Opinion

The Odyssey of Professor Amidu Sanni in Arabic-Islamic Scholarship

Published

5 months ago

September 17, 2025

Eric

By Toyin Falola

On September 16, 2025, the ambience in the Lagos State University auditorium had a different turn than usual. Naturally, it is expected that Inaugurals are usually ceremonial and conducted in an atmosphere that speaks of academics and celebration. Instead, the atmosphere was contemplative as guests and well-wishers all gathered at the Buba Marwa Auditorium for a lecture that had been long overdue with anticipation. Unlike the usual, this edition was not just another episode of academic ritual, but an encompassing trajectory of a lifetime expanded in defending a discipline often treated less seriously. On this day, Distinguished Professor Amidu Olalekan Sanni, a renowned Arabist and cultural historian, took to the podium for his professorial inaugural lecture titled “The Odyssey of a Theorist In Arabic-Islamic Scholarship: The Pain, The Gain, and the Twain.” I was one of the privileged ones to have received an advance copy.

It is not an exaggeration to say that Professor Sanni’s lecture towers above any mountains scaled, so far, because it has been long overdue, in the past six decades of devoted service to academia and scholarship. Notwithstanding, it came, and one presumes with measured grace and a palpable sense of satisfaction. To the discerning, it was more than a lecture. What ensued after the recitals and rollcall of the presenting Don, which encapsulated and interpreted over the years, was more than an exegesis of those studies; it was a purposeful unfolding of a layered itinerary of memory, language, culture, and nationality by one who has, through his life, enacted the history of Arabic studies in Nigeria. With emphasis, Professor Sanni’s lecture was truly a journey through memory. The lecture started with insights into personal and ancestral history. Just like many others, Professor Sanni’s sojourn into Arabic was premeditated by circumstances that proved beneficial in the end. His transition into Arabic and Islamic scholarship was not an academic convenience. Instead, it was born out of familial conviction and premeditated thoughts by generations before him. This is evidenced by his grandfather’s conversion to Islam during World War I, his vow to transmit the baton of Islamic scholarship to his protégés and then the Professor’s father who insisted that his son inherit a legacy of Arabic books instead of a career in accountancy which he believed would predispose him to financial misappropriation and greed, setting the tone for a lifetime of scholarly devotion.

During delivery, Processor Sanni recounted the defining career decision that would have allowed him a level of stability in agricultural research. Yet, he chose the uncertain, murky terrain of Arabic studies against professional advice and cultural expectations from employers, mentors, and senior colleagues. It was a challenging yet pivotal choice that demonstrated a rare willingness to venture, learn, and defend a discipline for its significant value even when clarity was still uncertain.

At the onset, it was a tedious run within the society, then going to lingering stereotypes and cultural misinterpretations. Debunking these fallacies and reengineering societal thoughts to a correct version began the core values of his work. One of the most compelling features of Professor Sanni’s lecture was her readiness to confront stereotypes plaguing Arabic studies in the country. With a keen sense of humor and bits of personal experience, he took a bold, yet gradual step in dismantling notions that Arabic is foreign or exclusively religious. For emphasis, he recalled a memory from the past with the story of a student who misheard the Arabic phrase “Arāka yā Sālim” as “Thunder killed Salem’s mother,” a far cry from the initial meaning. This was a clear display and a commentary on how poor language instruction and existing social misconceptions alter clear understanding.

Beyond humor, the professor raised salient concerns on the marriage of Arabic with Islam, which translates into the relegation of Arabic scholarship as a study interest for clerics and the failure of educational institutions to appreciate Arabic not as the language of the “Islamic world”but as a global language deeply rooted in historical African societies. Through practical examples, Professor Sanni explained how these stereotypes have played a significant role in marginalizing Arabic in mainstream curricula, despite its evident usage in law, trade, diplomacy, and cultural expression within indigenous contexts.

On this note, the Professor made a daring, bold claim, asserting that Arabic was indeed a Nigerian language. This assertion was simple yet powerful. It is central to his thesis and a careful attempt to get the message across. While maintaining the fact that Arabic is indeed not foreign to Nigeria, he went down memory lane, landing proofs from the court records of the ancient Sokoto Caliphate, the Yoruba Ajami manuscripts, the Hausa and Nupe heritages, amongst others, in affirming how Arabic has been around, shaping a part of Nigerian linguistic and intellectual history for centuries.

Before the colonial era, Arabic served as the medium for judicial documentation, interstate correspondence, and religious education. Even in present times, visible inscriptions in Arabic remain on Nigeria’s currency, and the Army’s Logo, which was credited to an Easterner who believed in the contextual meaning of the inscription for a modern military force. What these points point to in all is the quiet nod to a deep, clear, and evident heritage. At this point, the able professor called for a redirection, challenging the audience to see Arabic not as a relic of religion or colonial curiosity, but as a living language that has shaped Nigerian society tremendously. He challenged the audience to view and see the language as one with untapped potential for diplomacy, translation, literature, and global communications.

In recognition of the linguistic, historical, and emergent relationships between Arabic and African communities, Professor Sanni broadened the topic, integrating his recent work with his long-term research on Arabic literacy among enslaved Africans in the Americas. Examining the Arabic writings of Africans from both 18th-century Brazil and 19th-century North Carolina, Professor Sanni’s work has contributed new insights into the lives and writings of Alfa Rufino, an Oyo prince who composed Arabic in Portuguese America, and Omar ibn Said, the author of a slave narrative written in Arabic in the United States. Their stories were not just anecdotes but evidence of intellectual prowess and resilience for survival under harsh working conditions in the plantations of Bahia and the streets of Louisiana. Arabic at this time was more than a language. It was a tool of memory connecting enslaved people with their homelands, creating a sense of survival and dignity. Through these individuals, Professor Sanni repositioned Arabic studies as an essential component of African Diaspora studies and a testament to the fact that Africans authored their own stories long before colonial historians thought of it.

Even though the professor tailored his lecture around historical facts, he did not fail in projecting the lecture to look into the future boldly. He unequivocally pushed and advocated for the radical restructuring of Arabic studies across Nigerian learning institutions. He believed it is of no benefit if Arabic continues to be trapped within the walls of religious learning tools or clerical activities only. Instead, he posited an interdisciplinary pairing where Arabic could merge and play alongside modern learning innovations like Arabic and programming, Arabic and finance, Arabic and international studies, amongst various innovative interplays between disciplines as a way to make them relevant in a dynamic modern world.

In this regard, he lauded Lagos State University for being at the vanguard of this change. He cited the liberalized template it has set up for the study of Arabic, where all interested students of all faiths and backgrounds are welcome, without forgetting the department’s own interesting origin as having a non-Muslim as a founding donor. The professor also gave success stories of alumni who, whether Muslim or Christian, have established for themselves practical and successful careers in the multidimensional areas of diplomacy, media, local education, and as translators and interpreters in the international scene. It is this new generation, he thought, that would be the best people to portray the objectives of what it would mean to be a versatile, competent, and globally relevant speaker of Arabic.

At the same time, Professor Sanni did not fail in calling out the anomalies within the university system as an institution. He pointed out valid concerns, noting the fragile state of higher education in Nigeria. The university environment, as he mentioned, ought to be free from the inequities seen in other systems. He heavily criticized politicized promotions, inadequate research visibility, and outdated curricula. He lamented the absence of digitized archives and the absence of institutional memory across many universities.

He mentioned policy failures, particularly the futility of scrapping diploma programs in Arabic that once helped bridge the gaps for students with traditional learning backgrounds. Instead, he opted for structural reforms that allow sub-degree programs to be packaged with modern content such as entrepreneurship, digital literacy, and interdisciplinary engagement to foster inclusivity.

Even though it was never explicitly stated, the Inaugural Lecture carried the heavy weight of a reflective farewell along the way. After over four decades at LASU and six decades in the field of Arabic studies, Professor Sanni used the platform to share a teacher’s joy of seeing his former students become professors, entrepreneurs, and public figures. He reminded the audience of how success is not simply in titles, but in the legacies we cultivate—speaking so little about the long wait for his professorial inaugural, not with a heavy heart but a deep understanding of time and its essence. “Icould have been a great agriculturist,” he said quietly. “But I chose this and I have no regrets.” It was a soft declaration of a scholar often overlooked within yet revered across continents.

In the end, Professor Sanni had carved out an image on the consciousness of his listeners, of Arabic not as a dead language but as a language of opportunity, a language of the present and the future, even as it is grounded in a cultural and intellectual history, which is fully capable of meeting the challenges of a modernizing society. The final passage that he recited, a passage of poetry from the Qur’an, is an eloquent summation of epistemological affirmations of a tranquil and composed self, and a life with purpose and praise. In the end, the man who inherited his father’s books has become the guardian of languages, the linguist who does not simply safeguard a patrimony but instructs us on how to bear it.

Opinion

The State of Leadership Today: A Look at Global, African and Nigerian Realities

Published

3 days ago

January 31, 2026

Eric

By Tolulope A. Adegoke PhD

“Leadership for our age is measured not by the height of the throne, but by the depth of its roots in integrity, the breadth of its embrace of collective talent, and the courage to cultivate systems that bear fruit for generations yet unseen” – Tolulope A. Adegoke, PhD.

Leadership today is at a crossroad. Around the world, in our communities, and within our organizations, old ways of leading are straining under new pressures. This isn’t just a theoretical discussion; it’s about the quality of our daily lives, the success of our businesses, and the future of our nations. Let’s walk through the current trends, understand their very real impacts, and then explore practical, hands-on solutions that can unlock a better future for everyone.

Part 1: The Leadership Landscape – Where We Stand

The Global Picture: Beyond the Solo Leader

The image of the all-powerful, decisive leader at the top of a pyramid is fading. Today, effective leadership looks different. It’s more about empathy and service than authority. People expect their leaders—in companies and governments—to be authentic, to listen, and to foster teams where everyone feels safe to contribute. Furthermore, leadership is now tightly linked to purpose and responsibility. It’s no longer just about profits or power; stakeholders demand action on climate, fair treatment of workers, and ethical governance. Leaders must also be tech-savvy guides, helping their people navigate constant digital change while dealing with unpredictable global events that disrupt even the best-laid plans.

Africa’s Dynamic Challenge: Youth and Promise

Africa’s story is one of incredible potential meeting stubborn challenges. The continent is young, energetic, and full of innovative spirit. Yet, this tremendous asset often feels untapped. Too frequently, a gap exists between this rising generation and established leadership structures, leading to frustration. While the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presents a historic chance for economic unity, it requires leaders who think beyond their own borders. At the same time, democratic progress sometimes stalls, with leaders clinging to power. The most pragmatic leaders are those who engage with the vibrant informal economy—the hustlers, market traders, and artisans—who form the backbone of daily life and hold the key to inclusive growth.

Nigeria’s Pressing Reality: Crisis and Resilience

In Nigeria, the leadership experience often feels like moving from one emergency to the next. Attention is consumed by immediate crises—security threats, economic swings, infrastructure breakdowns—making long-term planning difficult. This has triggered a profound loss of confidence, visibly seen in the “Japa” phenomenon, where skilled professionals leave seeking stability and opportunity abroad. This brain drain is a direct critique of the system. Politics remains deeply influenced by ethnic and regional loyalties, which can overshadow competence and national vision. Yet, in the face of these trials, a remarkable spirit of entrepreneurial resilience shines through. Nigeria’s business people and tech innovators are daily solving problems and creating value, often compensating for wider systemic failures.

Part 2: The Real-World Impact – How This Affects Us All

These trends are not abstract; they touch lives, businesses, and countries in tangible ways.

· On Everyday People: When leadership is perceived as self-serving or ineffective, trust evaporates. People feel anxious about the future and disconnected from their leaders. This can manifest as cynicism, social unrest, or the difficult decision to emigrate. The struggle to find good jobs, feel secure, and build a future becomes harder, deepening inequalities.

· On Companies and Organizations: Businesses operate in a tough space. They face a war for talent, competing to retain skilled employees who have global options. They must also navigate unpredictable policies, provide their own power and security, and balance profitability with rising demands for social responsibility. The burden of operating in a challenging environment increases costs and risk.

· On Nations: Countries plagued by poor governance face a competitiveness crisis. They struggle to attract the kind of long-term investment that builds economies. Policy becomes unstable, changing with political winds, which scares off investors and stalls development. Ultimately, this can destabilize not just one nation but entire regions, as problems like insecurity and migration spill across borders.

Part 3: A Practical Pathway Forward – Building Leadership That Delivers

The situation is complex, but it is not hopeless. Turning things around requires deliberate, concrete actions focused on systems, not just individuals.

1. Fortify Institutions with Transparency and Merit.

We must build systems so strong that they work regardless of who is in charge.

· Action: Legally protect key institutions—the electoral body, the civil service, the courts—from political interference. Appointments must be based on proven competence and integrity, not connections.

· Action: Implement technology-driven transparency. Let citizens track government budgets and projects in real time through public online portals. Sunshine is the best disinfectant.

2. Bridge the Gap Between Leaders and the Led.

Leadership must become a conversation, not a monologue.

· Action: Create mandatory Youth Advisory Councils at all levels of government and in large corporations. Give young people a formal platform to contribute ideas and hold leaders accountable on issues like education, digital innovation, and job creation.

· Action: Leaders must adopt regular, unscripted “town hall” meetings and use simple digital platforms to explain decisions and gather feedback directly from citizens and employees.

3. Channel Entrepreneurship into National Solutions.

Harness the proven problem-solving power of the private sector.

· Action: Establish Public-Private Impact Partnerships. For example, the government can partner with tech companies to roll out digital identity systems or with agribusinesses to build modern farm-to-market logistics. Clear rules and shared goals are key.

· Action: Launch National Challenge Funds that invite entrepreneurs and researchers to compete to solve specific national problems, like local clean energy solutions or affordable healthcare diagnostics, with funding and market access as the prize.

4. Redeploy Nigeria’s Greatest Export: Its Diaspora.

Turn the brain drain into a brain gain.

· Action: Create a Diaspora Knowledge & Investment Bureau. This agency would actively connect Nigerians abroad with opportunities to mentor, invest in startups, or take up short-term expert roles in Nigerian institutions, transferring vital skills and capital.

· Action: Offer tangible incentives, like tax breaks or matching funds, for diaspora-led investments in critical sectors like healthcare, renewable energy, and vocational training.

5. Cultivate a New Mindset in Every Citizen.

Ultimately, the culture of leadership starts with us.

· Action: Integrate ethics, civic responsibility, and critical thinking into the core curriculum of every school. Leadership development begins in the classroom.

· Action: Celebrate and reward “Local Champions”—the honest councilor, the community organizer, the business owner who trains apprentices. We must honor integrity and service in our everyday circles to reshape our collective expectations.

Conclusion: The Work of Building Together

The challenge before us is not to find a single heroic leader. It is to participate in building a better system of leadership. This means championing institutions that work, demanding transparency in our spaces, mentoring someone younger, and holding ourselves to high ethical standards in our own roles.

For Nigeria and Africa, the possibility of a brighter future is not a dream; it is a choice. It is the choice to move from complaining about leaders to building leadership. It is the choice to value competence over connection, to seek common ground over division, and to invest in the long-term health of our community. This work is hard and requires patience, but by taking these practical steps—starting today and in our own spheres—we lay the foundation for a tomorrow defined by promise, stability, and shared success. The power to deliver that possibility lies not in one person’s hands, but in our collective will to act.

Dr. Tolulope A. Adegoke, AMBP-UN is a globally recognized scholar-practitioner and thought leader at the nexus of security, governance, and strategic leadership. His mission is dedicated to advancing ethical governance, strategic human capital development, and resilient nation-building, and global peace. He can be reached via: tolulopeadegoke01@gmail.com, globalstageimpacts@gmail.com

Opinion

Globacom Redefines Standard for Telecoms in 2026

Published

5 days ago

January 29, 2026

Eric

By Michael Abimboye

As always, Globacom is at the heart of telecoms transformation in Nigeria. The acquisition of additional spectrum, is a decisive move that has expanded network capacity and fundamentally improved customer experience.

With the ability to carry significantly higher data volumes at greater speeds, users are seeing faster downloads, stronger uploads, seamless video streaming, and clearer voice calls even at peak periods. Crucially, this expansion has driven down latency. Independent performance testing has ranked Glo as the network with the lowest latency in Nigeria, meaning faster response times whenever data commands are initiated.

This spectrum advantage is being matched on the ground by the rollout of thousands of new LTE sites nationwide. Network capacity has increased pan-Nigeria, with noticeably higher download speeds across regions. At the same time, the installation of thousands of additional towers is easing congestion and closing coverage gaps, particularly in high-density locations such as markets and tertiary institutions, where demand for fast, reliable internet is highest.

Power reliability, often the silent determinant of network quality, is also being reengineered. Globacom has deployed hybrid battery power systems across numerous sites, reducing dependence on diesel while improving sustainability. Beyond cost efficiency, this greener model delivers stronger uptime ensuring uninterrupted power supply and optimal performance for base stations and switching centres.

Behind the scenes, Glo has upgraded its switching systems and data centres to accommodate rising traffic volumes nationwide. These upgrades are designed not only for today’s demand but to ensure the network consistently meets performance KPIs well into the future, even as data consumption continues to grow.

Equally significant is the massive reconstruction and expansion of Globacom’s optic fibre cable (OFC) network. Along highways and metro routes affected by road construction, fibre routes are being reconstructed and relocated to safeguard service continuity. Thousands of kilometres of new fibre have also been rolled out nationwide, fortifying the OFC backbone, improving redundancy, reducing network glitches, and enabling the network to handle increasingly heavy data loads with resilience.

These investments collectively address long-standing coverage gaps while driving densification and capacity enhancement in already active areas, ensuring a more balanced and reliable national footprint.

At the core layer, Globacom is modernising its network elements through new platforms and applications, upgraded enterprise and interconnect billing systems, and an expanding roster of roaming partners for both in-roaming and out-roaming services strengthening its integration into the global telecoms ecosystem.

Taken together, these are not incremental upgrades. They represent a deliberate, system-wide repositioning.

In 2026, Globacom is not just improving its network; it is asserting itself as the technical leader in Nigeria’s telecommunications industry and has gone on a spending spree to satisfy the millions of subscribers enjoying seamless connectivity across Nigeria.

Opinion

How GLO Sustains Everyday Businesses in Kano, Nigeria’s Centre of Commerce

Published

1 week ago

January 25, 2026

Eric

By Dr Sani Sa’idu Baba

For more than two weeks, Kano woke up under a veil of fog. Not the poetic kind, but the stubborn Harmattan fog that dulls vision, slows movement, and disrupts daily rhythm. Dawn arrived quietly. Shops opened late. Calls failed repeatedly. Internet bars blinked on and off like uncertain promises. Across the state, one reality became impossible to ignore: communication had become a struggle. This reality carried even greater weight in the capital of Kano, the centre of commerce in Nigeria.

As Ramadan approaches and gradually leads to the celebration of Eid-el-Fitr, everyone understands what this season represents. It is a period when online businesses, both big and small, become a major source of livelihood for millions. Traders prepare for peak demand, online vendors scale up advertising, and buyers from across the country look to Kano for goods. Visitors stream in from other states, transactions multiply, and the success of this entire commercial ecosystem depends heavily on one thing: seamless network connectivity between buyers and sellers.
In Kano, where business breathes through phone calls, alerts, and instant messages, poor network is not just inconvenient, it is costly. Calling became difficult. Browsing the internet felt like a battle. For many, it meant frustration. For others, it meant loss.

As these challenges persisted day after day, conversations across the city began to take a clear and consistent direction. In homes, offices, and markets, a new conversation began to dominate discussions. A brother of mine, deeply involved in the communication business at Farm Center Market, the largest hub for telecom activity in Kano shared his amazement. Day after day, customers walked up to data vendors with one clear, confident request: “Glo data.” Not alternatives. Not experiments. Just Glo, he said. At first, it seemed puzzling. If you were already on Glo, you might not even notice the difference. But for those struggling on other networks, the contrast was undeniable. In the middle of foggy mornings and unstable signals, Glo stood firm.

And soon, the conversation spread everywhere. At tea junctions in the early hours, as people warmed their hands around cups of shayi, discussions circled around how Glo “held up” when others disappeared. In university classrooms, students whispered comparisons before lectures began, who could download materials, who could submit assignments, and which network actually worked. More strikingly, Glo users quietly turned their phones into lifelines, sharing hotspots with classmates so others could access lecture notes, submit assignments, and stay connected. At sports viewing centres, between goals and missed chances, fans debated networks with the same passion as football rivalries. In markets, traders told customers how Glo saved their day. In every gathering of people across Kano, Glo became the reference point. The reason was simple: Glo had saved businesses.

Consider the POS operator by the roadside. Every successful transaction that attracts him/her ₦100 here, ₦200 there is survival. Failed transfers mean angry customers and lost income. During these fog-heavy days, many operators would have been stranded. But where Glo bars stayed strong, withdrawals went through, alerts dropped, and trust preserved.

Picture a roadside trader making her first sale of the day through a simple WhatsApp call, her voice steady as she confirms an order that will set the tone for her business. Nearby, an online vendor advertises products in WhatsApp groups, responds to messages, takes calls from interested buyers, and confirms deliveries, all in real time. Behind every one of these small but significant transactions is reliable connectivity. Delivery riders weaving through traffic and racing against time also depend on uninterrupted network access to reach customers, confirm payments, and complete orders. In moments when other networks struggled, Glo quietly kept these wheels of commerce turning, ensuring that daily hustle did not grind to a halt. Beyond the busy streets of the city, the impact of this reliability becomes even more profound in remote villages in Kano.

Back in Kano city, rising transportation costs have reshaped the way people work. Many professionals have had no choice but to adapt, turning their homes into offices and relying heavily on the internet to stay productive. Many now attend virtual meetings, send large files, collaborate remotely, and meet deadlines without leaving their homes. In a period marked by economic pressure and uncertainty, dependable internet is no longer a convenience, it is a necessity. In these conditions, Glo continues to provide the stability that keeps work moving forward.

At this point, Glo stops being seen merely as a telecommunications company. It emerges as the invisible backbone of the Nigerian hustle, supporting the determination and resilience of everyday people. From POS operators and online merchants to students, delivery services, market traders, and remote workers who refuse to give up, Glo remains present in the background, quietly powering their efforts. In tough terrains, harsh weather, and challenging times, when other networks fluctuate or fade, Glo stays connected.

You may not always hear it announce itself loudly, and you may not notice it when everything is working smoothly. But when a single call saves a business, when one alert prevents a financial loss, and when one stable connection keeps a dream alive, Glo proves its value, not as noise or empty promises, but as consistent reliability and lived experience. And that is how quietly, consistently, and powerfully Glo continues to power Nigeria’s everyday businesses, sustaining dreams and survival UNLIMITEDLY…

Dr. Baba writes from Kano, and can reached via drssbaba@yahoo.com