“Searching for Muslim Change Agents? Look no further. In his league I count Prof Nurudeen Alao, Imam Abdurrahman Ahmad, Prof. Tajudeen Yusuf, Dr. Abdulhakeem Abdullateef, Late Prof Abdulhakeem Mobolaji, Prof. Masud Baderin,among others,” AbdulWarith Solanke recounts Prof. Abdulaziz days as undergraduate at IVC 40 years ago
My first encounter with Professor Taofiq Abdulaziz was st the December 1986 Islamic Vacation Course, at Local Authority Teacher Training College, Iyana Offa, Oyo State. He was a graduate student of Communication and Language Arts at the University of Ibadan then.
He was a golden voice of Radio IVC. I, then a year three student of mass communication at UNILAG and necessarily part of the Radio IVC team was a first timer at the memorable camp. Our chairman, Moyo Akoshile, a natural student Imam was then a final year Mass Comm student at Unilag.but I can’t recollect if he was at Radio IVC. But we also, had the Brilliant TOAA, Tajudeen Adeyemi, also a final year Mass Comm Akokite.
Almost 40 years after, the Voice of Taofiiq remains golden, frank and brutal. From his youthful days,, he had always dared to be different in his analysis of muslim traditional and contemporary issues, even though he was not an islamist as you are want to describe Specialists in Islamic studies. He took his frankness to his leadership of MSS at the UI and to the Zone B in early 1990s.
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His ability to hold his ground from the unconventional stance was on demonstration yesterday when he was our special guest speaker, dissecting Muslims in Democracy at Imam Akoshile residence.
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Professor Taofiq Abdulaziz
I need not repeat his arguments on Muslim Participation in Democratic Process here as My interest is his style, a style that oscillates between rebellion and realism, pushed with passion and forcefulness and at the same time with logic and emotion, leaving his audience either charged or spellbound.
His unique style is the weapon of ideologues, philosophers and revolutionaries. Only very few are blessed with such assets of galvanising others to reflection and action
His unique style is the weapon of ideologues, philosophers and revolutionaries. Only very few are blessed with such assets of galvanising others to reflection and action.
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In this league I count Prof Nurudeen Alao, Imam Abdurrahman Ahmad, Prof. Tajudeen Yusuf, Dr. Abdulhakeem Abdullateef, Late Prof Abdulhakeem Mobolaji, Barr. Dhikrullahi Hassan, Prof. Masud Baderin, Imam Nojeem Jimoh and Ustadh Abdurrazaq Abdussalam popularly called Abu Umar al Faruq who recently retired as Director of Public Affairs from Voice of Nigeria.
I remember a day Professor Mobolajii, the brilliant economist spoke at the closing ceremony of a gathering of over 2000 participants at a year end programme, IVC or ITP that all burst into tears after a pindrop silence and concentration. He had such magnet or pull like Prof. Abdulaziz.
One thing about this league of muslim scholarship is that none is an Islamic Studies specialist but they attained muslim authority, as students of communication and Language Arts or Mass Communication, Law, Economics, Geography, Actuarial Science or Business Administration.
This is my experience or observation in my 40 year odyssey knowing these names
They are acknowledged for their BRUTAL FRANKNESS, BRILLIANCE, COMPELLING PRESENCE, MAGNETIC SPEECHES, CONVINCING ARGUMENTS AND EMOTIONS THAT CRUSH STONE OR FROZEN HEARTS AND APPEALS THAT BURST TEAR BUDS OF DRY EYES.
Searching for Muslim Change Agents? Look no further.
AbdulWarith Solanke is the Director, Media and Strategic Communications at Musl8m Public Affairs Centre (MPAC)
