Prof Bashir Ikara: Four years after

Indeed, as a famous saying goes, “Our dead are never dead to us until we forget them.” Although it is now four years since the last time we heard your voice, the moments we had the opportunity of sharing with you will forever remain memorable. You always encouraged us to do what is right and […]

Indeed, as a famous saying goes, “Our dead are never dead to us until we forget them.” Although it is now four years since the last time we heard your voice, the moments we had the opportunity of sharing with you will forever remain memorable.
You always encouraged us to do what is right and shun vices in whatever form. You put us on the path of education and supported us all through. You were indeed the quintessential father that every child will love to have. Many remember you for your time-cautiousness, pursuit of knowledge and sincerity. You were also famous as a legendary scholar, an educationist, a humanitarian and an introspective genius, but to us you are all that and more.
At the time of your death following a protracted illness, you were the Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission, representing Kaduna State. Verily from Allah we come and to Him is our return.
Those who visited to condole with us after your demise told us of the many good things you have done to the nation, to your people and to humanity. They told us that your death was not a loss for us alone but to Kaduna State, Nigeria and humanity in general. We miss you more than words can ever capture, because you are truly irreplaceable.
Your accomplishments in life are still there for people to see, which earned you several national and international awards, including the prestigious American Biological Institute’s (ABI’s) Man of the Year 2003. I still remember the words of the ABI President Mr J. Evans in his congratulatory letter to you. According to him “the international board of the institute decided to award Professor Ikara with the title [Man of the Year] due to his overall accomplishments and contributions to society.
You were also the recipient of the Albert Einstein Genius Award. Your name appeared in several national and international journals and books of honours such as Greatest Minds of the 21 century, Who is who in Africa, 500 Geniuses of the 21 century, Who is who in Nigeria, among others.
Born on April 2, 1943 in Ikara Town, Ikara Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Professor Bashir was educated both in and outside Nigeria. He had his Grade I West African School Certificate from the Provincial Secondary School in Zaria in 1965; 1st Class B. A, Honours in English from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 1970; Ph.D in English from Leeds University England, 1975; and a Post-graduate Diploma in Public Administration from the University of Ife, 1971.
Indeed, the legacies of Professor Bashir Ikara are too numerous to even start mentioning. He served as Director, Arewa House, Centre for Research and Historical Documentation Ahmadu Bello University, Kaduna, from 1987 to September, 1991.  He was Chairman and Chief Executive, Bashir Ikara Academy, Kaduna (with Professor Ade Ajayi and Professor Ali Mazrui and five former Vice Chancellors as Patrons); Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Igbinedion University Okada, Edo State, from November 1999 to November 2001.
Before then, he was at the Bayero University, Kano as Assistant Lecturer in English (1972), Lecturer II in English (1974), and Lecturer I in English (1976).  At the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, he was Executive Secretary, Centre for Nigerian Cultural Studies (July -September, 1976), founding Head of Department of Nigerian and African Languages (October, 1976 -September, 1977), Senior Lecturer/Senior Research Fellow in Languages, Centre for Nigerian, Cultural Studies (July 1978 -June 1979).
In 1989, he was promoted to Professor of Cultural Studies at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria from where he retired in September, 1991.
Professor Ikara also had a stint in the civil service both at the state and federal levels. He was Assistant Secretary, Military Governor’s Office, Kaduna (June, 1970); Ag. Senior Assistant Secretary, Military Governor’s Office, Kaduna (1972); Executive Director of the Reconstituted Kaduna State Council for Arts and culture (1979 -1983); and Permanent Secretary, (Political, Cabinet and Security) Military Governor’s Office; Kaduna (October. 1983 -September, 1985).
At the federal level, he was Federal Permanent Secretary, (Special Duties) office of the President, Dodon Barracks, Lagos (September 1985 to November 1986) and Special Assistant to the Chairman Technical Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation (July, 1991 -July 1992).
He was equally a member of many academic and professional bodies. At the international level, he was member of the Executive Council of the International African Institute, London, (formerly known as the International Institute of African Languages and Cultures) (1980 -1982); Permanent Member of the International Congress of, African Studies representing Nigeria; Member and Trustee of the Nigerian Committee of the United World Colleges; Member of the West African Linguistic Society (WALS); Member of the West African Modern Languages Association (WAMLA); Member of the Caribbean Linguistic Circle (also known as Society for Caribbean Linguistics); Member of the Working Group on the Regional Programme of Publications in African Languages as part of the Network of Educational Innovation for Development in Africa (NElDA) Programme; and Member of the Advisory Board of the American Biographical institute (2003). 
At the national level, he was member of the former National Language Centre Advisory Board for eleven years (1979 -1989); Member of the Nigerian English Studies Association (NESA; Member of the Linguistic Association of Nigeria (LAN; Member of Nigerian Literary Society; Member of Council, Nigerian Historical Society; Chairman, Technical Committee of the Historical Society of Nigeria on the Writing of Nigeria’s Cultural History Project; Member, Nigeria National Committee on Guide to Sources of Nigerian History set up by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture as part of the UNESCO Project in the West African Region; Member, Technical Committee of the Nigeria National Committee on Guide to Sources of Nigerian History; Zonal Co-ordinator of the Project on Guide to Sources of Nigerian History (in Charge of Kano, Kaduna, Katsina and Sokoto States of Nigeria; Member, Nigerian Association of Oral History and Traditions Member, Study Group on the Socioeconomic Impact of Privatisation and Commercialisation in Nigeria (along with. Professors, Okafor; Oloko, Ojo, and Justin Tseayo) set up by the Technical Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation (T.C.P.C.) 1991; Member, Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture. (xiv) Member, Nigerian -American Chamber of Commerce; Chairman, Membership and Culture Committee of the Nigerian American Chamber of Commerce, Kaduna Branch (1992); Member, Electoral Panel of the Exco of the Nigerian America Chamber of Commerce (1998; Member, Study Group on ‘Culture and Management in Nigeria under the Auspices of Foluso Longe Associates Nigeria Ltd., Lagos (1985 -1995).
He was also a member of several of academic boards and committees of the ABU, bodies in the public service, and Fellow Nigerian Institute of Industrialists and Corporate Administrators as well as the Nigerian Institute of Management.
Professor Bashir Ikara left behind his parents, two wives, ten children and numerous grand-children at the time he died. May his soul continue to rest in peace, his legacies sustained, and visions for a greater, united and prosperous Nigeria accomplished.
Faruq wrote in from Zaria, Kaduna State.