REMEMBERING A VISIONARY SELFLESS LEADER OF NIGERIA IN SUMMARY:-
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1945 — Birth and Early Life:
Born in Musawa, in present-day Katsina State, into a respected royal family.
Grew up in northern Nigeria during a period of major political and social transition.
1950s–Early 1960s — Primary & Secondary Education:
Attended Musawa Junior Primary School,
Kankia Senior Primary School,
Minna Senior Primary School, and
Government College, Kaduna.
Showed early signs of intellectual independence and political awareness.
Mid–1960s — University Education Abroad
Studied briefly in London at a preparatory college.
Attended the University of Lancaster, UK.
Graduated in 1967 with a Bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science.
Late 1960s — Early Academic Career:
Returned to Nigeria and taught at Barewa College, Zaria, one of the most influential schools in Northern Nigeria.
Known for critical thinking and anti-elitist views despite his aristocratic background.
1970 — Joins Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.
Appointed a lecturer in the Department of History.
Became a protégé of the renowned historian Abdullahi Smith.
Began shaping what later became known as the ABU School of History.
1970–1974 — Postgraduate Studies
Completed his Master’s and PhD at ABU.
Doctoral thesis: The Transformation of Katsina (1796–1903) — regarded as a landmark in Nigerian historiography.
1970s–1980s — Academic and Political Influence:
Published influential books and papers on Nigerian history, political economy, and social justice.
Actively involved in public policy debates, including constitutional and foreign-policy committees.
Served briefly as Secretary to the Government of the former Kaduna State (1979–1982).
Declined promotion to full professor on principle, criticizing politicization in academic institutions.
1990s–2000s — Senior Intellectual and Public Thinker.
Mentored a generation of Nigerian historians, supervising numerous PhD theses.
Played an active role in civil-society advocacy, anti-corruption campaigns, and national-unity discourse.
Authored works such as:
The Manipulation of Religion in Nigeria
Nigeria Against the IMF For the Liberation of Nigeria.
Continued to challenge social injustice, economic inequality, and historical distortion.
2005 — Passing:
Died on 24 September 2005.
His funeral attracted scholars, activists, politicians, and students from across Nigeria.
Legacy:
Remembered as one of Nigeria’s most principled scholar-activists.
His works remain central to the study of Nigerian history and political thought.
His approach to historiography—evidence-driven, anti-colonial, and socially grounded—continues to shape African historical studies.
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) has moved to immortalize him by naming institutional structures in his honour.
Annual lectures, public discussions, and political writings frequently reference his intellectual contributions.
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Courtesy: Haroun Opotu.
