In ABU, Italian scholar to speak on ‘Researches on Islamic History and Literature’
Prof Roberto Tottoli, a specialist in Islamic studies at the University of Naples (Napoli), L’Orientale, Italy, will lead a discussion on ‘researches on Islamic history and literature’ billed to hold at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Tottoli, who is the Rector, Universitadi Napoli L ‘Orientale, Italy, will specifically talk on ‘Islamic Studies in Italy: From Renaissance to the Present’.
The event will take place at the Africa Centre of Excellence on New Pedagogies in Engineering Education (ACENPEE), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, on Monday, 25th August, 2025.
Tottoli, easily considered as one of the famous experts on Islamic studies in Europe, is Principal Investigator of the ERC Synergy Project EUQU – The European Qur’an.
His main publications include ‘Biblical Prophets in Qur’an and Islamic Literature’, ‘Islam: An Advanced Introduction’, and ‘The Qur’an: A Guidebook’.
Prof Tottoli is coming along with two other scholars – Prof Francesca Bellino and Prof Andrea Brigaglia.
Both Bellino and Brigaglia will jointly speak on ‘Islamic Literature in subSaharan Africa: Themes, Genres, and Publics – Notes on a Work in Progress’.
While in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Tottoli is expected to request for collaboration with the Nigerian public institution.
Prof Muhammadu Mustapha Gwadabe of the Department of History, Ahmadu Bello University, is coordinating Prof Tottoli’s coming for the discussion.
He explained that the visit would lead to a working relation with some academic departments and centres in Ahmadu Bello University.
The University of Naples, according to Gwadabe, had of recent established a Centre for African Studies where courses relating to Africa were mounted and taught.
“Therefore, the collaboration is with the desire to see how the teaching of these courses could benefit from the established rich intellectual culture of Ahmadu Bello University,” he said.
Prof Gwadabe also said the Italian university would propose the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that would support such a relationship.
He further explained that the collaboration would give chance for academic exchange of staff and students.
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Public Affairs Directorate,
Office of the Vice-Chancellor,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (IDV)
Thursday, 21st August, 2025
