Sheikh Alimi Ibn Janta laid the intellectual, spiritual, and institutional foundations upon which Islamic scholarship in Ilorin stands today. Renaming the University of Ilorin in his honour would be a historically just, culturally meaningful, and symbolically powerful act,”
— Professor Khalilullah Mohammad Usman Gbodofu
By Time Nigeria,
Fresh calls have been renewed for the Federal Government of Nigeria to rename the University of Ilorin as Sheikh Alimi University, Ilorin, in recognition of the towering historical, intellectual, and spiritual contributions of Sheikh Alimi Ibn Janta to the growth of Islam and Islamic scholarship in Ilorin and far beyond West Africa.
The call has gained renewed momentum following the recent international recognition of Professor Khalilullah Mohammad Usman Gbodofu, a Professor of Arabic Literary Criticism at the University of Ilorin, whose global academic feat has once again drawn national and international attention to Ilorin’s deep-rooted Islamic and scholarly heritage.
Professor Gbodofu emerged as one of the 29 awardees worldwide at the 2025 Sheikh Hamad International Award for Best Translation and International Understanding, held in Doha, Qatar. Notably, he stood out as the only award recipient from West Africa and the only Black scholar among all the awardees, a historic milestone that has further elevated Nigerian Arabic and Islamic scholarship on the global stage.
Professor Gbodofu receiving a prestigious award as he emerged as one of the 29 awardees worldwide at the 2025 Sheikh Hamad International Award for Best Translation and International Understanding, held in Doha, Qatar.
The prestigious award is conferred under the auspices of His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the Emir and President of the State of Qatar, whose Crown Prince oversees the day-to-day affairs of the country on his behalf. The award recognises outstanding contributions to cross-cultural understanding through translation and intellectual exchange.
Professor Gbodofu earned the honour through his scholarly translation of the classical Arabic literary masterpiece, Naqd al-Shi‘r by Abu al-Faraj Qudamah ibn Ja‘far, rendered into Arabic literary scholarship as Naqdush-Shi‘r Li-Qudamat Bn Ja‘far. The work, produced under the auspices of the Department of Arabic, University of Ilorin, has been widely praised for its intellectual depth, linguistic rigour, and contribution to global literary criticism.
Observers note that the recognition not only celebrates Professor Gbodofu’s personal academic excellence but also underscores the University of Ilorin’s long-standing role as a centre of Arabic and Islamic intellectual traditions—traditions whose roots trace directly to Sheikh Alimi Ibn Janta.
Cross-session of the awardees including Professor Gbodofu at the presentation of a prestigious award as he emerged winner as one of the 29 awardees worldwide at the 2025 Sheikh Hamad International Award for Best Translation and International Understanding, held in Doha, Qatar.
Speaking on the broader implications of the award, Professor Gbodofu argued that the moment presents a historic opportunity for the Federal Government to formally acknowledge Ilorin’s foundational Islamic heritage by renaming the University of Ilorin after Sheikh Alimi.
“Sheikh Alimi Ibn Janta laid the intellectual, spiritual, and institutional foundations upon which Islamic scholarship in Ilorin stands today. Renaming the University of Ilorin in his honour would be a historically just, culturally meaningful, and symbolically powerful act,”
— Professor Gbodofu said.
Historians and scholars affirm that Sheikh Alimi’s influence transcended generations and geography. His legacy produced a vast intellectual network that shaped the evolution of Islamic scholarship not only in Ilorin but across Nigeria and West Africa. Among those who carried and internationalised the Alimi scholarly tradition were eminent pre-20th century and early scholars such as Sheikh Bube, Sheikh Takuti, Alfa Onimasa, Sheikh Gbodofu Agba, Sheikh Abubakar Alfa Omo Ikokoro, and numerous other pioneers whose works and teachings elevated Ilorin’s Islamic scholarship to international standards.
These early scholars, alongside later figures such as Sheikh Kamaludeen Habeebullah Musa Al-Adabiy, Sheikh Adam Abdullahi Al-Alori, Sheikh Bashar Al-Argbaji, Sheikh Salaudeen Agbarigidoma, Sheikh Alfa Erubu Agba, and many other notable Ilorin Ulama, formed an unbroken intellectual chain that predated and complemented later developments in Nigerian Islamic history.
Analysts argue that Ilorin’s emergence as one of the most enduring centres of Arabic and Islamic learning in sub-Saharan Africa cannot be meaningfully discussed without reference to Sheikh Alimi’s foundational role, making the case for institutional recognition both compelling and overdue.
Professor Gbodofu further anchored his call in national and continental precedent. Across Nigeria and Africa, universities have been renamed to honour individuals whose intellectual, cultural, and historical contributions shaped society. Prominent examples include Usmanu Dan Fodiyo University, Sokoto, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and Tai Solarin University of Education, among others.
Advocates of the proposed renaming contend that extending similar recognition to Sheikh Alimi would promote historical equity, strengthen cultural memory, and affirm Nigeria’s respect for African and Islamic intellectual heritage.
The call also carries considerable weight given Professor Gbodofu’s academic stature and service record. Born on October 15, 1963, he holds academic degrees from Bayero University, Kano, and the University of Ilorin, where he rose through the ranks to become a Professor in October 2023. He has authored over 50 scholarly publications, supervised numerous postgraduate students, and served in several key positions including Acting Head of Department, Postgraduate Coordinator, and Member of Senate.
Beyond the university, Professor Gbodofu serves as Chief Imam of the Centre for Islamic Heritage Mosque, Ilorin, a media scholar, and Director of Jamia’tul Rasul for Islamic Da‘wah and Teaching, roles that further position him as a bridge between academic scholarship and community life.
As national conversations on identity, heritage, and recognition continue to evolve, stakeholders say the Federal Government now faces a defining opportunity to honour Sheikh Alimi’s enduring legacy through institutional remembrance.
For Professor Gbodofu and like-minded scholars, the proposal transcends symbolism.
“Renaming the University of Ilorin as Sheikh Alimi University, Ilorin would send a clear message that Nigeria values its intellectual history, honours its scholars, and preserves its cultural memory for future generations,” he said.
As the debate gains traction, the call is expected to resonate across academic, religious, and policy circles nationwide, placing the issue firmly before the Federal Government for serious consideration.
