Jibrin Hussaini Kundum, Bauchi
Islamic scholars across Nigeria have been urged to emulate the exemplary character and teaching methods of the late First Emir of Bauchi, Mallam Yakubun Bauchi, as a model for reshaping the moral and educational foundations of Muslim society both within and beyond the country.
This call was made during a one-day memorial lecture held in Bauchi in honor of the revered Emir, organized by the Resource Forum of the Islamic Movement, under the leadership of Sheikh Ibrahim Yakubu El-Zakzaky.
Speaking at the event, Sheikh Yusuf Ahmad Yashi, the Bauchi State Leader of the Movement, said the rationale behind organizing the lecture was to enlighten the public—particularly Muslims—on the lifelong sacrifices and visionary leadership of Mallam Yakubun Bauchi in advancing Islamic institutions and values through his jihad.
He noted that the Resource Forum deliberately chose the Islamic month of Rabi’ul Awwal for the memorial lecture to emphasize the enduring importance of commitment, sacrifice, integrity, and trust in Islamic leadership, as embodied by Yakubun Bauchi and his mentor, Sheikh Usman bin Fodio.
Sheikh Yashi expressed optimism that the memorial lecture would become an annual event, aimed at sustaining the legacies and principles of Yakubun Bauchi in contemporary Islamic discourse and leadership.
In separate remarks, Mallam Isah Bello, Bauchi State Chairman of the Resource Forum, and Professor Abdullahi Danladi of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, lauded Sheikh El-Zakzaky and his followers for their foresight in organizing the lecture. They described it as both timely and impactful, particularly in the current moral and spiritual climate of the Muslim Ummah.
Delivering a presentation on the life and legacy of the late emir, Alhaji Ado Danrimi Garba, the Wakilin Tarihin Bauchi, outlined key aspects of Yakubun Bauchi’s leadership.
He emphasized the emir’s rare qualities—his wisdom, vision, and inclusive approach—highlighting his historic role in the 1804 establishment of the Bauchi Emirate, where he extended Islamic teachings and invited non-Muslims to embrace Islam, while effectively governing the affairs of the emirate.
He also noted that Yakubun Bauchi, born in 1763, was the son of Sa’idu Dadi, himself the son of Abdullahi Lafendi Gere. Yakubu began his Islamic education under Mallam Adama in Jitar Village, located in the present-day Bauchi Local Government Area.