well-deserved Honour for a Champion of Development Communication

 

Though the recognition came several months ago, its significance remains enduring.

In January 2026, Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed joined 24 other distinguished Nigerians in receiving the Distinguished Service Award from the Community Health Research Initiative during the organisation's 25th anniversary celebration in Kano. The honour recognised his decades-long contributions to public health communication, family health advocacy, and the promotion of maternal and child wellbeing across Nigeria.

For those who have worked alongside him, the award came as little surprise.

My professional path crossed with Ahmed's while I served as an Information Officer at the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Board. During that period, he became more than a colleague; he was a mentor whose guidance helped shape my understanding of development communication and its transformative role in improving lives, particularly within the health sector.

Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed.

Ahmed's career reflects an uncommon blend of public service, development practice and cultural leadership. Over the years, he has contributed significantly to a range of national and international initiatives, holding strategic roles in programmes and organisations including CompAss, TSHIP, E4D, Society for Family Health and several UNICEF-supported interventions.

His work has consistently focused on using communication as a tool for social change, helping communities make informed decisions on issues affecting health, family welfare and human development.

Beyond the development sector, Ahmed also distinguished himself in public administration, rising to the position of Director in the Bauchi State Ministry of Tourism and Culture. In April 2021, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer and Artistic Director of the National Troupe of Nigeria, where he has led efforts to revitalise the institution and restore its relevance within the country's cultural landscape.

Under his stewardship, the National Troupe has experienced renewed visibility, marked by the revival of major stage productions and a broader engagement with audiences at home and abroad.

A UNICEF-trained Theatre for Development practitioner with a Master's degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Jos, Ahmed has long championed the use of creative communication to address social challenges. His work demonstrates how culture, performance and storytelling can be deployed to promote behavioural change and improve development outcomes, particularly for women, children and vulnerable communities.

While this tribute may be belated, the achievement it celebrates remains timely. The Distinguished Service Award is more than a personal accolade; it is recognition of a lifetime devoted to public service, development communication, health advocacy and cultural advancement.

Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed's professional journey serves as a reminder that meaningful change is often driven not only by policies and institutions, but by individuals who dedicate themselves to informing, educating and empowering others.

For many of us fortunate enough to have learned from him, his career remains a source of inspiration and a model of service.

Congratulations, Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed, on this well-earned honour. Your contributions continue to leave a lasting imprint on the lives of countless Nigerians and on the generations of professionals you have mentored along the way.

By Suleiman Alhassan Dambam
Director of Press, Government House, Bauchi State

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