The Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, has commended the institution’s Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies for sustaining interest in fostering cross-fertilization of discourse on Islam and Arabic Language.
The vice-chancellor made the commendation on Sunday in Ibadan at an International Conference organised to commemorate the 70th birthday of Dr Bari Adetunji, an Islamic scholar in the university, according to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN.
According to him, the conference, with the theme “Arabo-Islamic Scholarship: Between the Gown and the Town”, is taking place at a time when the university is championing the course of how academics can influence their immediate society.
Represented by Prof. Ayobami Kehinde of the Faculty of Arts, Olayinka said that bringing “the gown to meet the town and vice versa’’ was on the front burner of the exploits of the university.
“The university prioritises connecting gown with the town for symbiotic relationship and for mutual benefits that would translate to better Nigeria.
“Also, the theme of this conference dovetails with the vision of this university, `to be a world-class institution for academic excellence geared towards meeting societal needs.’
“In a country where Islam is a way of life for a large proportion of the population, where its study is mandatory for every believer, a study of its academic discipline becomes significant,’’ he said.
Olayinka described Adetunji as a doyen, a scion and zeal of an intelligent man whose contributions to the development to Arabic and Islamic studies in Nigeria could not be under-estimated.
In a lecture, Prof. Kamila Oloso, Head of Department, Arabic and Islamic Studies of the university, emphasized the need for collaboration by scholars, Alfas, elite, title holders and field workers.
“Our goals should be how to energise and strategise to further the course of Islam and place it above all religions,” he said.
The paper was entitled “Muslim Elite versus Muslim Scholars: The Need for True Collaboration towards Islamic Awareness in Yorubaland”.
In his response, Adetunji thanked Allah for his benevolence and for keeping him in the last 70 years.