Professor Yahuza Sulaiman Imam: A Luminary of Success

By Comrade Musa Mohammed

Under the visionary leadership of Professor Yahuza Sulaiman Imam, the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS) has entered a new era of reform, growth and national relevance.

The most historic milestone of his administration so far was the conduct of the Board's first-ever promotion exercise on 4th and 5th December, 2024. The exercise, held simultaneously at the Muhammadu Buhari Professional Testing Centre, Kaduna; Community Education Resource Centre, Gombe; and JAMB Professional Test Centres in Abuja and Ibadan, involved staff from across the country. Eligible candidates, after rigorous screening, sat for a one-hour Computer-Based Test (CBT) covering General Knowledge, Public Service Rules and Professional questions.

The unprecedented exercise, driven by Professor Imam and his management team, was met with overwhelming positive feedback and stands as a testament to his commitment to staff welfare, career progression and institutional excellence.

A team of journalists who recently visited the Board observed tremendous success in his reform agenda. It was clear testimony that he introduced new concepts that have brought about radical and positive changes in the institution.

Professor Imam is widely described as a complete gentleman - humble, calm, level-headed and a firm believer in teamwork. A silent achiever whose performance speaks for itself, he is a good manager of both human and material resources.

An accomplished scholar and astute administrator, Professor Yahuza Sulaiman Imam is a professor of Modern Arabic Literature at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He is an Al-Azhar graduate with a doctorate in Arabic linguistics and had previously served NBAIS as Deputy Registrar and Director, Quality Assurance. He was appointed substantive Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of NBAIS by the Federal Government in May 2023, succeeding Prof. Muhammad Shafi'u Abdullahi.

Since assumption of office, he has upgraded the status and standard of the Board's examinations to international level and is expanding collaboration with universities and organisations within and outside Nigeria.

Under his able leadership, NBAIS is strengthening its core mandates through proper supervision of Arabic schools and colleges, curriculum development and syllabus standardisation.

Of particular note is his ability to increase students' participation in the Senior Arabic and Islamic Secondary School Certificate Examination (SAISSCE). He stepped in midway through preparations for the 2023 SAISSCE and still delivered the examination successfully across dozens of states.

What followed has been practical, focused work: renovation of the headquarters, staff capacity-building, full automation of registration and results checking, curriculum reviews, introduction of entrepreneurship subjects, and steady expansion of accredited centres.

Founded in 1960 by Sir Ahmadu Bello and made a full national examining body in 2011, NBAIS conducts SAISSCE alongside Tahfeez and Science streams. For years it operated in the shadow of WAEC and NECO. Today, under Professor Imam, its visibility and credibility have grown significantly.

The National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) have all directed tertiary institutions under their purview to accept SAISSCE for admission, thereby offering equal opportunity for WAEC, NECO and NBAIS candidates.

In a groundbreaking move, the recognition of SAISSCE by the Nursing and Midwifery Council for admission into nursing programmes has unlocked new opportunities for thousands of students. Integrated Arabic and Islamic Schools offer not only Arabic and Islamic Studies, but also English, Mathematics, Science, Arts, Commerce and Technical subjects, in line with the Federal Government's programme for the Integration of Tsangaya and Qur'anic Education (IQTE).

Both Muslims and non-Muslims are found as SAISSCE candidates and employees of NBAIS, showing that the Board is receptive across faiths. Its watchwords remain increasing access to education and enhancing cognitive abilities such as problem-solving, memory and analytical skills.

Administratively, Professor Imam's wealth of experience has made his management style result-oriented and hands-on. Within a short period, he mobilised staff with support from the Governing Council to reposition the institution in tandem with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope agenda for education for all.

He can therefore be described as a transformational leader and a turnaround expert - a team player who delivers unusual results working with others.

The achievements so far recorded would not have been possible without the guidance and support of the Federal Ministry of Education under the Honourable Minister, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa and the Honourable Minister of State, Prof. Suwaiba Sa'id Ahmad, as well as the NUC, NBTE, NMCN and other professional bodies.

No leadership journey is free of friction, but the overall direction is clear. The Board is focused on full actualisation of its mandates and fostering cordial relationships with all stakeholders.

As the saying goes, _Qui Non Improbat, Approbat_ - he who does not disapprove, approves. The monumental turnaround of NBAIS under Professor Yahuza Sulaiman Imam deserves ovation from all well-meaning Nigerians.