By Abubakar Imam
“Those who leave
everything in God’s
hand will eventually
see God’s hand in
everything”
–Travis Greene
It was not reported to me. I was there “live and direct”. It was a solemn and great event held in honour of a genuine personification of scholarship and other fascinating attributes. Not unexpectedly, it attracted distinguished dignitaries from far and near.
These personalities included eminent jurists, crowd-pulling clerics, outstanding academics, popular politicians, renowned business tycoons and notable community leaders as well as respected traditional rulers. They all felt that it was important for them to suspend other pressing activities to honour a true man of honour.
The presence of those eminent individuals and how colourful the event was confirmed that “it is always good to be good”. It also confirms that a good turn would always deserve another.
The above is the summary of my impression of all that transpired at the grand reception organised in honour of the beloved Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) of the Kwara State University, Malete, Prof. Moshood Mahmood Jimba. The event, which was presided-over by another eminent Professor of Arabic Studies, Hamza Ishola AbdulRaheem, took place on Sunday (September 29, 2024) at the national secretariat of the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), Geri Alimi, Ilorin.
Just like my brother and colleague, Mallam Rafiu Ajakaye, the hardworking Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Kwara State, and the Director of the Nigeria Centre for Arabic Research, Iwo, Osun State, Prof. Khidir Abdulbaqi Muhammad, among others, asserted, that they were not surprised with the volume and magnitude of encomiums poured on Prof. Jimba at the event, I was not surprised too. This is because I have always believed that this unassuming scholar of Arabic and author of several groundbreaking books is a man of the people.
Prof. Jimba epitomises the totality of the concept of Omoluabi. He is a good example of an exemplary personality who sees every other person as his “personal person”.
I have known Prof. Jimba, who is also the Chairman of the Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, since the 1990s. I know him to be a very nice and unique person who values relationships.
Unsurprisingly, Prof. Jimba has not changed from being an epitome of humility, simplicity and erudition. He also remains a symbol of unity and comradeship, particularly among students and scholars of Arabic and Islamic learning and heritage in Ilorin Emirate and beyond.
Prof. Jimba has held on to being a man imbued with rare qualities, particularly in the realm of interpersonal relationship. This is not withstanding his ever- rising profile in the academia and in the society at large.
My first contact with this erudite scholar was based on nothing but knowledge sharing. The first time was in 1998 when I took it upon myself to review his seminar work, “Ilorin Waka”. I sent him the review through my cousin, Mallam Abdulmumini Imam Shuaib, who, as at that time, was his student at the Kwara State College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies, Ilorin.
My cousin told me that Prof. Jimba received the piece with pride and enthusiasm. He added that this celebrated author didn’t question the “effrontery” of an “unknown boy” at putting his pen on paper to raise alternative angles to his positions in the illuminating treatise.
He rather sent an invitation to me through the same person. Unfortunately, I couldn’t honour it. We eventually met in November, 2001 when I accompanied a very good friend and brother of mine, Dr Quadir Folorunso Dauda, to his residence at his ancestral home in Ilorin. As soon as I was introduced to him by Dr Dauda, who is now the Deputy Bursar at KWASU, Prof. Jimba warmly embraced me as he explained that he had always anticipated meeting with me.
Within the twinkle of an eye, he had presented an autographed copy of the work to me. He added that he had preserved it for me since he received the review I sent to him three years earlier, as he was convinced that we would meet one day.
The depth of his mind became more glaring to me in the course of this year’s Hajj. I enjoyed his humility and generousity right from the hajj camp in Ilorin. He repeatedly gave me a memorable treatment that I believe ought to be reserved for his fellow eggheads and the royals.
I continued to enjoy extraordinary attention when he arrived in the city of Makkah and it lasted till I left Makkah for home at the end of the Hajj exercise.
While in Mina, Prof. Jimba would come to my tent every evening. He would pick me up for an outing and ensure that I was well fed with food, knowledge and his perspectives on life generally.
On our return to Makkah, Prof. Jimba suggested that I move from my hotel room to his. My desire to take up this privilege couldn’t be effected as my roommates insisted that I must not leave them.
He eventually visited me in my hotel room and insisted on taking photographs with me. His visit to my room transformed me from an anonymous pilgrim to a sort of celebrity. He also gave me a huge amount of money, which enabled me to come back home with some materials that I never thought of buying.
It is important to stress the uniqueness of Prof. Jimba’s example. He is a man whose interest revolves around learning and its diffusion. Nobody is too young to be befriended by him provided that the relationship would lead to knowledge sharing.
Even while in the holy city of Makkah, all he was discussing with me was the documentation of the hajj excerice as it went in 2024. He always wanted to write and preserve his experiences for the benefit of others.
Someone who is closer to him confided in yours sincerely that this uncommon man of letters never sought to be appointed as the Chairman of the Hajj Board. It was added that he even contemplated declining the appointment but for his conviction that doing so might be considered a disrespect to the person and office of the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, CON, who, based on the opinions of those who nominated him, reposes a lot of confidence in him.
Fortunately, this year’s Hajj exercise was adjudged to be the best conducted by Kwarans since 2019. This was the position expressed by Mallam Ajakaye who also inferred that the appointment of Prof. Jimba as the Chairman of the Pilgrims Board became inevitable because of the infectious integrity of the cleric-don . He concluded that the State Government did not receive any negative report on him in respect of the 2024 Hajj exercise.
Just as it is often experienced, when a good man thinks that he has had enough, he often gets more engaged as they say that the only reward for hard work is more work .
And so, as soon as he returned to Nigeria after the Hajj exercise, another appointment as the Deputy Vice Chancellor of KWASU came his way. I was reliably informed that he never aspired for that position too.
This story shows that though greatness could be pursued, it would always come the way of the industrious, selfless and unassuming ones whose activities and positive contributions are being closely felt by others.
The grand reception showed that Prof. Jimba is truly a man of the people as the venue became a junction of all sorts of distinguished individuals from all walks of life and from within and outside Ilorin.
Prof. Jimba, who was born in 1963, started his education at the Ansarudeen Primary School, Aiyetoro-Gbede in the present-day Kogi State. He was also trained at the famous Al-Mahad Al-Azhar Institute, Ilorin, before proceeding to the Al-Azhar Institute of Muslim Delegates, Cairo, Egypt,in 1983.
In 1987, Prof. Jimba received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the famous Al-Azhar University, Cairo. He subsequently earned his Master’s and doctorate degrees from the nation’s most sought-after University, the University of Ilorin, in 1995 and 2006, respectively. All his degrees are in Arabic, which makes him a sound and seasoned Arabist.
Professionally, this distinguished son of Ilorin has been a teacher and administrator for the past 35 years or so. His teaching career started in Kano where he offered his mandatory youth service.
He subsequently joined the services of Kwara State University, Malete. Prior to his current appointment and in addition to teaching and supervision of several undergraduate research projects and postgraduate theses, he was the Director, Centre for Ilorin Manuscripts and Culture. He was also the Head of the Department of French, Portuguese and Arabic Languages and Literature before becoming the Head of Department of Linguistics, African and European Languages.
Prof. Jimba also served as the Dean of Students Affairs. His last position was the Deanship of Postgraduate Studies, which he held from January to August, 2024.
Like his illustrious progenitor, Jimba Dan Gwari, who secured a place for himself and his descendants in the annals of Ilorin through exemplary bravery, uncommon loyalty and glittering patriotism, along with many others, which turned Ilorin into a sort of super power in the pre-colonial era, Prof. Jimba, who is married and blessed with children, has also secured a lofty position for himself in the contemporary history of Ilorin and most especially in the hearts of his compatriots. He, however, did this not through military exploits but through consistent war against ignorance
and divisiveness.
While I sincerely congratulate Prof. Jimba on this double honour, I wish him a very peaceful and successful tenure as the Chairman of the Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board and as the Deputy Vice Chancellor of the Kwara State University, Malete.
Imam is National Secretary, Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union.
