Pate’s philanthropic activities gave credence to the fact that he is a generous teacher.
I decided to write this piece for Professor Pate because I have benefitted from his wealth of experience and knowledge.In other words, I have a thankful heart just as William Shakespeare’s in Henry IV said ” O Lord that lends me life, lend me a heart replete with thankfulness”.It is a popular saying that if you don’t thank your fellow man; you won’t thank the Almighty God.
As lecturers/teachers they should endeavour to be kind to their students. The reason is that the university or academic environment is not the end of the world. You cannot be everywhere but your magnanimity to them will spread around effortlessly and wide. Professor Pate is one of the examples of great men in the classroom. I pray to Allah to guide, protect and sustain him in goodness. I will also use this medium to pray for my lecturers who had shown us kindness during our time as students of the great citadel of learning, Bayero University, Kano.May Allah perfect their affairs.
