Essiakou Elhadj Saliou : A Heart For Social Behaviour Change Communication

He is where he believes - so strongly - he should be. For, his passion for it had always been there. Especially when he made up his mind to choose the branch of profession. It is not as if there was no other option. But there was! Which could have enabled him to possibly become an “instant” celebrity. Like viewers are wont these days to describe television journalists. If he had accepted the offer, he would have earned more money. But he turned it down. Choosing to listen to his heart. To stick to what he loved and enjoyed doing most. 

Queer Choice?
His reason for such a “bizarre” or queer choice? He wanted to impact lives - in a more palpable and durable manner. To help improve lives and livelihoods through the messages he would share. Decades on, and though on retirement, his passion remains the same. He carries on with the same zeal and commitment of yesteryears. As if time had since not moved on. All, because the passage of time has not affected his devotion to what might be termed a calling.  

Training, Communication Track Record  
Essiakou Elhadj Saliou, 62, has seen it all. In State-run communication. After long years with the then Ministry of Information and Culture, Essiakou trained in the Advanced School of Mass Communication, ASMAC of the University of Yaounde I. Graduating in 1998 with an undergraduate Diploma in Journalism (as Assistant Journalist). In 2000, he returned to ASMAC to graduate in 2003 with a Bachelor’s degree equivalent in Journalism. Then he rose through the ranks, becoming Divisional Delegate of Communication. And later, the Regional Delegate of Communication for North. Where he retired in 2021.

In Order To Impact Lives 
A great lover of Social Behaviour Change Communication, Essiakou has not been idle in retirement. Rather, he is very busy running Derke’en FM Community Youth Radio 99.5 Mhz in Ngong, Benue Division of the North Region. “I chose to remain in communication where I believe I can impact lives. Instead of going to State-run television. By practising communication, I get to affect the lives of people positively. They often call to give testimonies of the changes in their lives and it gladdens our hearts,” Essiakou says, in his apparent slow, but emphatic manner of speaking.

Partnership With FODER
“Our radio has signed partnerships with several international and national development organisations. Including Forêts et Développement Rural, FODER association as part of the work they do under the project, Ecosysteme du Nord Cameroun, EcoNorCam: Vers une approche intégrée du paysage,” he discloses. “Our reporters undertake field visits to EcoNorCam project sites, interview field assistants, project beneficiaries and other stakeholders to produce programmes. We send the programmes to FODER for okay before broadcast. The partnership has been going on well for a year. We look forward to renewing it,” says Saliou, a tall, heavily built bearded gentleman. 

Lives Transformed 
“Our joy comes from the stories of transformation listeners tell us. This is why we a keep a register of telephone numbers of our regular listeners. EcoNorCam’s improved agricultural practices are transforming lives around Benue National Park. Community people are also happy with the introduction of improved firesides. The technology has reduced the number of trees felled for fuel wood, thus ensuring forest cover preservation. Beneficiary farmers are happy each time they call us to tell the increases they are experiencing in their crop yields. These are concrete results in social change behaviour communication!” Essiakou exclaims with a grin.