Prof. Sa’idu Muhammad Gusau (Professor of Hausa Literature)

1.0 Profile Overview

Professor Sa’idu Muhammad Gusau is a distinguished Nigerian scholar, author, translator, and teacher of Hausa language and literature. Over a career spanning more than four decades, he has made enduring contributions to research, teaching, translation, and mentorship in Nigerian languages and African literature. He is currently a Professor of Hausa Literature at the Department of Nigerian Languages, Bayero University, Kano (BUK).

He was born on Monday, March 24, 1952, in Gusau, Zamfara State, into the family of Sheikh Muhammad Ɗankullum and Hajiya A’ishatu (popularly called Indo). He is married with children and grandchildren. A widely respected figure, Professor Gusau is known for his scholarly work as well as his mentorship of generations of Hausa scholars and his service to society. He resides both in Gusau, Zamfara State, and Kano, where he continues his academic and community engagements.

His academic career at BUK began in 1990 as Lecturer I, and through diligence and scholarship, he rose steadily to the rank of Professor in the year 2000. Beyond his home institution, he has served as visiting and sabbatical professor in several universities in Nigeria and abroad. 

Prof. Sa’idu Muhammad Gusau

2.0 Early Life & Education

Professor Gusau’s educational journey began at Nizamiyya Islamiyya Primary School in Gusau, where he obtained his Primary Leaving Certificate in 1969. He proceeded to Sultan Abubakar College, Sokoto, where he earned the Higher Islamic Certificate in 1973. His strong passion for language and culture led him to Abdullahi Bayero College (then part of Ahmadu Bello University), where he graduated with distinction in the Diploma in Hausa in 1977. He later enrolled at Bayero University, Kano, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Hausa with a Second Class Upper Division in 1980, a Master of Arts in Hausa in 1983, and a PhD in Hausa in 1989.

This strong foundation in Hausa language and literature laid the groundwork for a career dedicated to the advancement of indigenous languages, the preservation of oral traditions, and the development of modern Hausa literary studies.

3.0 Academic and Professional Career

Professor Sa’idu Muhammad Gusau began his professional journey as a teacher in Qur’anic and Islamiyya schools between 1973 and 1974, later joining the Sokoto State Ministry of Education in 1977. His early roles included teaching, serving as Head of Department for Hausa and Islamic Studies at the Government Teachers College, Wasagu, and later working at the Advanced Teachers College, Maru. After his National Youth Service (1980–1981), he rejoined the civil service where he taught and administered in several institutions, steadily rising through the ranks.

In 1990, he transferred to Bayero University, Kano, as Lecturer I in the Department of Nigerian Languages. Within a decade, his academic distinction and contributions to Hausa studies earned him rapid promotions: Senior Lecturer in 1991, Associate Professor in 1995, and full Professor in 2000. Over the course of his university service, he taught a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, many of which shaped the study of Hausa literature, oral traditions, stylistics, and cultural studies. His teaching extended beyond Nigeria, including a visiting lectureship at Sebha University in Libya (1998) and sabbatical and visiting appointments at Umaru Musa ‘Yar’adua University, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Jigawa State College of Education Gumel, and Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano.

Professor Gusau’s academic leadership was equally profound. He served as external examiner to multiple Nigerian universities including Usman Ɗanfodiyo University, Ahmadu Bello University, Umaru Musa ‘Yar’adua University, and Yobe State University, among others. His expertise in Hausa literature and culture made him a trusted authority in reviewing undergraduate and postgraduate theses across the country.

3.1 Teaching, Supervision, and Mentorship

Teaching remained at the core of Professor Gusau’s academic career. At Bayero University, he developed and taught numerous foundational and advanced Hausa courses, from oral poetry and stylistics to research methodology and Hausa culture. His ability to combine tradition with modern research made his classes central to the growth of Hausa studies in Nigeria and beyond.

As a mentor, he supervised dozens of undergraduate projects, over thirty-five master’s dissertations, and more than twenty doctoral theses. Many of his students have gone on to become respected academics, writers, and public intellectuals in Hausa language and literature. His supervision often emphasized original contributions to Hausa oral traditions, literary criticism, and cultural studies, reflecting his deep commitment to advancing indigenous scholarship.

Through his work as an examiner and supervisor, Professor Gusau not only nurtured new generations of Hausa scholars but also strengthened the intellectual foundations of Nigerian languages as an academic discipline. His mentorship extended beyond formal supervision, as he remained a lifelong advisor and supporter of students and colleagues alike.

3.2 Administrative and Leadership Roles

In addition to his teaching and research, Professor Gusau played a vital role in academic administration. At Bayero University, he served as Sub-Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Islamic Studies (1991–1996), Chairman of the Faculty Admission Committee, and later Head of the Department of Nigerian Languages (2001–2003). His contributions also extended to central university governance, where he was a member of Senate, Council, and several key committees including admissions, scheduling, security, and finance.

Beyond the university, he contributed significantly to national educational development. He served on the governing board of the Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda (2000–2003), chaired the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital Management Board (2005–2007), and was a member of the Governing Board of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (2008–2011).

Professor Gusau was also recognized internationally, serving as a member of the African Academy of Languages’ Hausa Vehicular Cross-Border Language Commission under the African Union (2008–2011). These leadership roles underscore his commitment not only to scholarship but also to service and institutional development.

3.3 Research Contributions and Publications

Professor Sa’idu Muhammad Gusau is widely recognized for his pioneering research in Hausa language, literature, and culture. His scholarship spans oral literature, stylistics, translation, and cultural studies, with a focus on preserving indigenous traditions while engaging with contemporary issues. Over the years, he has published extensively in journals, conference proceedings, and edited volumes, making vital contributions to the growth of Hausa literary criticism and cultural discourse.

He has authored, co-authored, and edited numerous books and academic papers in Hausa and English. Many of these works serve as reference texts in Nigerian universities, especially in the areas of Hausa oral poetry, stylistics, and political verse. His scholarship not only advanced the theoretical study of Hausa but also highlighted the language’s role in nation-building, cultural preservation, and modern literature.

Beyond academic publications, Professor Gusau has reviewed and edited more than sixty-seven Hausa novels and other creative works. This effort, inspired by his mentor, Professor Ibrahim Yaro Yahaya, positioned him as a key figure in shaping Hausa popular literature. His work has influenced the rise of new voices in Hausa fiction and drama, particularly in the “Soyayya” literary movement.

3.4 Consultancy, Translation, and National Assignments

Professor Sa’idu Muhammad Gusau’s expertise has been widely sought after for consultancy services, translation projects, and national assignments at institutional, federal, and international levels. One of his most notable roles came in 2004 when he was appointed team leader for the Hausa translation of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Working alongside other distinguished Hausa scholars, he successfully guided the team to complete the project in 2005, ensuring that the Constitution’s legal and cultural nuances were faithfully rendered in Hausa. This work remains one of the most significant translation projects in Nigeria’s history, as part of the broader federal initiative to make the Constitution available in Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo.

His consultancy work extended into the health sector, where in 2010 he translated the Trovan Clinical Study documents from English into Hausa for Pfizer in Kano. This assignment highlighted his ability to bridge language, science, and public health communication. Earlier, in 2006, he was appointed by the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) to serve on its verification committee, which assessed the implementation of educational policies across Nigerian Colleges of Education.

At the international level, Professor Gusau was appointed in 2008 as a member of the Hausa Vehicular Cross-Border Language Commission of the African Academy of Languages (ACALAN), Bamako, Mali, under the African Union. Serving until 2011, he played an important role in strengthening Hausa as a vehicular language of communication across West and Central Africa.

In addition to these assignments, he has edited and reviewed over sixty-seven Hausa novels and works of prose and drama, contributing immensely to the refinement and professionalization of Hausa creative writing. His intellectual engagement with authors and publishers has not only elevated the literary quality of Hausa popular literature but also ensured its recognition within academic and cultural discourse.

3.5 Awards and Recognitions

Professor Sa’idu Muhammad Gusau’s dedication to scholarship, mentorship, and service has earned him numerous awards and honors at local, national, and international levels. His academic excellence was first recognized when he received the Federal Government Scholarship for three years (1977–1980) as the best graduating student in the Faculty of Arts and Islamic Studies, Bayero University, Kano. He also received the Faculty’s Best Diploma Student Award in 1977.

Over the years, he has been honored by academic institutions, student bodies, and cultural organizations. These include the Sultan Abubakar College Old Boys Merit Award (1997), Foresters Club Environmental Award, BUK (2002), and several Hausa language associations across Nigerian universities. He was also recognized by the Zamfara Students Association (2008), the Strategic Institute for Natural Resources and Human Development (2012), and Al-Qalam University Hausa Association (2019), among others.

In addition to institutional awards, he has been presented with symbolic tokens of honor, such as personalized gifts from colleagues and international scholars, including Professor Ayman Ibrahim A’sar of Cairo in 2019. Collectively, these awards reflect the respect and admiration he commands as a scholar, cultural advocate, and mentor.

3.6 Professional Associations and Memberships

Professor Gusau has been an active member of several professional and cultural associations throughout his career, reflecting his commitment to advancing Hausa scholarship and community development. He served as Treasurer of the Hausa Association at Bayero University, Kano, as early as 1977–1978. Over time, he became an advisor and patron to multiple student and community organizations, particularly those focused on Hausa language, culture, and youth development.

He has been a long-standing advisor to the Zamfara State Students Association (BUK Chapter), Gusau Progressive Union, and Progressive Students Association of Gusau (PROSAG), among others. His patronage extended to the Harmonized Youth Society in Gusau, the Mushbarling Brothers in Tsafe Local Government, and the Federal Science College Old Students Association.

Through these associations, Professor Gusau has consistently offered mentorship, guidance, and intellectual support to young people, scholars, and community leaders. His active involvement in academic and cultural associations underscores his lifelong dedication to nurturing the Hausa intellectual tradition and empowering the next generation.

4.0 Personal Life and Hobbies

Beyond his academic and professional commitments, Professor Sa’idu Muhammad Gusau is a devoted family man who values community, tradition, and service. Married with children and grandchildren, he has built a legacy not only through scholarship but also through nurturing the next generation within his family and society.

His hobbies reflect his intellectual curiosity and balanced lifestyle. He enjoys reading widely across genres, writing scholarly and creative works, playing football and table tennis, and following television and video programs. These personal interests complement his professional life, allowing him to maintain an active and reflective engagement with both scholarship and society.

5.0 Legacy and Impact

Professor Gusau’s legacy rests on his lifelong devotion to the Hausa language, literature, and culture. Through decades of teaching, research, and mentorship, he has shaped the intellectual direction of Hausa studies in Nigeria and inspired countless students who have become academics, writers, and cultural advocates. His pioneering role in translation, particularly of the Nigerian Constitution into Hausa, demonstrates his commitment to making knowledge accessible to wider audiences.

His contributions to editing and reviewing Hausa novels also ensured the growth and refinement of Hausa popular literature, bridging the gap between academia and creative writing. His service in national and international committees further elevated the status of Hausa as a global language of scholarship and culture.

In recognition of his work, Professor Gusau is remembered as a teacher, mentor, and cultural ambassador whose impact extends beyond the university system into the fabric of Nigerian society. His life’s work continues to inspire future generations to embrace scholarship, preserve culture, and pursue excellence in service of their communities.

6.0 Contact

Prof. Sa'idu Muhammad Gusau is reachable at smgusau.hau@buk.edu.ng and on +234 803 704 2041.

Click HERE to check his publications.