OPINION…….Dr. Saadu Alanamu as a destabilized Nigerian and dogged anti-graft crusader

By Muhammad Nasiru Adeoye

The Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Tuesday 1 August 2017 nominated Dr. Ayinla Saadu Koroagba Alanamu, an itinerant international scholar, as parts of the new team of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC.
Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye will steer the affairs of the anti-graft agency for next five years with 13 other members whose tenure is for four years, subject to confirmation by the Senate.
As part of the new formidable anti-graft actors, Dr. Alanamu is a man of vision with intellectual capacity, a reformer and accomplished tutor. Alanamu attended Okelele Model School Ilorin, from 1972-1978 and Ilorin Grammar School, llorin from 1978 to 1983. In his quest for higher knowledge, he proceeded to the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin where he bagged NCE in 1989. After successfully completing his NCE programme, he proceeded to University of Ilorin where he obtained B.A (Hons) Islamic Studies in 1995. The versatile academic bagged his Master in Public Administration (MPA) from University of Ilorin and Post Graduate Diploma in Education from University of Ado–Ekiti now Ekiti State University (EKSU). He also holds a Master of Arts (M.A) Degree in Islamic Studies and Master of Arts (M.A) Degree in Peace and Conflict Studies (PCS) as well as Ph.D from University of Ibadan.
As an educator per excellence, Mr. Alanamu started his teaching career in Taoheed Nursery/Primary School between 1986 to 1990. He later went to teach at Government Secondary School Alapa, from 1988 to 1990. He was also a teacher at Model School, College of Education Ilorin in 1991. And he currently lectures in Kwara State College of Education Ilorin and Ekiti State University. He is also a Senior Research Consultant to numerous research centres and non state actors including Centre for Peace Research and Development (ICPRD) as well as Anti-Terrorism Movement (ATM) Lagos.
Apart from his experience as a teacher and lecturer, Dr. Alanamu has held several appointments among which are: Chairman, Kwara State Council of Supervisors for Health in 1993; member, Kwara State Sport Council from December 2000 to July 2001; Chairman, Board of Trustee Alumni Association Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin from 1997 to 2005; Governing Council Chairman, Kwara State College of Education Oro, from February 2004 to February 2006;  Chairman, Kwara State Scholarship Board from February 2006 to June  17 2007; Chairman, Kwara State Rural Water Supply & Sanitation Agency    (RUWASSA) from March, 13th 2008 to 2nd March, 2009; Chairman/Permanent Member 1, Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board from March, 3rd 2009 to  2nd June, 2011; Chairman, Governing Council, Kwara State College of Education Ilorin from October, 20th 2011 to March, 2012; Executive Chairman, Kwara State Teaching Service Commission, Ilorin March, 9th 2012; Chairman, Governing Council, Kwara State College of Arabic & Islamic Legal Studies (CAILS) from March, 13th 2012 to September 9th 2014; Chairman, Governing Council, Kwara State Polytechnic Ilorin from September 9th 2014 to 11th May 2015.
Dr. Alanamu is a member of various academic and professional bodies, such as National Association of Teachers of Arabic and Islamic Studies (NATAIS), National Association for the Study of Religions and Education (NASRED), Nigerian Association for the Study of Religions (NASR), Nigerian Association for the Study and Teaching of Religion and Natural Sciences (NASTRENS), Society for Peace Studies and Practice, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPMN) and the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), Washington D.C.
Dr. Alanamu has bagged many awards and recognitions for his gargantuan contributions to health, sports, youth activities, environmental sanitation, religion, education, politics and social development. He was a recipient of the award of National Association of Kwara State Students (NAKSS) Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin Chapter in May 1998. The Ilorin Emirate Students’ Union, National Headquarters honoured him as an “Inspirator” in 2002. He received the Leadership in Nigerian Education Gold Award by Prime/Time News Magazine Lagos in August, 2005. He was turbaned as the Saraki Adini of Ijoko, Sango Otta, Ogun State in September, 2005. He received Eminent Nigerian Leadership Diamond Gold Award (ENLDA) by the Nigerian TopLeaders Magazine Lagos, in May 2006. He was conferred with the West African Patriotic Leadership Gold Award, by African Voice Magazine Ghana, in 2006. He received the Epitome of Modern Knowledge Award, by Nigerian Sociology and Anthropology Students’ Association (NSASA) Unilorin Chapter, University of Ilorin in 2007. He was also included in the Nigerian Leaders at 50 Per Excellence, published by Accolade Communications Limited, Lagos in 2010. He was also enlisted in the Encyclopedia of Who is Who in Nigeria in 2016.
Dr. Alanamu, no doubt is a man with versatile academic laurels, having written several books and presented papers on different topics in conferences, seminars, symposia and lectures. In 2003, he produced two standard textbooks in titled: i) “Introduction to Comparative Religion” ii) Islamic Banking: Theory and Practice. In 2005, he edited an anthology titled: “Issues in Political Violence in Nigeria”. He has published over 70 articles in learned journals and books, both locally and internationally. His areas of writing and research include inter-faith dialogue, national integration, terrorism, corruption and ethno-religious conflicts.
As a strong believer in the principles of humanitarianism, egalitarianism and justice coupled with his wealth of experience,  Dr. Alanamu and his co-team in the academic and public sector, may just be the joker the Buhari administration has been waiting for to strengthen the anti-corruption crusade. Perhaps, under the watch of the new Chairman Bolaji Owasanoye, erudite professor of law, ICPC will not only bark but may begin to bite.
All those who have a stake in ICPC, have a stake in providing necessary support to this anti-graft agency in eliminating or transforming demented acts of corruption from all spheres of Nigeria life while the efforts of the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo in nominating a destabilised and dogged anti-corruption fighter Dr. Saadu Alanamu as part of the new ICPC team, should be applauded and appreciated by all well-meaning Nigerians.

Muhammad Nasiru Adeoye (former secretary/research officer Anti-Terrorism Movement Lagos) writes from Kwara Youth Unity Forum (KYUF)