05/09/2025
Renowned linguist Prof. Hafizu Miko Yakasai joins his creator
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Renowned linguist Prof. Hafizu Miko Yakasai has passed away at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano.
According to reliable sources, his funeral prayer (jana’iza) will be held at his family residence in Yakasai quarters, adjacent to Shekara Girls Boarding School, on Friday at 10:00 am.
Until his death, Prof. Yakasai served as a professor in the Department of Linguistics and Foreign Languages at Bayero University Kano (BUK). He was widely celebrated for his contributions to Hausa language studies, translation, and lexicography.
He played a crucial role in developing the English–Hausa/Hausa–English Dictionary, where he worked on translation and usage guidelines. Additionally, he served as an editorial consultant for the Dundaye Journal of Hausa Studies and was a member of the scientific board for the Journal of African Languages and Literatures.
Beyond academia, Prof. Yakasai was a key figure in professional translation circles. He served as the First Vice President and later the National President of the Nigerian Institute of Translators and Interpreters (NITI), where he championed national congresses and facilitated the establishment of the Kano State Council in 2021.
His academic journey extended beyond Nigeria, as he completed his doctoral studies at the University of Warsaw under the mentorship of Polish linguist Professor Nina Pawlak.
He would be remembered by his colleagues and students as a scholar of humility and service, whose work has left a lasting impact on Hausa studies and African languages.
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