Baze University founder pledges ₦25 million for indigenous calendar research

Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, the founder of Baze University in Abuja, has announced a substantial ₦25 million grant to support academic research into indigenous Nigerian calendar systems. The pledge was made during the university's seventh inaugural lecture, delivered by Vice-Chancellor Professor Abiodun Adeniyi.

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Our own January is in the month of June. Our own new year and festival starts today. That’s why I am saying happy new year to everybody.

The announcement came shortly after the Obaro of Kabba, Solomon Awoniyi, highlighted the existence of a distinct calendar system within his kingdom during his address. He noted that his kingdom's new year falls in June, stating, “Our own January is in the month of June. Our own new year and festival starts today.” Baba-Ahmed expressed surprise and described the discovery as a significant intellectual revelation with profound implications for Nigeria's cultural and historical heritage.

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If there is anything I got from this lecture, in fact, in a very long time, it is to discover that there is a Nigerian culture that has a calendar. This is huge.

Baba-Ahmed emphasized the importance of uncovering and preserving indigenous knowledge, comparing the discovery to the well-documented calendar systems of ancient civilizations like the Maya, Aztec, and Inca, as well as Chinese and Indian calendars. He lamented that Nigeria had not sufficiently documented or promoted its own unique traditions. The grant is intended to open avenues for researchers to explore these under-documented systems.

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I am blown away by the fact that there is a Nigerian culture that has a calendar. Do you know how important this is?

During the inaugural lecture, Vice-Chancellor Adeniyi presented his address, titled “How Your Village Is Following You: Mobility, Memory, and the Mediated Persistence of Belonging.” He explored how modern technology and digital communication have reshaped migration, enabling individuals to maintain strong connections to their indigenous communities regardless of their physical location. Adeniyi argued that migration in the digital age does not necessitate a complete severance from one's roots, as digital platforms facilitate continuous links to family, community, and cultural identity.

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There is a Nigerian culture that has a calendar, and we have been quiet about it. Baze University will not allow this to remain untouched. I am opening the floodgates. Whoever wishes to research into the Nigerian calendar, I have dedicated ₦25 million for this.