From Femi Mustapha, in Kaduna
On December 13, 2025, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) announced the passing of Professor Adamu Baikie, a trailblazing educator and public servant whose legacy has had a profound impact on Nigerian academia.
In a press release signed by Professor T. A. Muhammad-Baba, the National Publicity Secretary of ACF, the organization expressed deep sadness at the loss of a “quintessential public servant, mentor, and exemplar of Arewa’s scholarly tradition.”
Professor Baikie was the first professor of education from Northern Nigeria and built an impressive record of excellence in scholarship and public service. At Ahmadu Bello University, he cultivated the Faculty of Education and the Institute of Education, mentoring generations of professional teachers. His tenure as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin from 1978 to 1986 saw the institution achieve national prominence. This success led to his leadership roles at the University of Lesotho from 1988 to 1996 and later at Nasarawa State University from 2001 to 2009, where he established a solid foundation for the institution’s growth.
The ACF highlighted Baikie’s humility, integrity, and unassuming nature, despite his remarkable accomplishments, noting that his name had become “iconic” within the academic community. “His life and service reflected Arewa’s valued commitment to scholarship in the service of society,” the release stated.
Condolences were extended to Baikie’s family, friends, and the broader academic community, as well as to the governments and people of Kaduna and Kano states, Ahmadu Bello University, the University of Benin, the University of Lesotho, and his countless mentees. The forum prayed that Almighty God grant him eternal peace and that those he left behind find comfort in knowing that his life was truly well-lived.
The ACF concluded its statement by reaffirming its commitment to uphold the values embodied by Professor Baikie: excellence in education, service to society, and the mentorship of future generations.
