Abdul Karim Disu (October 10, 1912 – 2000) was a Nigerian journalist, and the first Nigerian to earn a

post-graduate degree Postgraduate or graduate education refers to academic or professional degrees, certificates, diplomas, or other qualifications pursued by post-secondary students who have earned an undergraduate (bachelor's) degree. The organization and struc ...

journalism Journalism is the production and distribution of reports on the interaction of events, facts, ideas, and people that are the "news of the day" and that informs society to at least some degree. The word, a noun, applies to the occupation (profes ...

when he attended

Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...

in 1944. Disu originated from Isale-Eko,

Lagos Lagos (Nigerian English: ; ) is the largest city in Nigeria and the List of cities in Africa by population, second most populous city in Africa, with a population of 15.4 million as of 2015 within the city proper. Lagos was the national ca ...

and was a close friend of

Nnamdi Azikiwe Nnamdi Benjamin Azikiwe, (16 November 1904 – 11 May 1996), usually referred to as "Zik", was a Nigerian statesman and political leader who served as the first President of Nigeria from 1963 to 1966. Considered a driving force behind the n ...

, the first President of Nigeria. He attended King's College, Lagos and finished his education there in 1931. in 1943, with a B.A. in journalism from the University of Winsconsin, he obtained a M.Sc. degree in Journalism in Columbia University. He worked as a clerk with Nigerian Marine in the Old Marine Department from 1931-1938. He also worked in the United Nations Secretariat Documents and Trusteeship Department from 1947-1948 and became an Associate Editor of the West African Pilot in 1955. After his stint at the pilot, he became the General Manager and Chairman of the Eastern Nigeria Information Service. In 1960, he became the Press Secretary to the Governor-General of Nigeria. He was promoted to the post of Principal Secretary to the Governor General in 1961 and held the position till 1963.In 1963, he became Secretary to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In 1968, he was appointed the Public Relations Officer to the National Commission for Rehabilitation by the Federal Military Government and he held the position till his retirement in 1971. Upon his retirement, he was appointed a board member on several private companies until his death. He married an Nnewi woman, Rose Asomugha from Anambra State, and a veteran journalist, Chief Melie Chukelu Kafu Ajuluchukwu (1924-2003), was best man during their wedding. He died in 2000 and his wife, Rose Asomugha, died in 2003.The Power of the Office of the Chief of Staff, By Eric Teniola
/ref> He received a Post Humous Recognition for his "Selfless and Dedicated Service to the Isale Eko Descendants' Union" by the Isale Eko Descendants Union on Isale Eko Day in December 2019.

References

1912 births 2000 deaths Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism alumni Harvard Law School alumni King's College, Lagos alumni Nigerian newspaper journalists Nigerian expatriates in the United States {{Nigeria-journalist-stub