Alhaji Mouftahu Baba-Ahmad, son of the renowned Islamic scholar and religious advisor to the former Amir of Zaria, Sheikh Baba-Ahmad, was a man of many dimensions. A technocrat, intellectual, businessman, and above all, a devoted father and grandfather. His name resonated throughout Northern Nigeria and beyond.
Our paths crossed through the most unexpected of circumstances. In 2011, while I was teaching at Northumbria University in Newcastle upon Tyne, I launched a syndicated column in two emerging Nigerian newspapers, Premium Times and Blueprint, both newly established outlets helmed by some of the country’s finest editors. I also published these pieces on my personal blog, “The Focus.” Though I wrote on various topics, I remained deeply conscious of the challenges facing Northern Nigeria, dedicating several columns to exploring these pressing social issues.
Among my readers was one who would become far more than just an engaged follower of my work: Alhaji Mouftahu Baba Ahmad. I knew the Baba Ahmad family by reputation—his brother, Alhaji Mamoun Baba Ahmad, was a seasoned broadcaster and Kano correspondent for Radio Nigeria Kaduna in the 1980s, a figure whom younger journalists regarded with profound respect.
Malam Muftahu shared my passion for social issues, and in our subsequent meetings, he would recount stories of his tireless efforts to address these challenges. Around 2014, he was part of the Nigerian Federal Government delegation under President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration to Jeddah, exploring potential economic solutions to help tackle the insurgency plaguing Northeastern Nigeria.
It was on that occasion that we had our first face-to-face encounter. I heard a voice calling my name and stood still, trying to place the speaker. “You wouldn’t recognize me. I am Muftahu Baba Ahmad,” he said in Hausa. “You look much younger and a bit taller than your picture suggests.” A conversation immediately sparked between us during a technical session at the Intercontinental Hotel in Jeddah with the Nigerian delegation. It was there that he shared the remarkable story of his efforts since the mid 1980s to facilitate Nigeria’s membership in the Islamic Development Bank, and his instrumental role in managing resources from international donors to build infrastructure across Nigeria.
From that brief encounter, a profound friendship blossomed between Malam Muftahu and me, one that extended to embrace our respective families. Since then, we maintained regular contact, and a major lesson I will forever cherish from our relationship is the cultivation of life’s most important asset: trust. It became the cornerstone of our genuine bond. Those who observed our interactions might have assumed we had known each other since childhood. He would call to share his thoughts, seek my advice where necessary, and exchange ideas with the ease of a lifelong confidant.
In 2023, upon returning from my studies in the United States, I needed temporary accommodation before finding a permanent home for when my family would rejoin me in Jeddah. My friend and brother, Habeeb Pindiga, suggested the Alworood Hotel, which I accepted. After checking in, imagine my surprise—there was Malam Mouftahu Baba-Ahmad! During the few weeks we both stayed there, we shared what would prove to be a truly memorable encounter.
It was then that I witnessed the full breadth of Malam Muftahu’s intellect and his remarkable entrepreneurial and administrative acumen.
We discussed literature, politics, economics, and Islamic intellectual thought with equal fervor. We delved into biographies, exploring the legacies of Lee Kuan Yew, Mahathir Mohamad, Nelson Mandela, and Walter Rodney. We spoke of Imam Malik, Al-Shafi’i, and Ibn Hajar. He shared stories from his intellectual journey at London Business School and Harvard Business School, weaving in the rich treasures of Northern Nigeria’s history. We exchanged ideas about Hausa culture, religion, and identity politics. It was time well spent, though unknown to me then, it was laying the foundation for a distant farewell.
About a month ago, his son Malam Abdulqadir informed me that Baba was unwell and would be coming for treatment. I visited him in the hospital, sitting beside his bed as he spoke for about half an hour. As he talked, I noticed three profound things: first, there was an unmistakable expression of self-fulfillment about his life; second, there was an unwavering strength of character and absolute belief in the Oneness of Allah; and third, he was indirectly delivering what felt like his final testament. Nearly everyone in the room was moved to tears.
I saw him one last time the day before he was taken to Madinah. When I visited him in the hospital, he was sleeping peacefully, with a calm demeanor that radiated tranquility. Instinctively, I felt this was our farewell.
Two days later, an hour after returning from work, my wife gently told me that it seemed Baba Muftahu’s time had come. I checked my WhatsApp to find the message “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un” from Malam Abdulqadir. Around midnight, it was confirmed that his burial would take place in the Prophet’s Mosque at Fajr time.
We drove to Madinah that night, along with my friend and brother, Suleiman Bello, arriving around 3:50 AM, and headed straight to the Prophet’s Mosque, making our way directly to Bab al-Jana’iz. As we entered, his family was already there, sitting near the Rawdah engaged in prayer. Immediately after Fajr, the Imam led the funeral prayer, and his body, along with others, was taken to Baqi’ cemetery adjacent to the Prophet’s Mosque. There, he was laid to rest.
My sincere condolences to his entire family.
Allahummaghfir lahu wa hamhu war hamnaa ba’dahu.
Dr Yusha’u writes from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
