By Suleiman Usman Yusuf
The academic community and nation at large recently paused to honor one of its brightest stars when on the 5th of April 2025, we gathered at Hotel 17 in Kaduna to celebrate Professor Shu’aibu Shehu Aliyu’s well-deserved elevation to the pinnacle of academic achievement. As I stood to read his citation that evening, I was reminded not just of his impressive titles, but of the remarkable journey and profound impact that brought him to this moment.
Professor Aliyu’s story begins in the quiet town of Anchau in Kubau Local Government of Kaduna State, yet his intellectual curiosity and determination carried him far beyond those humble beginnings. His academic foundation was laid at the College of Advanced Studies, Zaria where he completed his IJMB in 1989. This was followed by a Diploma in Education in 1994, a BA in History in 1997, and an MA in History in 2007 – all from the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University. The crowning achievement came in 2015 when he earned his PhD from the University of Khartoum, Sudan, completing a 26-year odyssey of scholarly pursuit that would shape his life’s work.
What makes Professor Aliyu’s rise through the academic ranks at ABU – from Graduate Assistant in 2000 to Professor in 2023 – truly exceptional is the substantial body of knowledge he has created along the way. His scholarly works, particularly “Islam, Colonialism and Mitigation; A Study of West African Communities in Sudan” (2015) and “Sultans of Sokoto: A Biographical History” (2016), have become essential reading for anyone studying West African history and Islamic intellectual traditions. His international collaborations have extended Nigeria’s academic influence globally, working with institutions like the University of Khartoum and IRCICA in Turkey to advance our understanding of African historiography.
As Director of Arewa House from 2020 to 2024, Professor Aliyu transformed the institution into a vibrant hub of intellectual exchange and historical preservation. Under his leadership, we witnessed the magnificent celebration of Arewa House’s 50th anniversary in 2020, the groundbreaking International Conference on Islamic Learning and Scholarship in Africa in 2023, and the development of training manuals that are reshaping Islamiyya education across Northern Nigeria. He turned Arewa House into a national treasure – a place where scholars, policymakers, and thinkers could gather to address Nigeria’s most pressing challenges.
My personal journey with Professor Aliyu has been one of the great privileges. Despite the difference in our ages and experience, he welcomed me as both collaborator and friend, which signifies his remarkable humility and simplicity. While he graciously treated me as an equal, I have always regarded him as both mentor and elder brother, a guiding light I turn to for wisdom and higher perspective. Our collaborative work has spanned critical initiatives from Almajiri education reform to women and youth empowerment programs, and community peacebuilding efforts. In every interaction, I have been struck by his rare combination of deep knowledge and genuine humility. He possesses that uncommon quality of a true scholar – the ability to make complex ideas accessible without sacrificing their depth.
The impact of his mentorship extends far beyond our relationship. The twelve graduate students he has supervised (eight MA and four PhD candidates) now carry his teachings into classrooms and communities across Nigeria. This is perhaps his greatest legacy, not just the books he has written or the titles he has earned, but the generations of scholars he continues to inspire.
Yet Professor Aliyu’s contributions extend well beyond academia. As Chairman of the Kaduna State Committee on Repositioning Private Schools in 2016, he brought his scholarly rigor to bear on one of our most challenging educational issues. His expertise has guided national institutions like UBEC and JAMB, while his regular appearances on BBC, VOA, and NTA have brought historical perspective and scholarly insight to important national conversations.
As I concluded his citation that morning in Kaduna, I found myself reflecting on how Professor Aliyu embodies the very best of what it means to be a scholar and a leader. His promotion to Professor represents not just personal achievement, but a victory for Nigerian academia and for all those who believe in the transformative power of knowledge. He reminds us that true excellence is measured not just by what we achieve for ourselves, but by what we enable others to achieve.
To our respected mentor, I offer my warmest congratulations on this well-earned honor. Your journey continues to inspire us all, and your light will guide generations of scholars and administrators yet to come.
Suleiman writes from Kaduna, and could be reached via suleimanusmanbac@gmail.com