By Abel Japheth Adavize
The Department of Mass Communication, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has recorded a historic milestone with the emergence of its first female president of the Mass Communication Students Association (MACOSA).
Ms Habi Mohammad Abubakar emerged as the president of MACOSA after defeating her male counterpart, Abdulganiyu Hanafi, in the association’s election held on Saturday, September 5, 2026.
The election, conducted at the MACOSA Garden, was organised by the Independent Electoral Committee (IELCOM), which oversaw the voting and counting process.
Voting commenced at exactly 10:30 a.m., with students from different levels, ranging from 100 Level to 400 Level, arriving at the venue to cast their votes and support their preferred candidates.
Speaking about the atmosphere at the election, Divine, a 300-Level student of Mass Communication, said, “I personally love the vibes people brought with them today,” describing the energetic atmosphere among students and supporters.
Another 300-Level student, Kefas, commended the conduct of the election and the work of the electoral committee.
“I strongly believe that this election was free and fair,” he said.
The presidential election was primarily contested between Habi and Hanafi, while other positions, including Secretary-General, Vice-President and Treasurer, were unopposed.
Despite intense competition between supporters of the two presidential candidates, the election proceeded without any reported disruption.
Voting ended at 4:00 p.m., after which students waited anxiously as IELCOM counted the votes. Students subsequently gathered at the venue for the announcement of the results.
A total of 310 votes were recorded, including one invalid vote. Habi polled 197 votes, defeating Hanafi, who secured 113 votes, to become the new MACOSA president.
Her victory was met with loud celebrations from her supporters, with the announcement triggering an atmosphere of jubilation across the MACOSA Garden.
Speaking in an interview after her victory, the president-elect expressed gratitude for the confidence placed in her while acknowledging the responsibility that comes with becoming the association’s first female president.
“I’m incredibly grateful and excited, but more than anything, I feel a huge sense of responsibility. Being the first female president of MACOSA is an honour I don’t take lightly. I’m grateful to everyone who believed in me, supported me, and even challenged me along the way,” she said.
She outlined four major areas she intends to prioritise during her administration: student welfare and effective representation; academic support and practical skills development; a stronger and more digitally active MACOSA; and transparency, accountability and continuity.
On her relationship with her opponent, the 20 years old praised Hanafi for his willingness to contest and expressed her readiness to work towards a united association.
“I have a lot of respect for my counterpart. He was someone who had the courage to put himself forward and compete for this office, and I believe that alone shows that he also cares about the growth and development of MACOSA,” she said.
“Although the election produced one winner, I don’t believe that means the other person has nothing to contribute. In fact, I believe that every candidate brings something valuable to the table. We may have had different approaches, ideas or visions, but ultimately, we were both seeking the same thing: a better MACOSA.”
Hanafi, in a separate interview, also accepted the outcome of the election and expressed his continued commitment to the association.
“The election was good, and it’s a game of win or lose. Her winning was a win for me because we are both coursemates. Besides, I’m her class representative; I was already her leader before she became one. So, the election, to me, is a win for all,” he said.
Habi’s emergence marks a significant moment in the history of MACOSA, particularly as women constitute a substantial proportion of students in the Department of Mass Communication.
Her election also reflects the confidence placed in female leadership by members of the association and introduces a new chapter in the leadership history of MACOSA.