Amir Muhammad (Harbo)
(He/Him)
Abuja
As seen in:
Daily Trust
Covers:
Governance, education, gender equality, public health, youth, community development, environment, media and technology, with a focus on Nigeria and northern communities.
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
Sawaba Radio Hadejia
Have you ever used a typewriter?
No, I have never used a typewriter. My writing experience has been entirely digital and handwriting.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Clark Kent. Beyond the superhero story, I like the idea of a journalist who listens, asks questions and draws attention to people who might otherwise be overlooked. That everyday work matters too.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
None comes to mind right now.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email works best for me. Keep it brief: what’s the story, why does it matter, and who can help me understand it? I’m especially interested in Nigerian stories that bring overlooked community experiences into wider conversations. Include credible evidence, useful links and available interview sources. English or Hausa is welcome, and one follow-up after a week is fine.
What's your favorite social network?
Reddit
Why did you become a journalist?
I became a journalist in 2020 because I wanted to help people understand the issues affecting their lives. Coming from Jigawa State, I was particularly interested in bringing local experiences into wider conversations about education, governance and development. Journalism offered a way to ask questions, explain complex issues and give people space to tell their own stories.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
“The 4% Problem: Why Nigeria’s Parliament Needs Gender Quotas,” which I wrote through the Equal Measures 2030 Storytelling with Gender Data Fellowship. It brought together my interests in governance, research and gender equality, examining women’s underrepresentation in Nigeria’s parliament. I’m proud of how it used data to make a wider argument about whose voices shape public decisions.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Weekday mornings between 9 a.m. and noon, West Africa Time (UTC+1), are best. If the story is time-sensitive, please make the deadline clear in your email.
What's your favorite drink?
Zobo
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Out in the community, supporting activities with UNIK Impact Foundation or talking with people about the issues affecting their everyday lives. Those conversations often give me something to think—and write—about.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Daily Trust, particularly for its coverage of northern Nigeria. I’m drawn to stories that connect national debates with everyday concerns in communities like the one I come from.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.