Arikewusola canvasses more support for UNILORIN
By Abubakar Imam
A Senior Lecturer at the Department of Arabic and Transnational Studies, University of Ilorin, Dr Musa Husain Muhammad-Bashir (Arikewusola), has appealed to the University stakeholders, particularly its alumni and friends, to continue to offer the institution more support in order to enhance its service delivery.
The cleric-don, who is also a Deputy Director at the University’s Centre for Open and Distance Learning (CODL), made this appeal last Tuesday (January 6, 2026) while speaking in an interview with UNILORIN Bulletin in his office.
The renowned Arabist said that universities around the world would always require support for them to achieve growth and development and service the humanity better.
He stated that even older and globally-renowned universities like Oxford and Al-Azhar in the United Kingdom and Egypt, respectively, among others, became famous centres of excellence due to the consistent financial, material and moral support they enjoined from their alumni and friends.
While saying that the University of Ilorin has also been enjoying similar support, the cleric-don appreciated the impacts of those who have been rendering support to the University as a whole or its Faculties and Departments, saying that more of such is needed for the University to remain one of the best at national level.
Dr Muhammad-Bashir acknowledged the recent contributions of some individuals like an Ilorin-based legal luminary and Kuliya of Ilorin, Prof. Yusuf Olaolu Ali, SAN; and the Dan Amana of Ilorin, Dr Abdulkadir Tunji Nagode and many others who recently offered significant material support to one segment of the University or the other.
While recalling the donation of a utility vehicle to the Department of Religions by Prof. Ali, among other interventions, he praised Dr Nagode for the comprehensive renovation of the Library of the Faculty of Management Sciences.
The cleric-don, who is also a renowned Islamic broadcaster, appealed to Faculties, Departments and Centres at the University to approach their alumni for support whenever such is needed, saying that most of these alumni would respond positively when contacted.
Speaking on the relevance of Arabic as a course of study in contemporary Nigeria and beyond, the distinguished Arabist said that Arabic, being an international language like English and French, among others, deserved to be studied by interested Nigerians to enhance international relevance.
He said that the study and use of Arabic as a language and means of communication would enhance eligibility of Nigerians while seeking one international position or the other.
The cleric-don recalled that one of the reasons why a former Nigerian Head of State, President Olusegun Obasanjo, despite being a respected international statesman, lost the position of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Organisation(UNO) many years ago was his lack of the knowledge of any other international language aside from English.
He explained that Chief Obasanjo’s opponent, Dr Butrous-Butrous Ghali of Egypt was consequently elected into the position as the first African UN’s Secretary-General principally because of his proficiency in English, French and Arabic languages, among other credentials.
Answering another question, the senior academic said that holders of degrees in Arabic have the opportunity of working in universities as well as other places and institutions, saying that they can work as teachers in any institution of learning or serve as broadcasters as he previously did.
Dr Muhammad-Bashir recalled that many graduates of the Department are doing very well in the diplomatic service, banking, police, immigration and armed forces where they are also doing very well like their counterparts who studied other courses.
