The Ilorin Emirate Staff Association, Kwara State University (IESA -KWASU), under the leadership of Professor Ibrahim Laro Abubakar, heartily congratulates one of its most distinguished sons, Professor Isiaka Zubair Aliagan, on his landmark re-election as Dean of the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology, Kwara State University, Malete.
Professor Aliagan’s re-election is made more remarkable by the manner in which it was achieved: he secured 100 per cent of the votes cast. In an academic community as vibrant and discerning as KWASU, where independent minds are the order of the day, a unanimous verdict of this kind is virtually unheard of. It is not merely a victory at the polls; it is a referendum of trust, a collective affirmation that his first tenure has been one of competence, fairness, and visible progress.
That a scholar can command the total support of the very people who work most closely with him is the truest measure of leadership. It tells of a Dean who listens as much as he leads, carries his colleagues along, and has built a culture of inclusiveness in which every voice counts. A hundred per cent is not a figure won by campaign slogans; it is earned, day by day, through service, integrity, and respect for others.
Professor Aliagan is a versatile scholar whose expertise spans journalism, creative writing, and media scholarship. As Dean, he brings a rare combination of professional journalism experience and literary distinction to academic leadership, drawing widespread celebration and recognition from numerous bodies both within and outside the academic world for his mentorship and contributions.
His literary achievements are extensive. He began writing while still in secondary school, and as an undergraduate at Bayero University, Kano, his poems appeared in the Daily Times, Sunday Concord, and Sunday New Nigerian. His drama work has also been featured in international cultural readings, including bilingual English-Korean renditions at the Korean Cultural Centre in Abuja in 2011, and was included in the 1988 ANA poetry anthology, Voices from the Fringe (edited by Harry Garuba) alongside established poets, while he was an undergraduate student at Bayero University, Kano.
As a prolific writer spanning poetry, drama, fiction, and children’s literature, his notable publications include:
Cadence (1997)
Emissary of Joy (1999)
Scars of the Moon (2000) – a short story collection that received an honorable mention at the 2000 ANA Convention in Port Harcourt
Akeju, the Pampered Boy (2003)
Echoes and Voices from the Midland (2003) – a literary compilation/anthology
Oba Mama (2003) – a historical drama about the Ilorin Emirate, performed by KWASU English Department students in 2025
Stories from the Qur’an (2003) – adapted stories
Fundamentals of Newspaper Journalism (2006) – a foundational text in print journalism and media studies
Techniques of Aviation Journalism (2007) – a specialized textbook.
His creative works have earned notable recognition and awards, including Olubu (2010), nominated for the ANA/James Ene Henshaw Prize for Playwriting, and Rusting Time (2020), adapted for television and nominated for the ANA Drama Prize. Furthermore, the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) conferred a Fellowship on him at an investiture ceremony on October 31, 2025, at the Chinua Achebe International Conference Centre, Mamman Vatsa Writers Village, Abuja, citing his exceptional literary accomplishments, advocacy for freedom of expression, and service to humanity.
Academically and professionally, Professor Aliagan holds two doctorates: one in the History of Press and Politics from the University of Ilorin, and another in Print Journalism from Universiti Sains Malaysia. His public service includes briefly serving as Senior Assistant on Media to the late Minister of Information, Professor Dora Akunyili, and later as Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan, seconded to the First Lady’s office.
His recent 60th birthday celebrations in May 2026 were widely marked across academic, literary, and media circles, highlighting his deep connections with the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), and Kwara State University (KWASU), marking his seamless transition from newsroom to ivory tower.
To be celebrated so widely, and trusted so completely at home, is a distinction reserved for the very few. Congratulations, Professor Isiaka Zubair Aliagan, the most celebrated Ilorin Emirate scholar, and a leader whose people have spoken with one voice.
We pray that the Almighty grants you renewed strength, wisdom, and good health as you lead your faculty to even greater heights in this new term.
© Ilorin Emirate Community, KWASU
Abdullahi A. Bakare Ph.D.
General Secretary
