Campaign against NBAIS is a threat to Nigeria’s diversity
By ISHOLA BALOGUN
The question therefore arises: why are certain groups so determined to suppress NBAIS and, by extension, Arabic and Islamic education? If the concern is educational standards, NBAIS has already met the requirements of the relevant regulatory authorities. If the concern is university admission, the NUC and JAMB have settled that matter by directing Nigerian universities and tertiary institutions to recognize NBAIS qualifications. If the concern is national development, NBAIS graduates are contributing meaningfully across various sectors of society. What then is the real issue?
The renewed attempt to undermine or scrap the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS) is not only misguided but deeply troubling. It raises serious questions about the commitment of some individuals and groups to the principles of religious freedom, educational diversity, and equal opportunity guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution.
For over sixty years, NBAIS has remained a legitimate and recognized educational institution, serving millions of Nigerians who choose Arabic and Islamic education alongside conventional subjects. Its certificates, including the Senior Arabic and Islamic Secondary School Certificate Examination (SAISSCE), are officially recognized by the National Universities Commission (NUC), the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), and tertiary institutions across the country. They are treated as equivalent to WAEC and NECO qualifications and provide graduates with opportunities to pursue higher education and professional careers in every field of human endeavour.
The question therefore arises: why are certain groups so determined to suppress NBAIS and, by extension, Arabic and Islamic education?
If the concern is educational standards, NBAIS has already met the requirements of the relevant regulatory authorities. If the concern is university admission, the NUC and JAMB have settled that matter by directing Nigerian universities and tertiary institutions to recognize NBAIS qualifications. If the concern is national development, NBAIS graduates are contributing meaningfully across various sectors of society. What then is the real issue?
The truth is that Arabic occupies a unique and indispensable place in Islam. It is not merely another language taught in classrooms. It is the language of the Holy Qur’an, the language through which Muslims understand their sacred texts, perform their daily prayers, and access centuries of intellectual and spiritual heritage. To attack Arabic education is, in many respects, to attack a fundamental aspect of Islamic religious life.
No sincere advocate of religious freedom should be comfortable with such a proposition.
Interestingly, many critics either ignore or deliberately conceal the fact that NBAIS is not exclusively confined to Arabic and Islamic Studies. The Board also administers Science, Arts, and Commercial curricula. Its students study Mathematics, English, Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Government, and other conventional subjects. Graduates proceed to study Medicine, Law, Engineering, Accounting, Education, Agriculture, and numerous other disciplines.
Today, NBAIS certificate holders are studying and graduating from prestigious institutions such as Ahmadu Bello University, Bayero University Kano, the University of Ilorin, and many others across Nigeria.
Should this success be celebrated or punished?
Perhaps the discomfort of NBAIS opponents stems from the fact that the institution has become a vehicle of empowerment for millions of Muslim youths who might otherwise be excluded from formal educational opportunities. In a country striving to improve literacy rates and expand access to education, one would expect every legitimate educational pathway to be encouraged, not destroyed.
How does scrapping NBAIS help Nigeria achieve education for all? How does it advance literacy among students whose educational backgrounds are rooted in Arabic and Islamic schools? What alternative exists for the millions who rely on NBAIS qualifications to access higher education?
Those advocating its abolition owe Nigerians answers.
What makes the campaign particularly disturbing is the pattern of hostility that often accompanies anything associated with Islam in Nigeria. Time and again, issues that should be straightforward educational or administrative matters are transformed into manufactured controversies simply because they involve Islamic institutions.
Many Nigerians will recall the agitation against Arabic inscriptions on the naira. One would have thought that the presence of Arabic calligraphy on a currency used for decades was responsible for inflation, unemployment, poverty, or insecurity. Yet enormous energy was devoted to fighting a harmless symbol that neither imposed Islam on anyone nor deprived anyone of their rights.
We have witnessed repeated allegations of “Islamisation” whenever Muslims seek the same constitutional rights and opportunities enjoyed by others. The Muslim-Muslim ticket was portrayed by some as an existential threat to Christianity, yet Christianity remains vibrant across Nigeria. Claims of hidden Islamic agendas are routinely advanced without evidence, while legitimate Islamic institutions are subjected to scrutiny and suspicion.
It is difficult not to conclude that some of these campaigns are driven less by principle and more by prejudice, bigotry, envy and hatred. But Islam is a divine religion that cannot be subdued. Yes, enemies can only try but they will fail.
The irony is that Nigeria itself has benefited immensely from the products of Arabic and Islamic education.
Recently, Nigerian Qur’an reciter Abdul-Raheem Mansur Isa Yelwa from Bauchi State brought international recognition to the country by winning the prestigious International Holy Qur’an Recitation Competition in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. His achievement elevated Nigeria’s reputation across the Muslim world and showcased the excellence of Nigerian scholarship.
Similarly, Hajara Ibrahim Dan’azumi, a 19-year-old from Gombe State, emerged as the world’s best female Holy Qur’an reciter at the 18th Women’s International Hashemite Competition for Qur’an Memorization in Jordan. Competing against participants from forty countries, she achieved an extraordinary score of 99.5 percent.
Another Nigerian, Ibrahim Muhammad Nasir, a law student from Bauchi State, secured second place at the prestigious King Abdulaziz International Qur’an Competition in Makkah, winning a prize of 450,000 Saudi Riyals.
Likewise, Idriss Muhammad Abubakar from Borno State won first position in the 60 Hizb category at an international Qur’anic recitation competition in Saudi Arabia.
These are not isolated successes. They are products of a long tradition of Arabic and Islamic education that institutions such as NBAIS help to sustain.
When Nigerian athletes win international competitions, the nation celebrates. When Nigerian musicians conquer global charts, we rejoice. Why should achievements in Qur’anic scholarship receive anything less than national pride and support?
The Senate debate therefore goes beyond NBAIS. It touches on the broader question of whether Nigerian Muslims will continue to enjoy equal educational rights under the Constitution.
Senator Kawu Sumaila deserves commendation for courageously defending NBAIS on the floor of the Senate and reminding his colleagues of its long-standing role in Nigeria’s educational system. His intervention demonstrates the kind of leadership required at this critical moment.
At the same time, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, whose office reportedly transmitted the memo to the Senate, should provide Nigerians with clarity regarding the basis and objectives of any proposal affecting NBAIS.
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), National Association of Teachers of Arabic and Islamic Studies (NATAIS), scholars, traditional leaders, civil society groups, and all defenders of educational freedom must also speak out.
NBAIS is not a favour granted to Muslims. It is a legitimate institution established under Nigerian law and recognized by relevant authorities. Its students are Nigerian citizens. Their educational aspirations are as valid as those of every other citizen.
If Nigeria is truly committed to fairness, inclusion, and educational advancement, the conversation should not be about scrapping NBAIS. It should be about strengthening it, expanding its reach, improving its facilities, and ensuring that it continues to produce graduates who contribute positively to national development. The attempt to weaken NBAIS must therefore be rejected unequivocally.
Millions of Muslim students are watching. Millions of parents are concerned. The future of a respected institution hangs in the balance.
Justice, fairness, and common sense demand only one conclusion: NBAIS must stay, must be protected, and must be given every support necessary to continue serving Nigeria for generations to come.
*Ishola Balogun is a columnist with Vanguard newspaper and publisher of The ReporterNg. Email: isholaism@gmail.com
