By Bilkisu Mukhtar
The Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Professor Kabiru Bala has appointed a Young Academic and Historian, Dr Shuaibu Shehu Aliyu, as Director of Centre for Historical Research and Documentation, otherwise known as Arewa House, Kaduna.
With the appointment, Dr Shuaibu has stepped into the rare shoes of a British but naturalised Nigerian renowned Professor of history, Professor Abdullahi Smith, who is arguably, the Father of history in the Premier University, and who was also the Pioneer Director of the Centre (Arewa House)
An accomplished Scholar and Intellectual of International repute, Professor Smith’s first and second generation of students such as Professor Bashir Ikara, Professor Abdullahi Mahdi, Dr Hamid Bobboi,. Professor Mahmud Hamman, one-time Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Kabiru Chafe, Professor Abdulkadir Adamu, Professor Sule Bello and Professor Shaba Idris Jimada, also headed the Centre at different times.
Shu’aibu Shehu Aliyu obtained B.A and M. A history from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, then proceeded to University of Khartoum where he pursued his PhD degree. He started his academic career with Arewa House, Centre for Research and historical Documentation, Ahmadu Bello University, Kaduna, where he rose from Graduate Assistant/Research Assistant to Senior Research Fellow/ Senior Lecturer. He served in two capacities as Senior Research Fellow in Arewa House where he coordinates the academic researches of the Centre, and Senior lecturer, Department of History Ahmadu Bello University. He teaches both undergraduate and post graduate students and supervised masters and PhD students. He is also the coordinator of northern education research project from 2000 to date. He is also the Secretary of conference of Commissioners of Education of the 19th northern States. He is the Chairman Arewa House publications and also Head of Public Affairs for many years. He has participated in UBEC based data survey on out of school children in 2009. And helped in the development of national framework for the development of Almajiri Education. He is also the editor of Arewa House Journal. He has worked extensively on Arabic and Ajami manuscripts while in Sudan. Presently, he is regional coordinator for West Africa on: Islamic History and Civilization in West Africa. A project sponsored by IRCICA, Istanbul Turkey, a research outfit of OIC.
Shu’aibu has authored many articles in both national and international journals. He has also presented papers in national and international conference. He also co-author the famous book: Sultans of Sokoto: A Biographical history of the Sultans of Sokoto from Shehu Danfodio to date. He has also co-author History textbooks for Primary and Junior Secondary Schools. He has travelled widely.