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Dr Abdullahi Tasiu Abubakar

Senior Lecturer

School of Communication & Creativity Department of Journalism

Contact details

About

Overview

Dr Abdullahi Tasiu Abubakar is Senior Lecturer and Director of PhD Programme in the Department of Journalism at City St George's, University of London. His main research interests are media audiences, strategic communications, conflict reporting and journalism ethics. Abdullahi obtained his PhD in Journalism and Mass Communications from the University of Westminster in London – with no corrections. 

He has worked for the BBC World Service as a producer in London and served as its Abuja Bureau Editor in Nigeria. He also worked for many Nigerian news outlets, including the Democrat, Champion and Daily Trust newspapers – for which he is still an editor-at-large. Abdullahi has covered major news events in Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Cameroon. He won several journalism awards, including Nigeria’s Best Newspaper Reporter of the Year and Nigeria Union of Journalists’ (NUJ’s) Certificate for Professional Excellence. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, AdvanceHE, United Kingdom.

Before joining City, Abdullahi was a visiting research fellow at the Africa Media Centre, University of Westminster, where he was selected as one of the outstanding early career researchers. He has received many research grants and was an analyst for the US-based Freedom House on the media landscape in Sub-Saharan Africa. Abdullahi advises governmental and non-governmental bodies in his areas of expertise. He is an External Examiner at King's College London.

Teaching

- Teaching MA Broadcast and TV Journalism
- Supervision for PhD, MA and undergraduate dissertations and projects

Publications

Publications by category

Books (2)

  • Mirchandani, R., Tasiu Abubakar, A. and Tasiu Abubakar, A. (2024). Britain's International Broadcasting. Los Angeles, USA: Figueroa. ISBN 9780182170548.
  • Tasiu Abubakar, A. (2014). Unsung Revolutionary: The Life and Times of Yerima Balla. Saarbrücken, Germany: Dictus. ISBN 9783847389170.

Chapters (3)

Journal articles (8)

Professional activities

Events/conferences (30)

  • International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) Annual Conference. (Conference) Singapore (2025). Chair
    Paper: Beyond propaganda: Russia’s rising influence in West Africa
    Author: Abubakar, Abdullahi Tasiu
  • International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) Annual Conference. (Conference) Singapore (2025).
    Paper: Colonisation, surveillance and subversion: The roles of radio in colonial West Africa, 1935-1960
    Author: Abubakar, Abdullahi Tasiu
  • International Conference on Radio & Decolonization Around the Globe: 1920-Present. (Conference) Denver, United States (2024). Invited speaker.
    Paper: Radio and Decolonization in West Africa
    Author: Tasiu Abubakar, A.
  • International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) Annual Conference. (Conference) Christchurch, New Zealand (2024).
    Paper: Propaganda as a tool of colonial control in British West Africa, 1950-1960
    Author: Tasiu Abubakar, A.
  • International Communication Association (ICA) Annual Conference. (Conference) Gold Coast, Australia (2024). Review Panel
    Paper: From On-Air to Online: The BBC’s Changing Roles in British Public Diplomacy
    Author: Tasiu Abubakar, A.
  • The Annual Conference of the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR). (Conference) Lyon, France (2023).
    Paper: The Perils and Perseverance in Reporting Conflicts
    Author: Tasiu Abubakar, A
  • Webinar by UNESCO on Safety of Journalists. (2022).
    Paper: Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists
    Author: Abdullahi Tasiu Abubakar
  • International Conference on “Radio Soundscapes in (Post)Colonial Settings”. (Conference) Lisbon, Portugal (2022).
    Paper: From Communal Listeners to Interactive Users: The Changing Nature of BBC Audiences in Africa
    Author: Abdullahi Tasiu Abubakar
  • Defence Strategic Communications. (Seminar) The Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, Shrivenham, UK (2022). Invited speaker.
    Paper: Understanding Host Nation Journalists' Perspectives
    Author: Abdullahi Tasiu Abubakar
  • International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) Annual Conference. Nairobi, Kenya (Online) (2021).
    Paper: Reporting Violent Extremism
    Author: Abdullahi Tasiu Abubakar
  • The 6th International Conference on the Safety of Journalists. Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway (2020).
    Paper: Risks and Resilience in Reporting on Extremism
    Author: Abdullahi Tasiu Abubakar
  • International Conference on “Crossing Borders with a New Medium: Radio and Colonial Identities. Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Lisbon, Portugal (2020).
    Paper: From Empire Service to Multimedia Broadcasting: Maintaining a Colonial Legacy in Africa
    Author: Abdullahi Tasiu Abubakar
  • Webinar on Investigating Covid-19 Stories. Online (2020).
    Paper: The 'international media' and investigative reporting of Covid-19
    Author: Abdullahi Tasiu Abubakar
  • International Association for Media and Communication Research Annual Conference. Online (Tampere University, Finland) (2020).
    Paper: Mobile telephony and active engagement with global media in Africa
    Author: Abdullahi Tasiu Abubakar
  • Annual Conference of the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR). (Conference) Madrid, Spain (2019).
    Paper: Strategic Agenda Setting: How the Military and Militants Influence Conflict Reporting
  • Strategic Communications Seminar. Shrivenham, Swindon, United Kingdom (2019).
    Paper: StratCom: A host nation journalists' perspective
    Description: Presentation at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, Shrivenham, Swindon, UK.
  • Media Ethics Think Tank Conference. Doha, Qatar (2019). Invited speaker.
    Paper: The Ethical Challenges of Reporting on Violent Extremism
    Description: Presentation at the METT Qatar Conference in Doha, 21-22 January 2019
  • Social Media in the Defence & Military Conference. London, United Kingdom (2018). Invited speaker.
    Paper: Boko Haram Social Media Strategy and Nigeria's Counter-insurgency Approach
  • Annual Conference of the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR). (Conference) Eugene, Oregon, United States of America (2018).
    Paper: Journalism ethics and the coverage of violent extremism
  • Strategic Communications: Working with Host Nation Journalists. Swindon, United Kingdom (2018).
    Description: Presentation at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom (Joint Services Command and Staff College), Shrivenham, Swindon, UK, 26 January 2018.
  • Elections in Africa, Virality in Media and Democratic Participation. (2017).
    Paper: Going Viral: The Social Media and Elections in Nigeria
    Description: Presentation at a symposium at the University of Westminister, Regent Street Campus, London
  • Defence Strategic Communications Seminar. Shrivenham, Swindon, United Kingdom (2017).
    Paper: The Role of Host Nation Media in Strategic Communications
    Description: Presentation at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom (Joint Services Command and Staff College).
  • Seminar at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom. Shrivenham, Swindon, United Kingdom (2017). Invited speaker.
    Paper: Engaging with the Host Media
    Description: Presentation at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom (Joint Services Command and Staff College).
  • MECCSA Annual Conference 2017. (Conference) University of Leeds, United Kingdom (2017). Panel Member
    Paper: Digital Engagement: The BBC and ‘Active’ Audiences in Africa.
  • Panel on ‘Reporting Africa: Reaching beyond the Dark Continent?’ City, University of London (2016). Panel Member
    Description: Discussant on the panel on ‘Reporting Africa'.
  • The Social Media and Challenges of Election Coverage in Nigeria. Abuja, Nigeria (2014). Invited speaker.
    Description: Presentation at the Media Trust Workshop on Elections Coverage.
  • On Political Reporting and Investigative Journalism in Nigeria. Abuja, Nigeria (2013).
    Description: Presentation to Media Trust journalists.
  • ICTs and Social Change in 21st Century Africa: New Public Spheres, Opportunities and Limits. London (2012).
    Description: Panel discussant at the Conference on ICTs, New Media and Social Change in Africa, organised by the Africa Media Centre, University of Westminster.
  • Reporting for the BBC and the Boko Haram Phenomenon in Nigeria. University of Westminster, Harrow Campus (2012).
    Description: Presentation to international journalism students at University of Westminster.
  • BBC’s Engagement with Northern Nigerians. University of Westminster, New Cavendish Campus (2009).
    Description: Conference presentation at the African and Arab Media Audiences Conference, 30-31 March 2009.