HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF MUSLIM EDUCATION IN WESTERN NIGERIA, (YORUBALAND).

PRESENTED BY AHAMAD FAOSIY OGUNBADO ISTAC, IIUM. MALAYSIA. AT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IN MAJORITY AND MINORITY MUSLIM SOCIETIES:STRATEGIES AND PROSPECT. 23-25 AUGUST 2008. COLLEGE OF ISLAMIC STUDIES, PSU, PATANI THAILAND.

INTRODUCTION.

Nigeria is a country situated in southern coast of west Africa. It borders with Lake Chad,Niger,Cameroon and Republic of Benin. It has 140 millions population. Muslims as majority. It has more than 250 ethnic groups, with different languages, 3 major ethnic groups are Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba and Ibo. It has 36 states with Abuja as Capital city.

Cont.

Yorubaland situated in southwest of the country It borders with Borgu,Nupe,Esan and Edo. It has six states, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo.

Spread of Islam in Yorubaland.

Yorubaland were predominantly unbelievers and Islam was rarely found. Ali Baba (d 1627A.D). Yoruba knew about Islam during the time of Mansa Musa of Mali (late14 to early15 c.) through the Mali traders and Ambassadors. Al-Aluri

Arabic and Islamic Educational system.

Religions are vehicles that transport reading and writing to Yorubaland. Muslim needed to pray and recite the Qurn, thus opened the way for the establishment of madrasah (Ile-kewu) (Arabic schools). Mosques premises were using as a place where people learn about their religion Al-qurn,Tafseer, Fiqh and Hadith were thought in the mosques.

From Mosque to Madrasah.

Imam Basunu (d.1871) established Islamic centre in Ibadan. (semi-mosque). 1904, Mustopha Al-shami extablished Arabic school and wrote Miftau al-lugat al-arabiyyah litalim bil-ifrikiyah algarbiyyah Tajudeen Al-adabi (d.1923 A.D.) established Arabic school in Ilorin. 1910-1920, there are numbers of Yoruba graduates from Al-azhar university, Egypt. A lot of learning centers were established in Ilorin, Ibadan, and ijebu-ode.

Cont.

Sheik Kamal-deen Al-Adabi continued his teachers role. 1952, Adam Al-Aluri established Markas Al-talim Al-arabiyah. 1991, celebrated 40years anniversary and estimated more than 10 thousand student graduated. 1948,Sheikh Abdul Azeez established Arabic and Islamic school in Oyo.

Western system of education.

1842,Christian missionaries introduced western education which was interwoven with Christian evangelism. Between 1842-1914 more than 10 different Christian missions arrived and began intensive missionary with education work. 1882, Catholic mission had 17 elementary and infant day schools in Lagos.

Cont.

By 1914, there are 59 govt. sch. 91 missions schools in Yoruba land. In 1930s Ansar-udeen, Ahamadiyya and Nawarudeen established their schools to solve the Muslims educations problems.

Integration of the two systems.

1930s, Ansar-udeen, Ahamadiyyah and Nawar-udeen, started their schools as alternative to the Christianization by teaching the western subjects as well as Arabic and Islamic subjects. 1962, University of Ibadan established faculty of Arabic and Islamic studies. 1963, Certificates courses began for Arabic and Islamic teachers.

Problems of Muslims education.

Low standard of education. Low standard of teachers or instructors. Low standard of curriculum or syllabus. Inadequate facilities. Lack of time management. Lack of competitive. Lack of job opportunities. Etc.

Suggested Solutions.

Proprietors should improve the standard of their institutions. The system should not be rigid, it should be ready to integrate. Teachers should improve their standards. Muslims should ready to go to science fields. Govt. should provide opportunities for Arabic learners.

End.
Thank you all for your patience. May Almighty Allah bless you all. Amen.
tunbado@hotmail.com.