ACF mourns first northern Prof of Education, late Adamu Baikie 

The Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has expressed sadness over the demise of Prof. Adamu Baikie, the first professor of education from Northern Nigeria.

A statement issued by the forum’s National Publicity Secretary, Prof. T. A. Muhammad-Baba said Baike was a mentor to many and an exemplar of Arewa’s best in its widely acknowledged tradition of scholarship and advanced studies.

The forum noted that a short tribute such as this will not be adequate to describe Professor Baikie’s prodigious service to academia, nationally and internationally.

He hailed Baike’s records at the Ahmadu Bello University where he contributed to nurturing the Faculty of Education as well as the Institute of Education and facilitated the training of professional teachers for decades.

The statement read, “It is with profound sadness that the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) received news of the demise of Professor Adamu Baikie, who made his marks as a trailblazing educationist, university administrator, quintessential public servant, a mentor to many and, by these, an exemplar of Arewa’s best in its widely acknowledged tradition of scholarship and advanced studies.

“Through these endeavours, Prof. Baikie has left behind a formidable record of excellence in scholarship and public service. ACF mourns the painful loss of such giant purveyors of knowledge.”

“He had gone on to serve as Vice Chancellor of the fledgeling University of Benin (1978 – 1986) from which position he had ensured the emergence of the institution as one of Nigeria’s very best.

“Those acclaimed records of achievements propelled him to be recruited as Vice Chancellor, University of Lesotho (1988 – 1996), as he did for the Nasarawa State University (2001- 2009) where, again, he ensured the establishment of the institutions on a sound footing.

“It was thus Prof. Baikie’s name became widely accepted as iconic, as humble as unassuming as a man of immense integrity, as he remained, to death, in the history of academia in Nigeria. His life and service therefore reflected Arewa’s valued association with scholarship in service of society per excellence. Many will best remember Prof. Baikie for his characteristic humility, despite his stellar achievements.”

ACF extended condolences to late Professor Baikie’s family and friends, to the governments and peoples of Kaduna and Kano States, the Ahmadu Bello University, University of Benin and the national University of Lesotho communities, as well as to his numerous mentees and beneficiaries of his wise and avuncular counsel over the years.

ACF also joined all in praying that Almighty God will grant him eternal peace. May the family and communities he has left behind be comforted in the knowledge that Prof. Baikie’s life was one truly well-lived.

ACF mourns first northern Prof of Education, late Adamu Baikie