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The First African UNESCO Laureate and World Records Holder, Prof. Sir Bashiru Aremu, has hailed the enduring academic and spiritual legacy of Prof. Razaq Deremi Abubakre as the first Muslim to attain the rank of Professor of Arabic in Yorubaland.
Daily Independent learnt this from Prof. Sir Bashiru Aremu in a telephone conversation with our reporter today being on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, as UNESCO Laureate Commends Prof Rasaq’s global contributions, Academic and spiritual achievements.
Speaking to our reporter, Aremu used the medium to showcase the great feats attained by Prof Rasaq Deremi Abubakre as a foremost Intellectual and seasoned Islamic Scholar.
Aremu, a Professor of Computer Science and Information Technology at Mewar International University, New Karu, Via Abuja, Nigeria, had stated that Prof Rasaq Deremi Abubakre is one of the foremost intellectuals and distinguished scholars produced directly under the tutelage of the late renowned Islamic scholar, Maolana Sheikh Adam Abdullah Al-Ilory. His academic journey, the UNESCO Laureate noted, reflects resilience, excellence, and service to Islamic scholarship.
In the words of the first African UNESCO Laureate: ” I must commend Prof. Abubakre for the greatest Academic and Spiritual heights he had attained in life. No doubt, he is one of the Nation’s foremost Intellectuals and Renowned Scholars”.
“He was first admitted to Markaz Agege in 1961 at the age of 13. However, he withdrew later that year due to a serious medical condition. After recovering. He returned to Markaz and graduated in 1967 with outstanding distinction in Arabic and Islamic education”.
“In 1969, he gained admission to the University of Ibadan to study Arabic. He graduated in 1976 with a First Class Honours degree, emerging as the best graduating student in the department. His performance earned him direct admission into a Ph.D programme without first obtaining a Master’s degree, an uncommon feat at the time”.
“He proceeded to the School of Oriental and African Studies, SOAS, University of London, United Kingdom, where he earned his Ph.D. in Arabic Literature in 1980. Upon his return to Nigeria, he joined the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, as Lecturer II in the same year.
“Through sustained commitment to teaching, research, and scholarship, Prof. Abubakre rose through the ranks. In 1989, at the age of 41, he was conferred with the rank of Professor of Arabic Studies, making him one of the youngest Nigerians to attain professorial status at the time”.
“Beyond teaching, he provided academic leadership as the second substantive Vice-Chancellor of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, serving from 2010 to 2015. During his tenure, he was credited with strengthening the institution’s academic foundation and Islamic identity.
“Prof. Abubakre is also recognized as a mentor to a generation of scholars. Among his notable students is Prof. Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin and formerly Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB. Both he and his mentor are products of the intellectual tradition of Maolana Sheikh Adam Abdullah Al-Ilory.
“I, Prof. Sir Bashiru Aremu, therefore pray Prof Rasaq Deremi Abubakre for his continued good health and for divine reward for his contributions to Islam and scholarship. I also pray for Allah’s forgiveness for his mentor in the person of Sheikh Adam Abdullah Al-Ilory and for him to be granted Al-Jannatul Firdaus. Amen!”.
“Prof. Sir Bashiru Aremu, FRSA UK, LFICWLS USA and other accolades worldwide, is a globally recognized Nigerian academic, computer scientist, and educational administrator. He is widely acknowledged as the First African UNESCO Laureate and holds the title of World-Acclaimed Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Computer Science and ICT by UNESCO and Top-up by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria, and others worldwide.
“He currently serves in several international academic and governance roles and is the International Chairman, Board of Trustees, Africa Information Technology Consultancy”.
