Meet the Ijaiyas: Kwara’s family of 15 professors

In many Nigerian families, producing one professor is considered an achievement, but that is not the case with the Ijaiya family of Kwara State.  Across generations, the household has produced academics in numbers that few other families in Nigeria can match.  Their story is not a sudden rise or tale of overnight success but a […]

In many Nigerian families, producing one professor is considered an achievement, but that is not the case with the Ijaiya family of Kwara State. 

Across generations, the household has produced academics in numbers that few other families in Nigeria can match. 

Their story is not a sudden rise or tale of overnight success but a steady journey that began in the early 1900s. 

Today, if the daughters of the family and their children are included, the Ijaiyas have about 15 professors. 

• INEC can’t dictate time for candidates’ nomination – Hashim
• Faith and survival: The story of menial workers

Several others are already Readers preparing to reach full professorship. 

The extended family counts about 50 PhD holders, including spouses, and many others hold master’s degrees in pharmacy, public health, economics, and other specialised fields. 

Younger children are already following in the footsteps of their parents, entering universities, both locally and abroad.

Weekend Trust findings showed that the story of this remarkable lineage  began in the early 1900s when the patriarchs of the family were traders and farmers navigating a rapidly changing commercial landscape of Offa town. 

The railway had arrived in Offa around the 1900s, opening the town to wider economic opportunities. 

European merchants were importing and exporting goods, and local traders were dealing in cash crops and commodities.

Among these traders were Baba Adetona, Baba Adeyanju and Baba Gbadamasi Ijaiya. Though Baba Gbadamasi was the youngest, he became the engine room of the family’s forward-thinking decisions. 

Prof Gafar Ijaiya, an economist and former Head of the Department of Economics at the University of Ilorin, explained the significance of this period:

“Our grandparents were traders and farmers. They had direct contact with European merchants. They realised early that education was not just a luxury; it was a tool for growth and survival. Their children needed to read, write and interpret business documents themselves rather than rely on others,” he said.

At first, interpreters were hired to bridge the language gap, but they proved inefficient. Transactions were slowed, and mistakes sometimes caused losses. 

The Ijaiya patriarchs decided that the solution lay in their own children. They would educate them to take over key roles in the family business, ensuring that literacy and competence became part of the household.

When the first primary school was established in Offa around 1914, the Ijaiyas did not hesitate to enroll their children. 

The purpose was practical. Education allowed the family to manage correspondence, maintain records and oversee trade directly. 

But what started as a business strategy gradually evolved into a family character.

Prof Ijaiya said the family’s vision went beyond its own household. “They were not self-centred. Through the Offa Descendants Union and other social networks, they encouraged other families to send their children to school. Education became a communal value, and the Ijaiyas were at the forefront of this effort,” he said.

Missionaries later established additional primary schools, including Baptist and Methodist schools, to ensure that every child of school age in Offa had access to education. For the Ijaiyas, that meant the first step in a longer journey. The family’s exposure to larger cities further shaped its ambition. Members of the family travelled across the West African coast to Ghana and Sierra Leone and frequently to Lagos, which was emerging as a centre of administration, trade and culture. 

There, they observed Nigerians who had progressed beyond primary education to become teachers, principals and scholars. It was an eye-opener as they realised through their interactions with others outside their community that primary education was only the foundation, and that the world offered far greater possibilities through education.

The family’s response was decisive. In around 1943, when the iconic Offa Grammar School (OGS) was established, the Ijaiyas were among the early beneficiaries. Given the school’s inclusive founding principle that every child from Offa should have access to secondary education, the expatriate principal was given autonomy, and the family committed its children to the institution.

“That environment shaped our identity. Education was no longer just a tool for business; it became part of who we are. We grew up knowing that learning was our responsibility, our heritage and not the pursuit of wealth or money,” he said.

However, the first true academic breakthrough in the family came with Prof Mohammed Ijaiya, a professor of Pediatrics trained in one of the German universities.

He returned to Nigeria and joined the Ahmadu Bello University, later serving as Dean of Medicine for five years. His career became a template for the younger generation.

“In the 1970s, many of us followed him to Zaria. At one point, about 20 Ijaiyas were studying in the university. Others attended Bayero University, Kano, University of Sokoto and University of Jos. 

“He was not just a mentor but a guardian to many of us. Our goal was simple: We wanted to be like Prof Mohammed Ijaiya. His life demonstrated what was possible with dedication and focus,” he recalled. 

Although Prof Mohammed Ijaiya later died in a motor accident along the Zaria-Kaduna road in the early 1980s, the heavy loss did not dampen their enthusiasm for educational pursuit; it rather served as an adrenaline to sustain his legacy. And many younger family members pursued academic careers in homage to him, aspiring to match his example in scholarship and service.

“Unfortunately, we lost him in a motor accident along the Zaria-Kaduna road in the early 1980s. Much credit for this feat will go to him, apart from our parents. But his spirit remains with us,” he said.

Another remarkable aspect of the family is its philosophy regarding wealth. Many outsiders assume that a family producing dozens of professors must be financially affluent. 

Prof Ijaiya, however, clarified: “Many people think the Ijaiyas are very rich. That is not correct. Our parents emphasised knowledge over money, and most of us are in the academics because of passion, not because of wealth. And that focus shaped the family culture.”

This culture has extended into marriage and family expectations among the Ijaiyas, such that today in Offa, there is a lighthearted saying that anyone marrying into the Ijaiya family already knows that she is not coming to take care of her husband but to read. 

“It is not just a joke. Education is a core part of who we are. It is an expectation, not an option.

“The academic output of the family is extraordinary. If the daughters and their children are included, there are nearly 15 professors today. Several others are Readers. Beyond that, there are about 50 PhD holders, including spouses, and numerous master’s degree holders in specialised fields. Younger generations are already continuing the tradition. The family’s reach spans medicine, economics, pharmacy, public health and social sciences,” Prof Ijaiya noted with a smile.

He said that with such achievements, the Ijaiyas remained grounded and conscious of the environment that nurtured their growth. 

Offa, a town in Kwara State, has historically valued education, and the Ijaiyas benefited from that culture. Yet within that environment, the family distinguished itself through deliberate choices, consistency and foresight.

On how the feat has impacted the community, Prof Ijaiya said, “When you talk about impact, do not limit it to our family alone. The foundation was community- driven from the beginning. Today, there are over 200 professors from Offa, when you include those in the diaspora.

“There is virtually no profession you would look for that you would not find in large numbers. Offa is capable of sustaining itself because of this culture of education; that is why we don’t wait for the government.

“There is a strong professional association across disciplines. And many are committed to giving back. That is why Offa, through our professionals, has started data capturing for its residents. It is the first community in Nigeria to do this, in addition to our smart city project and several others.”

Asked how the family has received the feat, he said, “We never set out to make noise about it. We are not competing with anyone. We see it as God-ordained, and our focus is to inspire other families to pursue knowledge. We want to give back to Offa, Kwara State, Nigeria and humanity.”

Over the decades, the family has maintained its standard while adapting to new challenges. Today, the younger generation benefits from scholarships, access to international institutions and mentorship from older relatives. Despite changes in technology, governance and educational systems, the core value remains the same, which is that knowledge is the most important asset a family can cultivate.

Are there efforts to sustain this legacy? Prof Ijaiya spoke strongly about it. “Access to education in Nigeria has not always been smooth. University funding has faced constraints. Strikes and policy changes disrupted academic calendars until the recent intervention by President Bola Tinubu that offered a glimmer of hope.

“Before now, many of the family members who could afford it sent their children abroad for studies, while others relied on scholarships and personal funding from their parents. But the commitment, however, never wavered,” he said.

The family’s impact is not confined to personal achievements. Members have contributed to shaping institutions, supervising theses, mentoring younger academics and advancing scholarship in their respective fields. Knowledge and service have become twin pillars of the Ijaiya legacy.

Looking ahead, the academic pipeline remains strong. Several family members are currently Readers, others are completing doctoral programmes, and children are enrolling in universities, both locally and abroad. The culture of education within the family ensures continuity.

Prof Ijaiya emphasised that the journey of the family was not accidental. “It was deliberate, and, in many ways, God-ordained. Each generation built upon the previous one. What began as a strategy to reduce reliance on interpreters evolved into a family identity. Education is our inheritance,” he explained.

Also speaking about the feat, Prince Bashir Ijaiya, an associate professor and member of the family, told Weekend Trust on Friday that, “Simply put, there is nothing to say other than that it is the will of the Almighty Allah. It can be described as a rewarding gesture by the Almighty Allah. The scion of the family, the late Alhaji Gbadamosi Adeyemi Ijaiya, was one of the founding fathers of Offa Grammar School, the first community secondary school in northern Nigeria, established in 1943. The present Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari and Lt. Gen. Alani Akinrinade, amongst others, were alumni of the school.

“I believe his intention was pure for the establishment of an educational institution for the benefit of humanity; hence, his children and grandchildren are attaining the highest rank in academics.

“We are fervently praying to the Almighty Allah that, as we have been able to promote and ‘immortalise’ the name of our grandfather, may he (Allah) grant our children the ability to sustain the legacy. I can tell you that some of our children are also pursuing their postgraduate studies for the purpose of sustaining the legacy,” he said.

For the Ijaiyas, being a professor is not just a personal achievement; it is a continuation of a century-old vision. The family name has become synonymous with scholarship, dedication and service. Today, the family boasts of a remarkable list of academic achievers.

The list of the 15 professors in the Ijaiya family, according to Weekend Trust findings are: the late Mohammed Kunle Ijaiya (former dean, Faculty of Medicine, Ahamadu Bello University, Zaria); Raheem Bayo Lawal (former director, Institute of Education, former dean, Faculty of Education, former DVC, Academics, University of Ilorin, and former VC, University of Offa); Mrs N.Y.S. Ijaiya (former DVC, Academics, University of Ilorin); Najeem Ijaiya; Waheed Olatinwo Ijaiya (former CMD, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital; Gafar Ijaiya (former dean, Faculty of Social Sciences and former director, University of Ilorin Business School) and Prof. Hakeem Ijaiya (former Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin, Nigeria)

Others are Maroof Adeboye; Mufutau Ijaiya (former dean, Faculty of Management Sciences, University of Ilorin, acting VC, Jimoh Babalola University, Ilorin); Majeed Ijaiya (former Dean of Student Affairs, Federal University of Technology, Minna); Munir Ijaiya.

Also, Mukaila Ijaiya, Fausat Kolawole, Basheer Leke Ijaiya and Mrs Khadijat Olatinwo-Amolegbe.

Speaking on the academic feat of the family, the national president of Offa Development Union, Alhaji Muideen Salako, said the Ijaiya story reflected the reward of foresight and sacrifice.

“It boils down to the blessings their parents worked for. What you sow in one generation can continue to speak for many generations,” he said.

He said the patriarch of the Ijaiya family was not highly educated in the formal sense, but he possessed vision and determination.

“The man himself was not highly educated, but he had a passion for education. He believed in it and worked for it. He made up his mind that his children must become educated. That decision is what we are celebrating today,” he said.

He described the achievement as a source of pride, not only to the family but to Offa and the country in general.

“We are very proud of them. They are a source of inspiration to many other families. You can hardly see any family in Nigeria today that has produced up to 15 professors. This is a feat that deserves national recognition,” he added.

According to him, the lesson from the Ijaiya example goes beyond academic titles.

“The lesson for all of us is simple: It is not the magnitude of the wealth you leave behind for your children that matters; what matters is the blessings you used your God-given resources to secure, which will continue to live after you,” he noted.

He noted that the impact of the Ijaiya educational culture had been deeply felt across the community.

“Their feat has greatly impacted Offa. Today, wherever you are in Offa, you know that education is not optional. It is compulsory in our mindset.

“There is hardly a family in Offa that does not have a professor. Offa alone now has more than 200 professors, including those in the diaspora, and we have more than 11 tertiary institutions linked to our people across different locations. 

“Education has become mandatory for everyone because human capital is the best way to develop a community,” he submitted, adding that education has become a defining identity of the town.

Also speaking on the issue, the Kwara State Commissioner for Health, Amina El-Imam, who is from Offa, said the Ijaiya family was well known nationally and internationally for their unparalleled academic achievement, with a record number of master’s degree holders, bachelor’s degree holders, PhDs and professors. 

“The Ijaiya family, as far as I can recall, has been in the academia, teaching at polytechnics, including the Federal Polytechnic, Offa and spreading to the Federal University, Minna, University of Ilorin, and many others across the country.

“What that means is that they have been consistent in wanting to go into the business of enlightening the world and the act of education. They could have had multiple other opportunities across their careers over these decades, but something about the family meant that their leaders mentored the younger generation along the line of education,” she noted.

On the issue of impact, the commissioner said everyone in Offa now looked to the Ijaiya family when advising young ones on the benefits of education. 

“Our older parents will say to you: Look at the Ijaiyas. Fifty years ago, they were like you, but today, they have vice chancellors, rectors, deans, directors, and so many others, all because of education.

“They are a living proof that education is the surest path towards improving your socioeconomic standard and ending poverty and deprivation. So, everyone points to the Ijaiya family in Offa and even outside,” he added.

According to El-Imam, she now uses the Ijaiya family as a point of reference when advising younger ones, including nephews and nieces she mentors.

She further revealed: “Our families live shouting distance away, in Ile Arole and Ile Dudu compounds, where I am from. While Ile Dudu chose the path of Islamic scholarship, Ile Arole or Ijaiya chose the path of academic scholarship, and both are reputable in their areas of specialty. Whenever I want to mentor younger ones into academia, as one myself, I use the Ijaiya example to show what consistency, focus and mentoring can achieve at the family level on a large scale. Many people in the community look up to them.” 

In her advice to the youth, the commissioner said, “We still have too many people who are not literate or under-educated. This points to the fact that education is not optional. Even with the advent of artificial intelligence, the form that education will take in the coming years will really metamorphose, but the Ijaiya family history shows that it is important for the youth, especially to focus on education”.

She said what could also be learned from the Ijaiya story is the benefit of delayed gratification. 

“Thirty years ago, these professors were not professors and were only earning pittance, but they were consistent and patient to achieve academic excellence and impact in the society,” she added. 

Talking about societal impact, she said, “We have the Offa Professors Forum, and the Ijaiya family has a lot of their people there. They have an impact with their contribution to the forum. And for me, who is a beneficiary of the Ijaiyas’ penchant for academics, Prof Gafar Ijaiya, who is my mentor, pulled me into the academia. Although the journey was not easy, considering being an academic in Nigeria, it has absolutely benefitted me.”