Nigeria, Dec. 26 -- With the passing of Professor Adamu Baikie on Friday, 12 December, Nigeria and indeed Africa lost a great intellectual, institution builder and architect of modern education. He was someone who made significant impact on the lives of those he encountered as a teacher, administrator, church and community leader. We are grateful to God for giving him a full and accomplished life, having lived for 94 years.

For me, the Baikies are family and we grew up in a small closely-knit community. In 1934, our parents were foundation members of Christ Church, Anglican Communion, in Fagge, Kano. The geographical location of the church was important. It was built at the centre of the vast empty open field that separated the indigenou...