ANALYSIS:

ON Professor Mohammed Ibrahim Baji, his Lifestyle, Integrity, Educational Background and the Progressive Achievements in public service including at the IBBU Lapai Institute of Continuing Education and e-learning (ICEel) Minna.

BY YAKUBU MUSTAPHA BINA

Professor Mohammed Ibrahim Baji had his professorial lecture as the 31st Inaugural Lecturer of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai on the title: Educational Psychology Beyond the Classroom: Promoting Well-being, Character Formation and National Development on 28th October, 2026. This is in fulfilment to mark his professorial status which is the pride of every academia. He is an Educational Psychologist with both PhD and Bachelor
Education (B.Ed) obtained in ABU Zaria, Masters degree in Educational Psychology (M.Ed) BUK, and Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) in Collage Of Education (COE) Minna respectively.

The Professor of Educational Psychology however, specialized in areas such as Educational Psychology, Measurement and Evaluation, Research Methods, General Education, and Islamic Studies.
Professor Baji was born on 25th March, 1973 at Baji in Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State. He has continued to embarked on training and retraining to equip himself with the contemporary knowledge to meet up with the international standards.

Professor Mohammed Ibrahim Baji is an individual who possessed high ability and capacity, very versatile, strong initiatives and willingness to work independently with dedication, transparency, and accountability; very critical, analytical, skeptical, and deep in problem-solving skills with adaptive tendency and innovation, as well as result-oriented to whatever course that is found to be worthy.

As a teacher, traniner, and a mentor per excellent, he has supervised 365 NCE students projects at the Niger State College of Education, Minna, supervised 155 university Undergraduate students and 17 Postgraduate Students including 15 Masters and two PhD students.

Due to his trust worthiness, Professor Mohammed Ibrahim Baji right from his youthful age, he has served as the Head Boy in L.E.A. Primary Baji, Social Prefect, Govt. Day Secondary School Gawu Babangida, President, National Association of Niger State Students (NANISS) ABU, Zaria, Ameer, Muslim Corpers’ Association of Nigeria (MCAN) Gumel, in Jigawa State in 2004 respectively.

From his Curiosity to Educational Psychology, Prof Baji’s academic journey began in a village primary school, where curiosity about human behaviour and learning shaped his early interest in education. His teachers instilled in him discipline, perseverance, critical thinking, and a lifelong commitment to knowledge.
After primary school, his late uncle, Mal. Ibrahim Muhammad, enrolled him in the Qur’anic school of late Alhaji Yahaya Jibril Imam Gawu while he attended Government Day Secondary School, Sabon Gawu (now Gawu Babangida). This combination of Islamic and Western education shaped his belief that education should promote knowledge, values, respect, integrity, discipline, compassion, and responsible citizenship.

Professor Mohammed Ibrahim Baji’s simplicity, humility, tolerance, honesty, dedication, hardwork, fairness and justice as well as his team work spirit has made him stand out amongst his pears and colleagues in the academic cycles in IBBUL and Nigeria.

He became a Professor after the IBBUL Governing Council at it’s 60th regular meeting held on Tuesday 27th May, 2025 ratified his promotion and six others under the leadership of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Muhammad Hadi Suleiman following positive results of assessment from external assessors in the field of Educational Psychology in the Country’s academic community.

To top it all, he is a very dedicated religious individual with deep and vast knowledge of Islam and Qur’an, portraying him a God fearing fellow.
That is Professor Baji for you, whom if you see him, you might think he does not have western education especially when in his turban.

As the Director of Institute of Continuing Education and E-learning ICEeL-IBBUL Minna, he is making a difference in the institute that would be difficult to beat in the nearest future not because he is a magician but because he does things rightly and at the right stage to get the best results.

His appointment as ICEeL Director came with high hope and expectations, demands based on the situations inherited which marked a turning point in the academic activities at the IBBUL institute situated in Minna.
Professor Baji’s bold decisions, incorruptible and uncompromising nature but approachable academia has earned him his integrity and respect within the academic and non academic cycles; placing him above most of his pears.
Baji’s humbleness, Patriotic nature and decisive Lifestyle has been the cornerstone of the progress at the Institute.

Professor Baji’s contributions to community services has earned him the title of Sarkin-Yaki of Baji in his home town (equivalent to Chief of Army Staff in the modern time); considering his tremendous efforts to community support and development in the areas of peace, education, youth empowerment, community development, social and economic progress.

Professor Mohammed Ibrahim Baji has been described by teaming number of his students at the institute and beyond as a stabilizer and workaholics due to his ability to correct and streamline and change the fortune of academic activities at the institute since he assumed office in July, 2024.

The Psychology Professor always advocate for transparency and accountability in all his dealings so as to build trust and confidence at the institute. He has also brought in innovative ideas, embarked on training and retraining of lecturers, organized interactive sessions for the students to move the institute forward with less stress and bitterness. Professor Baji is an advocate of better welfare package for teachers and the teaching profession and restoration of the famous Grade Two Teacher training colleges across the country to ensure standard of teaching and learning in Nigeria.

Professor Mohammed Ibrahim Baji is characterized as a patriotic, serious minded and courageous Nigerian who is happily married with well trained children in both Western and Islamic Education.
However, Professor Baji’s vast Islamic knowledge has made him so humble and simple that if he’s in turban you will not realise he has western education. Go to ICEel Minna office, you will end up asking him of who is the Director because he is down to earth that avoids luxury and flamboyant lifestyle.

Apparently striving for academic excellence and improving the standard of education in ICEeL Minna, the institute can compete favourably at the global stage.

Undoubtedly, Professor Baji have proven that leadership is about sacrifice, vision, and service delivery not for personal gains or self aggrandizement. Since he assumed office as the Director of ICEeL Minna, his visionary leadership, courage, and genuine concern for the progress of the institute has made him focused on sustainable development. His efforts has brought an unquantifiable progress.

Turbaned on 9th June, 2025 as Sarkin- Yaki (Mai Yaki) Baji due to his consistent support, contribution to the community peace and stability in enhancing growth and development of the area.
His hobbies includes: Reading, Research, Farming and Recitation of the Holy Qur’an.

Professor Baji had his early education at L.E.A. Primary School, Baji, Gurara Local Gov’t Niger State 1980-1986, Government Day Secondary School, Gawu Babangida 1986-1992, Niger State College of Education, Minna 1992 – 1995,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria- Nigeria 1998-2001, Bayero University, Kano – Nigeria 2004 – 2008, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria 2010 – 2015 and Niger State College of Education, Minna – Nigeria 2015 – 2016 as well as Digital Bridge Institute, Abuja in 2018.

He has served as member or chair several academic committees in IBBUL and COE Minna with different responsibilities. These include ; Examination Officer, school of Education, COE Minna, Director, Examination Affairs, COE Minna 2013-2017, and Coordinating Director of Academic Planning and Development (AP&D) 2017-2018 Of IBBUL, he has served as Coordinator of Postgraduate programmes of the department of Counselling Psychology 2019-2020, member IBBUL university senate 2020 to date, member IBBUL university senate committee on conferences and seminars 2019-2025, head of department of Counselling Psychology 2020-2024, Deputy Dean, faculty of Education and Arts 2022-2024, Chairman Quality Assurance Committee, department of Counselling Psychology 2020-2024, and member IBBUL 6th Governing Council representing senate 2024 to date.
In the political circle, he has served in transition caretaker committee appointed as Hon. Councillor by Mr. Governor of Niger State representing Bonu Ward in Gurara LGA in 2007 -2008.

And before then, he was Headmaster, L. E.A. primary school, Baji in 1996-1997, as well as Secretary, Revenue Monitoring Committee of Gurara LGA 2002-2003
Professor Baji has presented and published over eighty (80) conference papers at local, national and international levels. He has carried out several academic research works and published no fewer than three books in the areas of Measurement and Evaluation, Research Methodology and Developmental Psychology.

Professor Baji is a proud teacher, belonging to several professional and academic bodies and organisations such as the Counselling Association of Nigeria (CASSON), the Association of Child and Learning Psychologists (ACLP), the Nigeria Council of Educational Psychologists (NCEP), and the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).
Professor Baji over his years of public and professional services has served as; Master Trainer, Facilitator, Moderator, Enumerator , Editor, Reviewer, Resource Person, and Key note speaker to several organisations, bodies and agencies including World Bank, UNICEF, UBEC, NTI, NSUBEB, COEs, Youth Council and students unions.

Professor Baji has received awards from many groups, associations, departments and academic and religious bodies as a recognition for his outstanding contributions and services.
Professor Baji is the first among Professors who were promoted to the rank in IBBUL in 2024.

At the 31st Inaugural Lecture series of the University , the professor has identified key psychological challenges confronting Nigeria and global society and proffered the way out if logically implemented it will go a long way in solving some of the societal problems. The measures according to him include building of positive character formation among young sters, peace education for stability and national cohesion, mental health as a catalyst for building psychologically healthy individuals, resilient families, inclusive schools, responsible communities, and sustainable development and prosperous Nigerian nation.
He is happily married with children.

YAKUBU MUSTAPHA BINA is a Journalist and Public Affairs Analyst in Minna Niger State.
[email protected]
2nd November, 2026.