No fewer than 171 students have graduated from the Baraje Centre for Arabic and Islamic Studies, Ilorin, an institution founded by former Acting National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and current chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje.

The school which awards certificate equivalent to Diploma in Arabic and Islamic studies was planned to be affiliated with two Universities in Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.

But the arrangement, according to Baraje who spoke at the graduation ceremony, was stalled by activities of insurgents in the north-east part of Nigeria. He said the foreigh universities were scared of coming to Nigeria.

The APC chieftain decried the recent increase in the activities of insurgents in the North-East which he said had negative impact on the growth of the school.

He said the school which currently awards a certificate equivalent to diploma in 2014 missed the opportunity to be affiliated to two Universities in Saudi Arabia and UAE to run degree programmes because authorities of the universities were scared of visiting the school because of insurgents' activities in the north-east.

Baraje condemned the continued bombing and destruction of lives in the affected states, saying the insurgents' activities negate the dictate of Islam.

The former educationist praised the Kwara state government for establishing the state's Arabic Board to supervise and regulate activities of Arabic and Islamic schools in the state.