‘Deremi proceeded in 1977 to the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, and after three years of intense research and high-octane academic work, the authorities of the University conferred a doctorate degree in Arabic on him in 1980. It was the freshly-minted Dr Abubakre that joined the services of the fledgling University of Ilorin in September, 1980 as a Lecturer II. By dint of hard work and exceptional academic rigour, he became the first Yoruba Muslim Professor of Arabic in 1989, just nine years after becoming a University teacher. Prof. Abubakre stands tall as the father of Arabic in Nigeria today, being the most senior serving Professor of the discipline throughout the country.
Since some 37 years ago when Prof. Abubakre joined the University as a young scholar and researcher, this academic Titan has contributed immensely to the development of the University of Ilorin particularly, the Nigerian university system collectively, the nation as a whole and humanity at large. As a researcher of international repute, he has collaborated with fellow academics in all parts of the world, from Germany to the United States, on ground-breaking research projects that have advanced knowledge to greater heights. As a frontline scholar, he has also won many research awards and grants, including the prestigious fellowship of the German Academic Exchange Programme (DAAD) which made him to carry out research in such universities as Ruhr University Bochum (May-July, 1996) and University of Bayreuth (May-July, 1987).
Apart from serving as Chairman and Member of scores of statutory and ad hoc committees of the University of Ilorin, the current Federal Commissioner, Public Complains Commission, Osun State, also served as the Head of Religions Department (1992-95), acting Dean of Arts (March – April, 1991) and Dean of Arts (2001 – 2003) of the University of Ilorin. He later served as the Vice-Chancellor of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, from 2008 to 2010, thus attaining the peak one can ever attain within the university system. His short period as Vice-Chancellor was so phenomenal that he was proclaimed and acclaimed by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) as the best Vice-Chancellor in Nigeria.
Apart from Ilorin, Professor Abubakre’s academic expertise is sought throughout the country and beyond. This explains why at various times, he was an External Examiner to the University of Ibadan, the Nigeria Defence Academy, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto, the University of Jos, Bayero University, Kano, the University of Cape Coast, Ghana, among others. He had also served as Chairman and Member of, as well as Consultant to, the Editorial Boards of several academic journals both nationally and internationally. Besides, he equally served for many years as a Member and Chairman of various Accreditation Panels of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
If responsibility is the price of greatness, as Winston Churchill memorably said, Prof. Abubakre has paid his price in full. Apart from thousands of first degree and Master’s degree graduands he has taught and supervised over his successful and eventful career, he has produced 13 Ph.D. holders and mentored several others. Some of his former Ph.D. students have become Professors and attained other senior positions of responsibility in the university system and public service.