Education
ABDUL-Lateef Adekilekun, Special Assistant to the Registrar of the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS), Prof. Yahuza Imam, says calls to scrap the board are misguided.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Osogbo, Adekilekun urged critics to study the board’s legal framework and its contributions to educational development in Nigeria.
He said the board operates in line with the guidelines of the National Policy on Education and continues to grow in strength.
Adekilekun commended the Federal Ministry of Education for dismissing reports circulating on social media alleging that the Federal Government and the National Assembly were planning to scrap the board.
According to him, NBAIS, which conducts the Senior Arabic and Islamic Secondary School Certificate Examination (SAISSCE), is not a religious body but an examination body comparable to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO).
Adekilekun explained that the board integrates Arabic and Islamic education with conventional Western education, noting that candidates from 26 states currently sit for its examinations across about 1,600 affiliated schools nationwide.
He added that both Muslim and Christian students in these schools study Arabic and Islamic Studies alongside core subjects such as Mathematics and English.
The aide stressed that NBAIS certificates are not inferior to those issued by WAEC and NECO.
He further noted that the board has existed since 1960, initially established as the Board of Arabic and Islamic Studies (BAIS) for Northern Nigeria, and therefore should not be regarded as a new institution.
“From about 20 schools in 1988, the board now supervises approximately 1,600 schools across the country,” he said.
Adekilekun traced the board’s evolution, stating that it was transferred to Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria in 1967 following the creation of states and later attained national status in 2011, when it was recognised by the Federal Ministry of Education as an examination body equivalent to WAEC and NECO.
He added that NBAIS became fully autonomous in 2017 and that its certificates are internationally recognised.
Adekilekun called on the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) and NBAIS to review the board’s syllabus, which has been in use since 2011, and make it more accessible to schools.
He also urged tertiary institutions yet to recognise NBAIS certificates for admission to comply with directives from the National Universities Commission (NUC) mandating their acceptance.
He commended the registrar for ensuring prompt payment of staff salaries and timely issuance of certificates to students.
Adekilekun appealed to the Federal Government to sustain its support for the growth and survival of the board.(NAN)
A.I
June 29, 2026
Tags: Abdul-Lateef Adekilekun NBAIS NERDC NUC Prof. Yahuza Imam WAEC