25th
May, 2025
PRESS
RELEASE:
NBAIS:
STOP ANTI-ARABIC, ANTI-MUSLIM PARANOIA – MURIC
The
National Prayer Altar (TNPA) last week called on the Nigerian government to
reverse its ratification of the policy which equates certificates issued by the
National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS) with WAEC, NECO, NBTE and
other standardised examination bodies. TNPA said such equation distorts Nigeria’s
secularity.
In the
meantime, an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern
(MURIC) has confirmed the compatibility of the NBAIS certificate with WAEC,
NECO, NBTE. The Islamic organization advised the Christian group and Nigerian
Christendom to eschew all vestiges of colonial mentality as well as anti-Arabic
and anti-Muslim paranoia.
The
statement reads:
“The
National Prayer Altar (TNPA), a coalition of Christians in Nigeria, last week
called on the Nigerian government to reverse its ratification of the policy which
equates certificates issued by the National Board for Arabic and Islamic
Studies (NBAIS) with WAEC, NECO, NBTE and other standardised examination bodies.
TNPA said such equation distorts Nigeria’s secularity (https://newsexpressngr.com/news/261434/christians-kick-against-move-to-make-arabic-certificate-equal-with-waec-neco-nbte).
“We
take TNPA’s position on NBAIS with a pinch of salt. Its attempt to subjugate Arabic
and Islamic education to an inconsequential level is a true reflection of its colonial
mentality. The British Christian colonial masters did worse to Islamic education
and its judicial system during their decades of pillage, distortion and
deprivation.
“But
the wind has blown. We have seen the ruff of the hen. Gone are those days when atrocities
committed against Nigerian Muslims go unchallenged. The chicken has come home
to roost. The selfish agenda of the Christian colonialists of giving everything
to Christians and nothing to the Muslims has been exposed.
“It is
this same selfish agenda that TNPA and some Christian groups and individuals wish
to continue. We advise our Christian neighbours to eschew all vestiges of anti-Arabic
and anti-Muslim paranoia.
“Paranoia anywhere is a psychotic
disorder characterized by delusions of persecution. In other words it is
extreme and irrational distrust of others. It destroys friendship, love, trust
and all positive human values. In its place, it breeds hatred and generates disunity.
It is the last thing Nigeria needs at this material time.
“Fueled by sermons of
animosity and hate speeches, the same paranoia was responsible for heating up
the polity when Nigerian Christians were misled to oppose Shari’ah, Islamic
banking, Nigeria’s membership of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), Arabic
on naira, etc.
“Although
Nigerian Muslims have Allah-given fundamental human rights to engage in all the
above even as low-hanging dividends of democracy, Nigerian Christians, misled
by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), vehemently opposed the moves and
even went to court over some of them.
“The
fact that CAN lost eventually in all the contested matters is highly didactic
but the latest heightening of tension over Arabic and Islamic education
reflects the fact that no lesson has been learnt. It also reveals the depth of anti-Muslim
paranoia among Nigerian Christians.
“Why
is there so much fear among Nigerian Christians? Why is hatred of anything
Islamic so deeply ingrained? Christians have institutionalized the tortuous and
tyrannical policy of weaponizing education in order to perpetuate the socio-economic
repression of Nigerian Muslims. Their desire is to permanently keep the Muslims
in the back seat in all spheres of life.
“NBAIS
should not be targeted for elimination by Nigerian Christians because it has
come a long way while due process has been followed and all righteousness fulfilled.
Its historical background confirms this.
“It
was first established in 1960 mainly for Northern Nigeria as the Board of
Arabic and Islamic Studies (BAIS). The board was transferred to Ahmadu Bello
University (ABU) in 1967 as a result of creation of states. After 40 years, the
board became national and was recognised by the Federal Ministry of Education
as an examination board. That was in 2011.
“Therefore,
it became equivalent to WAEC and NECO, with its headquarters in Kaduna. It
achieved autonomy like WAEC and NECO in 2017 and its certificate was recognized
worldwide. Today, at least 26 states in Nigeria write NBAIS examination in more
than 1,200 affiliated schools spread across the country.
“We
urge TNPA and Nigerian Christians in general to stop misleading Nigerians on
the constitutional status of the country. We affirm clearly, unambiguously and unequivocally
that Nigeria is not a secular country but a multi-religious country which recognizes
the equality of all religious groups.
“We
challenge TNPA to show Nigerians the word ‘secular’ in the Nigerian Constitution.
TNPA must show us the chapter and section of the constitution in which the word
‘secular’ is mentioned. Secularism in Nigeria is a sham, a mirage. It does not
exist.
“It follows, therefore, that
TNPA’s case against NBAIS certificate melts away like ice cream under the
desert burning sun for basing its case on the assumed and perceived secularity
of Nigeria. Since the secularity of Nigeria is a wrong assumption, thereby a
nullity and anything built on nullity is null and void, the ratification of
NBAIS by the Federal Government (FG) remains valid, lawful, legal, legitimate
and constitutional.
“MURIC
calls on good Christians (and there is quite a large number of them) to
continue to love their neighbours and wish them what they wish themselves.
Nigerian Muslims are willing to peacefully coexist with their Christian
compatriots. All they are asking for is equal rights, justice, equity, the
right to self-identity, right to self-esteem and parity in all rights and privileges
enjoyed by their Christian neighbours. Once again, we advise our Christian
neighbours to eschew all vestiges of anti-Arabic and anti-Muslim paranoia.”
#NBAIS
#LikeWAECLikeNECOLikeNBAIS
#NoToNBAISRelegation
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Founder/Executive Director,
Muslim
Rights Concern (MURIC).
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