Dr.Shaibu Husseini holds a First Class BSc degree in Mass Communication from the Lagos State University; an MSc degree in Mass Communication (Distinction) from the University of Lagos and a PhD in Mass Communication from the University of Lagos. His PhD was on film studies as his thesis examined the ‘Structure of Film Production Companies in Nollywood’.
A trained and seasoned theatre, film, broadcast, Public Relations and Culture expert, Shaibu is an alumnus of the United States International Visitors Leadership Programme and the Aig Imoukhuede Foundation’s- AIG-Public Leaders Programme of the Blavtanik School of Governance of the University of Oxford. One time Secretary of the Governing Board of the National Theatre/National Troupe of Nigeria (from 2011 to 2015) and until his appointment Director of Dance and Music and Head of the Strategic Communication Unit of the National Troupe of Nigeria, Dr. Shaibu is reputed as one of the most consistent documentarists of Nigeria’s vibrant film and movie industry Nollywood and he is an astute commentator on arts, theatre and film development in Nigeria and the continent of Africa. His career as a film and culture journalist with Nigeria’s flagship newspaper-The Guardian, has spanned over three decades.
The Chair, for 16 years running, of the Selection Committee of Africa’s premier film award—-the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) and a member of the prestigious AMAA jury, Shaibu has attended several conferences, workshops and festivals and has sat and currently sits on a number of local and international Committee on film, theatre and allied matters including serving on the Board and on the jury of a number of Festivals, Awards and Committees including the Board of the Mainframe Film Institute run by the legendary Tunde Kelani, the board of In-short International Film Festival and on the Board of the Bank of Industry (BOI) Nollywood Fund amongst others.
Author of a monograph on the pioneers of the Nigeria film and video industry titled ‘Moviedom: The Nollywood Narratives’, Shaibu is a Senior Teaching and Research Fellow at the Mass Communication Department of the University of Lagos and he was a former member of the Nigeria Official Selection Committee charged with the responsibility of deciding Nigeria’s entry for the Best International Film category of the Oscars. He is a current voting member of International Golden Globes Award and a consultant to the Berlin International Film Festival.
A pioneer artiste of the National Troupe of Nigeria, who rose to become Personal/Special Assistant to the Director General of the National Theatre/National Troupe of Nigeria (NT/NTN), Shaibu has considerable theoretical, practical and field experience in the area of Theatre, cultural administration as well as in Public Relations, Advertising, Journalism, Broadcasting and film. He has equally served as a resource person, trainer in the field of theatre, culture and mass communication. He considers himself an enthusiastic, dedicated, detailed and capable theory cum practically oriented professional who is able to improve the ability of an organization to deliver outcomes that matter.