A heated debate has erupted on social media following the appointment of Professor Salisu Shehu as Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in December 2024.
The controversy was reignited by a Facebook publication from Eastern Reporters, which questioned the wisdom of appointing a man with a documented history of Islamic scholarship and involvement in Islamic organisations to head an institution responsible for developing and reviewing Nigeria’s national education curriculum.
The publication specifically drew attention to Professor Shehu’s 1998 book, Islamization of Knowledge: Conceptual Background, Vision and Tasks, alongside his previous positions within prominent Islamic organisations.
According to the publication, Shehu previously served as National Coordinator of the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT), Nigeria, Deputy Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), and Executive Secretary of the Islamic Forum of Nigeria.
These claims have generated considerable debate about religious neutrality, national unity and the responsibility of public officials to serve Nigerians irrespective of their religious affiliations.
What Does Professor Salisu Shehu’s Background Reveal?
An examination of NERDC’s official profile confirms that Professor Salisu Shehu is an academic with considerable experience in education.
He is a Professor of Educational Psychology at Bayero University, Kano, where he served in several academic and administrative capacities. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education and a master's degree from Bayero University, alongside a PhD in Educational Psychology from Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.
His professional experience also includes serving as Special Adviser to the Bauchi State Governor on Education and Societal Reorientation between 2007 and 2011, Vice-Chancellor of Al-Istiqama University, and Director of the Centre for Islamic Civilisation and Interfaith Dialogue at Bayero University.
NERDC's published profile also confirms his involvement with the International Institute of Islamic Thought and his leadership positions within Islamic organisations. Interestingly, he is also listed as a member of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC).
His 1998 publication on the Islamisation of knowledge is independently documented in the AfricaBib academic bibliographic database, which identifies him as its author and the International Institute of Islamic Thought, Nigeria Office, as its publisher.
However, establishing these facts does not automatically establish that he intends to introduce religious bias into Nigeria's education system.
Does One Man Control What Nigerian Children Learn?
One important aspect of the controversy that deserves clarification is the actual responsibility of NERDC.
The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council has a statutory responsibility to develop, review and enrich curricula at different levels of education. It also undertakes educational research, promotes book development and assesses instructional materials for quality assurance.
This makes the Executive Secretary's office particularly influential.
Nevertheless, it would be inaccurate to suggest that one individual independently writes every subject, approves every textbook and determines everything taught in Nigerian schools.
NERDC operates through specialised departments, including its Curriculum Development Centre, which is responsible for curriculum development and related academic activities.
The curriculum implementation process also involves the Federal Ministry of Education, state education authorities, teachers, educational institutions and other stakeholders.
Therefore, while Professor Shehu occupies an influential position, the institution's responsibilities extend beyond his personal authority.
What Are Nigerians Saying?
The Facebook publication has attracted sharply divided reactions.
Some commenters questioned why an individual's religious scholarship should automatically become grounds for suspicion.
One commenter referenced a former JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, who also has an Islamic Studies background, arguing that professional performance and institutional achievements should matter more than religious identity.
Another commenter asked whether previous Christian leaders of government institutions had automatically introduced Christianity into their respective organisations.
Others maintained that curriculum development is a collective responsibility and questioned whether subjects such as mathematics, biology and technology could realistically be classified along religious lines.
However, critics of the appointment argued that the concern was not simply about Professor Shehu being a Muslim but about his documented commitment to the Islamisation of knowledge.
They questioned whether someone with such an ideological and religious background could maintain sufficient neutrality when overseeing a national institution serving children from different religious communities.
Others argued that sensitive public appointments should prioritise individuals who demonstrate an unquestionable commitment to religious tolerance and equal treatment.
What Does Nigeria's Constitution Say?
The debate also raises important constitutional questions.
Section 10 of Nigeria's 1999 Constitution provides that neither the Federal Government nor any state government shall adopt a religion as its state religion.
Furthermore, Section 38 guarantees freedom of thought, conscience and religion. It also provides safeguards against compelling students in educational institutions to participate in religious instruction or ceremonies belonging to religions other than their own.
These constitutional provisions make religious neutrality and the protection of individual freedoms important responsibilities of public institutions.
Consequently, concerns about the possibility of religious influence in national education deserve attention. However, such concerns must be supported by evidence rather than assumptions about an individual's faith.
So, Where Exactly Has Professor Salisu Shehu Erred?
This is perhaps the most important question emerging from the controversy.
As of the available documented information, the Facebook publication has not established a specific instance in which Professor Shehu altered Nigeria's national curriculum to favour Islam, discriminated against Christian students or introduced religious teachings into subjects that should remain academically neutral.
His authorship of a book advocating the Islamisation of knowledge is verifiable. His previous involvement in Islamic organisations is also documented.
But professional and religious affiliations, on their own, do not prove misconduct or an intention to abuse public office.
The more constructive demand should therefore be for transparency in curriculum development, public scrutiny of proposed changes, inclusive stakeholder participation and strict adherence to constitutional provisions.
Nigeria cannot afford an education system that favours one religious community over another. Equally, it cannot build a fair society by treating citizens as unqualified for public service simply because of their religious convictions.
Ultimately, Professor Salisu Shehu should be judged by his decisions, professional conduct and the actual policies implemented under his leadership.
The future of Nigerian children is too important to be reduced to a contest between Christianity and Islam.
The real question is not whether the NERDC Executive Secretary is a Muslim or a Christian. It is whether he can guarantee an education system that belongs equally to every Nigerian child.
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