The sad news of the transition to eternal glory of our beloved father, mentor, trail blazer, older brother and good friend, Professor Adamu Baikie, is gradually sinking in, just as I have to come to terms with the inevitable departure to the world beyond of a unique and enigmatic individual whom I have ever related with. Baba’s dusk -the magical time of the day when the sun says goodbye and the heavens say welcome -has arrived and no one can do anything about it, hard as we try. Going to his eternal home at 94 indeed calls for celebrating his wonderful life and contributions to education in Nigeria, Africa and the world at large.
Professor Baikie admitted me in 1972 to read B.Sc Ed (Biology), recruited me in 1976 as a Graduate Assistant into the Ahmad Bello University Faculty of Education, and guided me to my first academic research publication in an international journal in 1978. Needless to say therefore that he was my role model, beacon, sage, facilitator and guide in my life’s journey as a man. As the first Professor of Education in the old Northern Nigeria, he ensured that many of us excelled academically. He copiously celebrated my becoming the youngest professor of science education in Nigeria at 37 and indeed propounding the educational theory of Collateral Learning in 1995 that has now attracted over 56 doctoral studies globally.
The going back to the Lord of our once indefatigable, gentle, honest, respectful, friendly and humble father confirms the dictum that this world is not our home and that ‘the life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more’. (Psalm 103:15, 16).
I had the good fortune of relating with Professor Baikie for decades, more as family than as friend and he especially requested I was present at all the books written and launched on his behalf. He was a great champion of education, attended to everything he came across with precision and panache. So he did with everything which concerned his unapologetic posture of his Christian background and life. He was a disciplinarian, a giant in all manner of speech and physique without parallel in the annals of our land and history. He will be sorely missed by me and family, the world of education, and humanity.
We must all remain comforted that, ‘Professor Baikie fought the good fight, he has finished the race, and has kept the faith, and we are convinced that a crown of righteousness awaits him at the foot of the Lord Jesus Christ, his Creator’ (2 Tim 4: 7-8).
Professor Baikie’s life’s dusk on earth has arrived, and we must accept that death is irreversible, inescapable and unavoidable as programmed by God Almighty. I commiserate with all, and especially the children and immediate family who took great care of him at the twilight of his life on earth; while we pray for God’s soothing comfort for all of us.
May his gentle soul find eternal peace and rest at the bosom of the Lord, where we shall all meet to part no more!
Olugbemiro Jegede
Emeritus Professor
Foundation Vice Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria
Past Secretary General, Association of African Universities
