Abdullahi Ismaila Ahmad is a poet, short story writer, essayist, publicist, and University lecturer with many publications to his credit. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts Literature (1997), Masters of Arts Literature in English (2012), a Post-graduate Diploma in Education (2007), and Masters Degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy (MIAD, 2001), and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Literature (2021), all from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He is from Lapai, in the Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State. He attended Central Primary School, Lapai and Government Secondary School, Lemu, between 1975 and 1986.
He was Chairman, Creative Writers Club, A.B.U, Zaria (1993 – 1994); Chairman, Niger State Branch of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA, 1994 – 2000); and also National Assistant Secretary-General of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA, 2002 – 2004). He is the author of The Demons and Other Poems (1990); Islam in Lapai Emirate (1999), Scourge of Earthworms (Poetry, 1996), Ellipsis (Poetry, 2001), The Man, The Mandate and His Monuments, a book on Gov. Abdulkadir Kurt’s administration (2003), Youth Empowerment and Functionalism: A Framework for Synthesis (2004), Contemporary Issues in Social Studies (2004), A Harvest of Hatred (Short Story, 2006), and Wicked Brother (Children Story, 2009), Intellectual Activism And Creative Partnership: A Close-up On M. B. Aliyu’s Approach To Governance ( 2013). Our Country Holds A Whip Against Us (Poetry, 2017). Songs of Silence (Poetry, 2021), No Alkibla Here (Short Story, 2021), Nana The Storyteller(Children Story, 2021), and The Garbage School (Children Story, 2021).
He co-authored the books: Abubakar Gimba: Perspectives On His Writings and Philosophy (Essays, 2008); Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu and Traditional Institutions In Niger State (2013) and Ambassador James Kolo: A Life Of Duty and Service ( A Biography, 2013). He also co-edited Words On Marble (from Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar) (2002), Toward Sustaining Creative Writing In Northern Nigeria (Essays, 2009), and Pyramids (Poetry, 2009), and Shadows (Anthology of Short Stories, 2009 ). He edited Echoes of Young Minds (1996), Dance Steps of Dawn (Poetry, 1997), The Unique Madmen and Other Stories (2001), and The Spider and Other Stories (1999).
He taught Social Studies at the Niger State College of Education, Minna (2003-2005), and Literature at the School of General and Remedial Studies of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (2006 – 2010). He taught Communication in English(GST) (2010-2014), and Literature in the Department of English (2014-2018) at the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai. He briefly facilitated some courses at the National Open University of Nigeria, Minna Study Centre (2007-2010). He moved to the Department of English and Literary Studies, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in October 2017. He is one of the founders of FIRST IMPRESSION Magazine based in Minna. He is the Chairman and CEO of Babaya Educational Foundation based in Abuja, Nigeria. He has written extensively in newspapers and journals. He works with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Abuja as Director of the Communications and Liaison Department.
