Muslim professor acquires PhD in Christian studies from the University of Ilorin

MUSLIM academic Professor Rasheed Jimoh-Ijaodola has bagged a doctorate degree in Christian Studies from the University of Ilorin in the first such case in Nigeria which commentators are saying should combat the growing threat of religious intolerance.

Unique among nations, Nigeria is the only country in the world that is evenly split between Christians and Muslims, with the northern half of the country largely Islamic and the south predominantly Christian. However, these religious differences regularly lead to tensions and clashes, especially when there are spats between the West and the Middle East.

Serving as an ameliorating influence on these differences, southwestern Nigeria, where the population is evenly split between Christians and Muslims acts as moderating force in the country. Professor Jimoh-Ijaodola is from southwest Nigeria where he lectures and is the dean of the Oba Erediauwa College of Law at the Igbinedion University in Okada, Edo State.

University spokesman Obajide Ilugbo, said that Professor Jimoh-Ijaodola’s thesis examined biblical prophesies as well as those of Prophet Mohammed. He added that the don’s research focused on the end time and the role of humans in the fulfilment of those prophesies.

Mr Ilugho added that Professor Jimoh-Ijaodola is a faithful and practicing Muslim, who bagged his first PhD in electoral law from the University of Jos, while his second PhD was in property law from the University of Ibadan. In the third PhD thesis, he posited the end is now and that humans should be careful so that the end will not come upon them as the biblical thief that came unexpectedly.

“He pleaded that the world should embrace peace and live in harmony for the sake of the earth and humanity. Nations should also be careful of war and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,” Mr Ilugbo said.

Furthermore, Mr Ilugbo said that Professor Jimoh-Ijaodola in his thesis, stressed the need to take care of our environment very well so that it was not endangered. He quoted Professor Jimoh-Ijaodola as saying that the earth was throttling fast toward a certain end and that the survival of the earth depends on man's will to embrace God totally.