Bola Ajibola’s legacy shaping education, law sectors, says Ex-NAHCON chair
The former Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, has paid glowing tribute to the late jurist and founder of Crescent University, Abeokuta, Prince
- By Tajudeen Adebanjo
The former Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, has paid glowing tribute to the late jurist and founder of Crescent University, Abeokuta, Prince Abdul-Jabbar Bola Ajibola.
He described him as a towering figure whose legacy continues to shape education, law, and Islamic development in Nigeria.
Alhaji Hassan, who is the Chairman of Fajr Centre, Lagos, delivered the keynote commemorative paper at the 20th Founder’s Day celebration of Crescent University, held at the IMA Research Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Reflecting on Ajibola’s passing in April 2023 at the age of 89, he described the loss as monumental, noting that his contributions to justice, scholarship, and Islamic propagation remain indelible both in Nigeria and globally.
He described Crescent University, founded in 2005 through Ajibola’s personal resources, as the late sage’s most enduring legacy, symbolising sacrifice, vision, and identity, and standing as the first Muslim faith-based university in South-West Nigeria.
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According to Hassan, the institution has become a model for combining academic excellence with moral discipline, producing graduates who contribute meaningfully to national development as ethical and responsible leaders.
“In a region dominated by mission-owned universities, Crescent University stands as the first Muslim faith-based university in Southwest,” he said.
Beyond education, he highlighted Ajibola’s contributions to the legal profession, including founding the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators, serving as President of the Nigerian Bar Association, and later as Nigeria’s Attorney-General, as well as his role as a judge at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague.
Crescent University Vice Chancellor Prof. Ibraheem Gbajabiamila also emphasised that the university remains the most enduring symbol of Ajibola’s vision, particularly noting his passion for girl-child education, which saw female student enrollment rise significantly during his lifetime.
Other speakers, including IMA Secretary-General Alhaji Sa’eed Aweda and the institution’s Proprietor Mahruf Ajibola, commended the founder’s vision of combining education with Islamic values, describing the university as a lasting symbol of sacrifice, unity, and service to humanity.
