Prof. Mahfouz Adedimeji

Vice Chancellor of Ahman Patigi, Nigeria
Aptly described by the Independent newspaper as “a man of many parts”, Prof. Mahfouz A. Adedimeji is a Fulbright scholar, interdisciplinary researcher, university don, public affairs analyst, communication consultant, peace advocate, interfaith worker and public intellectual. He obtained his academic degrees from the University of Ilorin, Ilorin, where he was a Professor of English (Pragmatics and Applied Linguistics) before his appointment as Vice Chancellor as the pioneer Vice Chancellor of Ahman Patigi, Nigeria, in February 2021. He started his academic career in 2000 at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, shortly after which he joined the services of his alma mater, the University of Ilorin. A man of eclectic academic background, Prof. Adedimeji was educated in Arabic and Islamic Studies at Markaz Shabaabil Islam, Iwo, Osun State and Markaz Ta’aleemil Araby, Agege, Lagos. He obtained advanced training in Education, Political Science, Communication and Media, Research and Peace Studies at the National Universities Commission’s (NUC) Virtual Institute for Higher Education Pedagogy (VIHEP); the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (UNESCO) Virtual Institute for Higher Education in Africa (VIHEAF); Governors State University, University Park, Illinois, USA; University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana; and Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, Notre Dame University, South Bend, Indiana, USA. Apart from serving as a cultural ambassador to the US under the auspices of the Institute of International Education (IIE), New York, Prof. Adedimeji had won or co-won the research and conference awards/grants of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) of the National Research Council, Nigeria, the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) and the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU). He has written extensively for a wide range of newspapers and periodicals including “Unilorin Bulletin”, “Unilorin Watch”, “DeLight”, “National Pilot”, “Daily Independent”, “Daily Newswatch”, “New York Parrot” and “New Telegraph”, among others. A versatile academic and award-winning scholar, Prof. Adedimeji has attended academic conferences and undertaken research in several universities across Nigeria as well as in Ghana, Cameroon, Kenya, Malaysia, Sierra Leone, Australia, France and United States of America, among others. His hundreds of academic, Islamic and general/opinion articles have been published across outlets in Nigeria and beyond. He has also facilitated and participated in seminars and workshops both nationally and internationally. A former Head of the Directorate of Corporate Affairs of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Adedimeji was the Director of the Centre for Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ilorin, between 2013 and 2017. Apart from serving as Rapporteur-General to the Presidential Committee that organised the 2017 Federal Executive Council’s Retreat on Education in Nigeria, he has consulted for the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Nigeria Inter-religious Council (NIREC), the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence and Corps (NSCDC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). For years, he was a Coordinator and Facilitator of the Executive Management Course of the Nigerian Army Education Corps (NAEC) and Editor-in-Chief of the “Journal of Peace, Security and Development”, University of Ilorin. He has also served as a resource person to agencies like the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), National Orientation Agency (NOA), National Institute for Security Studies as well as a number of Civil Society Organisations. He is a recipient of several awards and honours including those of the International Chartered World Learned Society, American Biographical Institute, National Congress of Nigerian Students (NACONS), Union of Campus Journalists, University of Ilorin, the Nigerian Army Education Corps, Postgraduate Students Association, UNILORIN, Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), UNILORIN, Students’ Union, UNILORIN, and National Association of Osun State Students (NAOSS), just to mention a few. A Fellow of bodies like the International Association of Research Scholars and Administrators (FIARSA), Institute of Corporate Administration, Nigeria, (FICAN), Society for Peace Studies and Practice (fspsp) and World Institute for Peace (FWIP) , Prof. Adedimeji is a former Member of the Governing Council of the International Peace Research Association (IPRA) and until recently a Member of the Executive Council of the English Scholars’ Association of Nigeria (ESAN). He is a member of the Editorial Boards of Research in Pragmatics, journal of the Pragmatics Association of Nigeria (PrAN) and ANUJAT, an international multidisciplinary journal of the All Nations University, Koforidua, Ghana. He has about 15 books to his credit as author, co-author, editor and co-editor.
woman wearing blue denim jacket holding book

The university idea and our reality

One of the most compelling  writings on the roles of the university in the society is that of “The idea of a University” (1852) by John Henry Newman, the influential clergyman and scholar of the 19th century. In the lectures, ...

The end of education

That education is life and life is education is a maxim that resonates with millions of people because of the potential that education holds for making life more meaningful and abundant. Education is the difference between life and death because ...

Female students’ unending battle with randy lecturers

By Godfrey George It was in 2018 that Adaora (surname withheld) was admitted to study English and Literary Studies at the Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpandem, Akwa Ibom State. She had earlier sat the United Tertiary Matriculation Examinations three times ...

Jail term for parents overnon-enrolment of children?

The Senate last week passed for second reading a bill that recommends a jail term for parents who do not enrol their wards for basic education. The bill proposed by Senator Orji Kalu is titled Compulsory free Universal Basic Education Act 2004, ...

The words of power

Following the 38th national conference of the English Scholars’ Association of Nigeria (ESAN) on the theme, “Language, Literature and Communication Studies for Peace, (In)security and Development in Nigeria”, the centrality of language with its building blocks, words, continues to resonate ...

mahfouz adedimeji

Don restates need for qualitative education to stimulate nation building

Worried by the low level of development of the country, the Vice Chancellor, Ahman Pategi University, Patigi, Kwara State, Prof. Mahfouz Adedimeji, has spoken of the need for qualitative education that will propel the nation building and raise generations of ...

mahfouz adedimeji

Ahman Pategi VC Prof Adedimeji worries over abuse of communication.

The Vice-Chancellor of Ahman Pategi University in Kwara state Conference, Professor Mahfouz Adebola Adedimeji, has emphasized the urgent need to address the abuse of communication in both traditional and new media platforms, with the aim of safeguarding peace and national ...

power of words

The power of words

Between September 11 and 14, 2023, the English Scholars’ Association of Nigeria (ESAN) under the leadership of Prof. Tajudeen Surakat of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, organised its 38th annual conference at Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos. The theme of ...

blue and green peacock feather

Creative thinking with the six hats

Many years ago, a man owed a large sum of money to an old, ugly and mean loan shark who fancied his debtor’s beautiful daughter. The Shylock then decided to offer the man a deal that would cancel the debt if ...

woman in black and white hijab holding green flag

How to make Nigeria work for all

As part of contributing its quota to the Nigeria project, The Companion, an association of Muslim men in business and professions, organised its National Conference Public Lecture last weekend, August 19, 2023. As Guest Speaker, I considered the theme, “Making ...

War isn’t the way out

The late American civil rights activist and advocate of nonviolent resistance, Dr Martin Luther King Jr, was one of the most influential figures of the 20th century. His tireless activism during the American Civil Rights Movement succeeded in strengthening American ...

Rescuing Humanity from Sexual Calamities: A Review of Ridwaanullah Abimbola’s Blinding Realities

Rescuing Humanity from Sexual Calamities: A Review of Ridwaanullah Abimbola’s Blinding Realities Book: Blinding Realities; Lasting Possibilities Author: Ridwaanullah Abimbola Reviewer: Mahfouz A. Adedimeji, PhD Publisher: Harry Bimbs Publishers Year of Publication: 2023 Pages: 282   Prognosis More than two ...