By Richard Adeyinka Emmanuel, Bureau Chief, Lagos
The Chancellor of the University of Lagos and the Shehu of Borno, His Royal Highness, Dr. Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi, has been conferred with the Honorary Fellowship of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, NAL.
The honour was bestowed on Thursday, 13th August 2026 during the Academy’s 28th Convocation and Investiture of Fellows held at the University of Lagos.
The President of NAL, Professor Andrew Haruna, said the Shehu of Borno was recognized for his outstanding contributions to the promotion of education, culture, and the preservation of indigenous heritage in Nigeria.
He noted that the traditional ruler has consistently championed the cause of learning and scholarship, and his reign has been marked by support for educational development in Borno State and beyond.
In his remarks, the Shehu of Borno expressed gratitude to the Academy for the recognition, describing it as a call to further duty in service to humanity and to the advancement of knowledge.
He said traditional institutions have a critical role to play in promoting literacy, indigenous languages, and cultural values, and pledged to continue working with academic bodies to strengthen the nation’s educational foundation.
The 2026 Convocation also saw the induction of 11 Regular Fellows and one other Honorary Fellow. The Academy observed a minute of silence in honour of its late Foundation President, Professor Emeritus Ayo Bamgbose, who was described as the “architectural cornerstone” of NAL.
The Nigerian Academy of Letters, NAL, is the apex body of scholars in the humanities in Nigeria. Established over three decades ago, the Academy is charged with promoting excellence in the study and practice of languages, literature, history, philosophy, religion, and the arts.
NAL functions as the humanities equivalent of the Nigerian Academy of Science. Its mandate includes advising government on policy matters relating to culture and education, recognizing excellence through the election of Fellows, and encouraging research and scholarship in indigenous knowledge systems.
Membership of the Academy is by election and is regarded as one of the highest academic honours in the humanities. The Academy has two categories of membership: Regular Fellows, who are distinguished scholars, and Honorary Fellows, who are eminent Nigerians or foreigners who have made significant contributions to the humanities.
Over the years, NAL has positioned itself as a critical voice on national issues, particularly on curriculum development, language policy, and cultural education. The Academy’s annual convocation has become a major event on the nation’s academic calendar, bringing together scholars, policymakers, and traditional rulers to deliberate on the role of the humanities in national development.