By Murtala Uba Mohammed, PhD
It is yet another time for the Department of Geography, the discipline of Geography, and Nigerian academia to celebrate one of its finest intellects, J. Afolabi Falola, as he is appointed Professor Emeritus by the Senate and Council of Bayero University, Kano (BUK).
As announced today, Saturday, 15th February 2025, Falola, together with two other professors, was appointed Professor Emeritus by Bayero University during its 39th grand convocation.
Falola, who hails from Tede, a town located 168 kilometers from Ibadan, the capital of Oyo, the State in the heart of Yorubaland, is the second person from Geography and from outside Hausaland to be conferred with this honorific title by this great institution (BUK).
Before him, his senior colleague and fellow geographer, Professor Emanuel Ajayi Olofin, was given professor emeritus some years back in appreciation and recognition of his scholarship and enormous contributions to knowledge production and development of university education in Nigeria.
Professor Julius Afolabi Falola, fondly called Falola by his student or JAF by his colleagues, turned 75 this year as he was born in 1950 in the month of February.
He has therefore celebrated his 75th anniversary in the same month and today his family, students, and well-wishers will celebrate his appointment as Professor Emeritus.
It is not just a random thing for a gentleman extraordinaire of the Department of Geography to be born in the month of February, for February reminds us more about celebration and merrymaking.
In addition, it is the month of love among Roman Christians – as they celebrate St. Valentine – and for the honour of Juno, the Queen of the Roman gods and goddesses among the ancient Romans.
The word February also has its origin from the Latin word “februum,” which means purification and is dedicated to purification rituals and festivals. Indeed, according to Zodiac Philosophy, someone born on 3rd February like Falola is an Aquarian, who is known to be humanitarian, independent, and unconventional in their character.
Falola is a paragon of humanitarianism, independence an moral uprightness.
It is timely that Bayero University finds it worthy to award Professor Emeritus to one of its most dedicated scholars at this precious time.
Falola joined the service of Bayero University immediately after completing his PhD in 1980. Earlier, before that, he worked briefly as a graduate student instructor at the University of Ibadan, his alma mater, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Geography in 1975, graduating with first-class honours.
A rare privilege, Falola was granted admission to have his master’s in 1977, which was upgraded to PhD after presenting his research proposal.
He completed his PhD in Geography in 1980 under the supervision of Professor R.K. Udo, who was also towering intellectual figure in the field of Geography.
To put the record straight, Falola was trained by some of the finest geographers in Africa. One of his teachers, Professor Akinlawon Ladipo Mabogunje, was the first Nigerian to hold a PhD in geography, teach geography in a Nigerian university, and the first to attain professorship in geography.
Others who taught him were Professors Udo, Jeje, Faniran, and Filani – some of the first names every Nigerian geographer remembers. It is therefore not a coincidence that Falola has an unmatched mastery of Geography, most especially Human Geography and Quantification. Whoever comes across him could hardly fail to tap from his inguinity and fountain of knowledge.
The popular Hausa adage says: “yaba kyauta tukwici”, loosely translated as one good turn deserves another.
Therefore, Bayero University has just done what is right by awarding this title to one of its most dedicated and longest-serving staff, having served for four good decades.
He is unequivocally the second father of Geography, as almost all the current staff in the Department of Geography and sister Department (Environmental Management) were his students both at undergraduate or postgraduate levels.
His record in terms of years of service in the Department of Geography is only second to the Late Emeritus Professor E.A. Olofin.
One thing fascinating about him was that he graduated the largest number of PhDs than any serving staff in the Department.
Among the current teaching staff in the Department, whom he supervised for their PhDs, include: Professor Yusuf M. Adamu, Professor Nuratu Mohammed, Professor Bello Gambo, Professor Badamasi Lambu (as co-supervisor), Dr. Mairo Haruna, Dr. Mahmud Abba, Dr. Sulaiman Yunus, Dr. Maikudi D. Lawan, and my humble self (Murtala Uba Mohammed).
Among the academics he supervised who are in other departments in the university include: Dr Maryam Liman (as co-supervisor), Dr Zainab Nuhu, Dr Lawan Magaji (all in the Department of Environmental Management); and Professor M.B. Shitu in the Department of Adult and Community Education.
Although he no longer teaches in the Department, having transferred most of his teaching services to Northwest University, he remains one of the most regular staff attendees at the Department’s weekly postgraduate seminar presentations.
During his tenure appointment with BUK, Falola distinguished himself as a master of the most critical areas of Geography.
Until his retirement in 2020, Falola remained the teacher of Quantitative Techniques and Land Resource Theory at the master’s level, Theory of Geography and Contemporary Philosophy and Methodology in Geography at the undergraduate level, as well as Advanced Research Methods at the PhD level.
He was renowned as a pioneer teacher of Spatial Analysis, later renamed Spatial Organization of Society.
In addition to these courses, Falola taught Rural Geography, Agricultural Geography, and Geography of Inequality and Development at various times. Until his retirement, he also taught Rural Development to Master’s students who specialized in Development Studies Program, which is domiciled at the Department of History, Bayero University. Furthermore, he was at one time a teacher for Research Methodology in the Department of Accounting and Biological Sciences for several years.
Beyond his contributions to the Department of Geography, Falola played a significant role in the administration of the university.
He served as a member of the University Senate from 1996 until his retirement, providing invaluable expertise and guidance. He was also a visiting fellow in many foreign universities such as University of Bath and Birmingham.
During his tenure at Bayero University, Falola chaired several senate standing committees, including those focused on Examination Administration and Reporting, Public Lectures, General Improvement, Faculty and Departmental Journals, and Implementation of the Centre for Continuous Education.
Falola’s passion for learning extended far beyond his chosen field of Geography. Notably, he earned a Master of Divinity from the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary in Ogbomosho in 2003. Additionally, he obtained a Diploma in Environmental Management from the Galilee International Institute in Israel in 2015.
Professor Falola is not only a man of sound scholarship, but he is also a person of sound moral character. Since I met him in 2003, when he was the Head of Department, I rarely saw him exhibiting anger or using harsh words against anyone.
He hardly complained or give excuses. His strength, as always pointed out by his friend and colleague, Dr. M.A. Liman, lies in his calmness, composure, self-assurance and emotional intelligence.
Falola rarely missed his classes or made late submissions of results or question papers. It was common knowledge among students that if you missed his class three times for master’s or PhD programs, he would ask you to drop the course and take it the following year. He was thorough yet open to students’ innovations during supervision.
His respect for students and colleagues was superb. One wonders whether scholars’ ego exists if Falola is used as a case study.
As a devote Christian and priest of repute, Falola’s view of religion is moderate, ecumenical, tolerant and humane. It is therefore not surprising that he found success in all his endeavours.
Even at 75, Falola remains remarkably agile, active, and focused in all his endeavours. One of my most recent interactions with him was during the development of the Kano State Draft Transportation Policy.
He co-chaired the Technical Committee, along with his student, Professor A.I. Tanko, the current Vice Chancellor of Baba-Ahmed University. As Secretary to the Committee, I had the privilege of witnessing Professor Falola’s meticulous attention to detail. He thoroughly reviewed the document, providing insightful comments and suggestions.
His exceptional editorial skills ensured that every word and sentence was carefully crafted, reflecting his commitment to excellence.
To my fellow geographers, as Bayero University celebrates our esteemed teacher, it is an opportune moment for us to reflect on the state of our discipline and chart a way forward. Geography, a noble field, faces numerous challenges both within and outside the academia.
As we honour Professor Falola’s contributions, we are reminded of the significant impact geographers can have on addressing national problems.
His predecessors, such as Professors Mabogunje and Udo, demonstrated the power of geographical knowledge in tackling the challenges of their time. Let us draw inspiration from these luminaries and demonstrate the value of Geography in addressing the existential challenges rocking our country.
It is obvious that Bayero University has done what is right by identifying this erudite scholar and former President of the Association of Nigerian Geographers (2005-2007) among the second set of scholars to receive this award in the institution’s history.
The University has indeed done what is right by promoting Falola to this exalted position.
Truly, as the saying goes, “an saka kwarya a gurbinta” (honour is given to whom honour is due). Although I am too small to speak on behalf of Geography as a discipline in Nigeria, but I would like to reiterate that Bayero University has done everything right by honouring our teacher and one of the most distinguished geographers. Once again, congratulations to Professor Emeritus J. Afolabi Falola!
Wishing you continued good health, happiness, and fulfillment in this new chapter of your distinguished career.
Murtala Uba Mohammed teaches at Geography Department Bayero University, Kano
