History of the Department
The Department of Arabic was established in March, 2011 following a split of the former Department of Nigerian And African Languages into two distinct Departments:
- Department of Arabic
- Department of African Languages and Cultures.
The Department of Arabic aims at teaching appreciation and conducting research in the assorted phenomena of Arabic language through systematic study and effective usage of the language in its major manifestations including linguistic characteristics, literature and culture. Prior to this date, however, the University had for over half a century been turning out graduates of Arabic at its Kano (Abdullahi Bayero College) campus, which attained full University status. The Kano Campus also commenced postgraduate programmes during that period.
Teaching of Arabic started at Zaria in 1981 under the Department of Nigerian And African Languages, which was established in 1976. In addition, and in response to pressing needs, it began postgraduate programme as early as 1978. Since the late 70s and early 80s, the Department graduated numerous undergraduate students in Arabic, many Masters and PhD students in African languages with specialization in the language, linguistics, literature, or culture of Arabic. The Subject also witnessed increase in its student enrolment and the development of the curriculum through organized review over the 30 years of its existence. It also achieved uniqueness in striking a good balance between the traditional attitude, which regards Arabic purely as a sacred language, and the modern, which treats it as a secular human medium of expression, thus producing students with a balanced orientation, who can feel at home in a typical traditional Islamic environment as well as a non – Islamic or secular.