A consortium of Nigerian and international universities will host a global day of tributes and orations in honour of the late Adamu David Baikie, who passed away on December 12, 2025, at the age of 94.
Tunde Ogbeha, a former senator and chairman of the project implementation committee at the proposed Walter Miller University, announced the initiative.
Ogbeha described the tribute night as the formal commencement of efforts to immortalise Baikie’s remarkable legacy in education and national development.
Participating institutions include Walter Miller Educational Resources Ltd./Walter Miller University, in partnership with Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria; University of Benin, Benin City; National University of Lesotho, Maseru; and the Nigerian Academy of Education.
The late Baikie, widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s foremost educationists with influence across Africa and the global academic community, was laid to rest in his hometown of Wusasa, Zaria, on December 23, 2025.
Organisers have invited the public to participate in the event and submit tributes or scholarly orations by January 10 ahead of the tribute night on January 15.
“The family, colleagues, and friends are grateful to all who sent condolence messages, attended the funeral, and offered prayers, support, and encouragement in various ways,” the statement released by organisers said.
Baikie’s contributions to education and national development are described as unparalleled.
He was a vice-chancellor of three universities, former chairman of the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, dean of the faculty of education, and director of the Institute of Education at ABU, where he also served as acting vice-chancellor on five occasions.
Beyond academia, he served as chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), chief commissioner of the Federal Public Complaints Commission, and chairman of the board of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).
Sanusi Mohammed III, Emir of Kano, is scheduled to deliver the keynote address, titled “Professor David Adamu Baikie: A Trailblazer in Education.”
Tributes and orations should be sent to the Secretariat via email at whitesoul001@yahoo.com
