Adamu Baikie, Former UNIBEN VC, Dies at 94 — Nation Mourns

Prof. Adamu Baikie, 94, the former Vice‑Chancellor of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), has died in Zaria, Kaduna State, university officials confirmed. His passing prompted immediate condolences from UNIBEN leadership and the wider academic community.

• Fast Facts:
• Age: 94
• Served as UNIBEN Vice‑Chancellor: 1978–1986
• Recognised as the first Professor of Education in Northern Nigeria
• Also served as Vice‑Chancellor of the National University of Lesotho and Nasarawa State University
• Death reported in Zaria, Kaduna State

In a statement released on Saturday by UNIBEN’s Public Relations Officer, Dr. Benedicta Ehanire, current Vice‑Chancellor Prof. Edoba Omoregie expressed deep sorrow and commiserated with the Baikie family and the university community. The VC described Prof. Baikie as a “towering figure in education” whose influence extended across Nigeria and the African continent.

The Legacy

Prof. Adamu Baikie leaves behind a record of institutional leadership and pioneering scholarship. Highlights of his career include:

1. Stalwart leadership at UNIBEN during his tenure as Vice‑Chancellor from 1978 to 1986, a period that shaped the university’s growth.
2. Honoured as the first Professor of Education in Northern Nigeria, a milestone that marked him as a pioneer in teacher education and academic development.
3. Distinguished service beyond Nigeria — notably as Vice‑Chancellor of the National University of Lesotho — and later contributions to Nasarawa State University, demonstrating his influence in diverse academic climates.

Reactions and Tributes

UNIBEN’s leadership and colleagues responded with praise for Prof. Baikie’s lifelong commitment to scholarship and public service. In his statement, Prof. Omoregie called Baikie “an astute educationist and administrator” who charted innovative paths in Nigeria’s educational history and left indelible footprints across Africa.

The VC urged the Baikie family and the academic community to take solace in a life devoted to leadership and learning, and prayed for the repose of the late professor’s soul. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported the death and provided early details of the university’s response.

Prof. Baikie’s passing is being felt across campuses and among generations of academics and administrators who he mentored and inspired. As tributes continue to arrive, colleagues remember a scholar whose work advanced higher education both at home and abroad.

Source: NAN