Alhaji Sidick Ahmed: The Enduring Legacy of Radio Univers’s Beloved Mentor

The Ghanaian media landscape, particularly its vibrant campus radio sector, has lost a towering figure. The passing of Alhaji Sidick Ahmed, a cornerstone of Radio Univers at the University of Ghana, marks the end of an era for countless students, academics, and media practitioners he mentored. More than a broadcaster, Alhaji was an architect of opportunity, a sage educator, and a living bridge between academic journalism and professional practice. This tribute explores his profound impact, the unique culture he fostered at campus radio, and the timeless lessons from his life and work.

Introduction: The Man Who Shaped a Generation of Journalists

To speak of Radio Univers is to speak of Alhaji Sidick Ahmed. For over two decades, his presence defined the station’s ethos—a place of rigorous learning, patient guidance, and unwavering belief in the potential of student journalists. His recent passing is not just the loss of an individual but the silencing of a foundational voice in Ghanaian media education. This article revisits his legacy, drawing from personal accounts and scholarly contributions to map how one person’s humanity and vision can permanently alter a university media institution and the careers it launches.

Key Points: The Hallmarks of Alhaji’s Legacy

• Mentorship Architect: Created a safe, experimental environment at Radio Univers that served as a foundational training ground for hundreds of journalists.
• Bridge Builder: Actively connected campus media with academic research and the professional industry, fostering a two-way dialogue.
• Humility in Leadership: Known for his openness to feedback, never taking offence, and constantly seeking improvement—even from junior colleagues.
• Scholarly Contributor: Co-authored seminal academic work on the history and significance of Radio Univers, filling a critical gap in Ghanaian media scholarship.
• Personal Touch: Provided profound personal support during colleagues’ professional and personal challenges, exemplifying care beyond duty.
• Innovator: Associated with a station that pioneered key formats in Ghanaian broadcasting, including newspaper review programs and local language on-air content.

Background: Radio Univers and the Ghanaian Media Ecosystem

The Birth of a Pioneer

Established in 1994, Radio Univers (then Radio Universe) holds the distinction of being Ghana’s first campus radio station. Its mission was twofold: to provide hands-on training for mass communication students and to offer alternative, educational programming to the broader Accra public. Operating under a license from the National Communications Authority (NCA), it functioned as a non-state broadcaster, a crucial space in Ghana’s media pluralism.

A Crucible for Talent

For the University of Ghana’s Department of Communication Studies, the radio station was a living laboratory. Long before digital streaming, it was the primary practical outlet for students. However, its effectiveness hinged on leadership that understood both pedagogy and practice. This is where figures like Alhaji Sidick Ahmed became indispensable. He was not merely a station manager; he was a campus media educator who treated the studio as a classroom and the airwaves as a textbook.

The Context of Ghanaian Journalism

Ghana’s media is celebrated as one of Africa’s freest. This freedom was hard-won and is sustained by institutions that uphold professional standards. Campus radios like Radio Univers are vital feeders into this ecosystem, often incubating investigative journalists, talk show hosts, and producers who later shape national discourse. Alhaji’s role was thus strategically important for the health of the entire Ghanaian journalism pipeline.

Analysis: Deconstructing Alhaji’s Multifaceted Impact

The Pedagogical Philosophy: “Learn by Doing” with Dignity

Alhaji’s genius lay in operationalizing a powerful pedagogical principle: experiential learning. He transformed the often-intimidating studio into a “conducive environment” where students could “experiment, learn or even master the art of journalism.” This required immense patience and a rejection of punitive teaching. Mistakes were treated as lessons, not failures. This approach directly countered the theory-practice divide common in media education, producing graduates who were not only academically sound but job-ready journalists.

The Scholar-Practitioner Bridge

Alhaji embodied the scholar-practitioner model. His collaboration with Professor Felix Odartey-Wellington on the historical account of Radio Univers is a landmark. Their work, Radio Univers: The First Campus Radio Station in Ghana, documents how the station introduced revolutionary formats: the first newspaper review program in Ghana and the first non-state broadcaster to air local language programming. This scholarly validation was crucial; it moved campus radio from being seen as a mere “student club” to a legitimate site of media innovation with national influence. His willingness to participate in academic research, like the study on journalism academia-practice engagement, and his request for “candid critique” from a junior academic, demonstrate a rare commitment to lifelong learning and professional development.

Leadership by Humility and Openness

In an era of hierarchical institutions, Alhaji’s leadership was defined by its humanity. He was “open to comments, people’s views, and constructive criticisms; anyone who never took offence and was able to learn.” This created a culture of psychological safety, essential for creativity. When the author, later a faculty member, joined the Radio Univers Management Board, their collaboration to “shape Radio Univers into a more ambitious campus media” was possible because of this foundational trust. Alhaji saw merit in evolving the institution, not just preserving its traditions.

The Mentor Beyond the Microphone

The most poignant testament to Alhaji’s character lies outside formal duties. His outreach during a personal crisis for a colleague—a time of “media attention and pressure”—reveals a depth of empathy. He understood that mentoring is holistic. Furthermore, his excitement at witnessing a former student volunteer become a faculty member, then a management board member, reflects a “complete circle” joy that transcends professional pride. It speaks to a genuine investment in people’s holistic growth.

Practical Advice: Lessons from the Alhaji Model for Modern Media Education

For Educators and Institution Builders

• Create Safe Spaces for Experimentation: Establish clear guidelines but allow students to fail in controlled environments. The studio should be a lab, not a live broadcast pressure cooker from day one.
• Document and Validate Your Work: Encourage scholarly output on institutional history and impact. This builds legitimacy, attracts resources, and preserves institutional memory.
• Foster Horizontal Learning: Design programs where senior students mentor juniors, and faculty learn from student innovations in digital practices. Break down rigid hierarchies.
• Engage with Industry Proactively: Build formal partnerships with media houses for internships and guest lectures, but also invite practitioners into the classroom as co-learners about academic trends.

For Students and Early-Career Journalists

• Seek the “Complete Circle”: View your career as a series of interconnected roles. The skills learned as a volunteer are the foundation for future leadership. Stay connected to your training institution.
• Value Feedback and Seek It: Adopt Alhaji’s habit of actively requesting critique. See it as a gift for improvement, not a personal slight.
• Be a Scholar of Your Own Practice: Keep notes, document processes, and reflect on your work. This turns experience into wisdom and builds your unique professional perspective.
• Mentor Others As You Were Mentored: The cycle of support is what sustains the profession. Pay forward the investment made in you.

For Campus Media Managers

• Balance Innovation with Core Mission: While adopting new technologies (podcasting, social media streaming), never lose sight of the primary goal: training ethical, competent journalists.
• Curate Public-Facing Content Strategically: Use the station’s public platform to address local community issues and showcase student excellence, building a loyal audience that supports the institution.
• Institutionalize Legacy: Create archives, oral history projects, and alumni networks to preserve the knowledge of pioneers like Alhaji for future generations.

FAQ: Common Questions About Alhaji Sidick Ahmed and Radio Univers

Who was Alhaji Sidick Ahmed?

Alhaji Sidick Ahmed was a long-serving, beloved staff member and mentor at Radio Univers, University of Ghana. He was instrumental in training generations of journalists, fostering a culture of learning and humility, and co-authoring key historical research on the station.

What is Radio Univers and why is it important?

Radio Univers is the campus radio station of the University of Ghana, Legon. Established in 1994, it is Ghana’s first campus radio station. It serves as a critical hands-on training facility for mass communication students and a non-state broadcaster providing educational and public affairs programming to the Greater Accra region.

What were Alhaji’s major contributions to Ghanaian media?

His contributions were both practical and scholarly. Practically, he mentored hundreds of working journalists. Scholarly, he co-authored the definitive historical account of Radio Univers, highlighting its pioneering role in introducing newspaper review shows and local language programming in Ghanaian broadcasting.

How did Alhaji influence journalism education?

He championed experiential learning, creating a supportive environment where theory was immediately applied. He also worked to bridge the gap between academia and industry, participating in research and inviting critique, thus modeling the continuous learning required in modern journalism.

What is the legacy of Radio Univers today?

Radio Univers remains a powerhouse in Ghanaian media training. Its alumni are prominent in TV, radio, print, and digital media across Africa. Its model of combining public service broadcasting with rigorous student training has been replicated by many subsequent campus radio stations in Ghana.

Are there any legal or regulatory aspects to campus radio in Ghana?

Yes. Campus radios in Ghana operate under licenses granted by the National Communications Authority (NCA). They are classified as non-commercial, educational stations with specific obligations regarding content and community service, while also serving the training mandate of their host institutions.

Conclusion: An Echo That Will Never Fade

Alhaji Sidick Ahmed’s passing leaves a void that cannot be filled. Yet, his legacy is not in what is lost, but in what endures. It endures in every broadcast where journalistic integrity prevails, in every story told with courage, and in every mentor who leads with patience and humility. He proved that the most powerful technology in media is the human connection—the willingness to take a “tender undergraduate” by the hand, to share “the little that we have,” and to seek improvement until the very last. His life is a testament that in the fleeting nature of time, the impact of a kind, open, and dedicated educator is eternal. The signal from Radio Univers will continue, forever modulated by the spirit of its departed, but unforgettable, Alhaji.

Sources and Further Reading

Primary Source: Personal narrative and reflections by a former student and colleague, published on Life Pulse Daily, February 17, 2026.

Academic Source: Ahmed, A.S., & Odartey-Wellington, F. (Year). Radio Univers: The First Campus Radio Station in Ghana. University of Ghana Press / Department of Communication Studies. (Note: Specific publication year to be verified from academic databases).

Institutional Source: University of Ghana, Department of Communication Studies. https://coms.ug.edu.gh.

Regulatory Source: National Communications Authority (NCA) of Ghana. https://nca.org.gh – For licensing frameworks for community and campus radio.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the original tribute are those of the author. This rewritten article seeks to faithfully represent those views while structuring and expanding upon them for SEO and pedagogical clarity. The views, comments, and opinions expressed by readers and contributors on the original Life Pulse Daily platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.