Yushua Shuaib: From Masjid To NIPSS, by Abdullahi O Haruna Haruspice
Nigeria ‘s PR sensation, Alhaji Yushau Shuaib, stunned the audience Thursday when he unveiled a community mosque he singlehandedly built in Wuye in Abuja.
Soaked in the palpable sweat of emotions, the teacher, journalist, leader and mentor presented the mosque as part of his commitment to the growth of Islam and in fulfillment of his deen. To him, “Anything that curry the worship of Allah, is my forte, and I thank Allah for providing me the resources to make this happen – there is no fulfillment than the worship of Allah”.
To unveil the masjid, was Nigeria’s versatile entity , Professor Isa Ali Pantami, who congratulated Mallam Yushau for being privileged to be counted among those who build for the cause of Allah, for, according to him, whoever builds a masjid has built a legacy that would outlive him – an endless and recreating endowment.
Pantami also commended the preservation of an over 200 years old Quran from the Ilorin Emirate, which was displayed by its custodian, Mallam Yushau Shuaib, as a significant cultural and religious artifact.
The bigger shocker came when it was revealed at the occasion that Mallam Yushau Shuaib had been selected to participate in the Senior Executive Course (SEC 47) at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru, Plateau State. This prestigious programme is designed for senior executives in Nigeria to engage in high-level policy and strategic studies.
Born on October 10, 1969, in Kano, Nigeria, from Ilorin Emirate but with Kanuri origin, Shuaib has had a distinguished career in public relations and communications. He earned his degree in Mass Communication from Bayero University Kano and later obtained a master’s degree in Public Relations from the University of Westminster, London.
Throughout his career, Shuaib has served as a spokesperson for various Nigerian government institutions, including the Federal Ministries of Information, Finance, and Health. He also held the position of Head of Press and Public Relations at the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
In 2013, after authoring a controversial article on Nigeria’s Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, regarding lopsided appointments in public offices, Shuaib was compelled to retire from government service. Undeterred, he founded Image Merchants Promotion Limited, the parent company of PRNigeria, Economic Confidential, News Digest, and Arewa Agenda. These platforms have been instrumental in promoting media professionalism, ethical journalism, and mentoring young journalists across Nigeria.
Shuaib’s dedication to the field has earned him multiple awards in public relations and writing. Notably, he received the PR Man of the Year Award from the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) Kano/Jigawa Chapter in 1995 and the NIPR Presidential Award in 2019. Under his leadership, PRNigeria has garnered several African PR Awards and the prestigious Golden World Award from the International Public Relations Association (IPRA) for crisis management. He remains the most awarded PR personality in Nigeria.
His communication conglomerate organises a series of annual events, which I anchor as the Master of the Ceremony (MC) through its PRNigeria Centres in Abuja, Ilorin, and Kano. These include the PRNigeria Young Communicators Fellowship, the Arewa Star Awards (ASA), the National Spokespersons Awards (NSAwards), the Economic Confidential Annual Lecture, and the Security and Emergency Management Awards (SAEMA).
Beyond his professional achievements, Shuaib is an accomplished author with several publications to his name, including “Nightmare for the Rich,” “Financial Public Relations,” and “An Encounter with the Spymaster.” His commitment to mentoring has positively impacted hundreds of young journalists across Nigeria, fostering a new generation of media professionals.
His selection for the Senior Executive Course at NIPSS is a testament to his unwavering commitment to national development and strategic policy formulation. NIPSS serves as Nigeria’s apex institution for policy, advocacy, and training, aiming to foster a better society through research and strategic studies.
Shuaib’s participation in this elite programme is poised to further enhance his contributions to Nigeria’s media landscape and policy development.
…Abdullahi O. H. Hauspice is a journalist and PR consultant based on Abuja.
