The International Open University (IOU) has appointed Professor Aliyu Dahiru Muhammad as the new Head of the Department of Islamic Economics, Banking, and Finance (IBEF), bringing one of Nigeria’s foremost experts in Islamic finance to lead the department.

A highly respected academic and practitioner, Prof. Aliyu brings a wealth of experience to IOU as a distinguished lecturer at Bayero University Kano (BUK)’s Department of Economics and the former Deputy Director (Training and Linkages, 2016-2022) at BUK’s International Institute of Islamic Banking and Finance.

His international standing is underscored by his recent role as a Visiting Researcher (2023-2024) at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), where he pioneered research on “Harnessing the Potential of Waqf Using Blockchain Technology in Nigeria: Lessons from Malaysia.”

Prof. Aliyu’s academic journey includes a B.Sc. in Economics from BUK (2003) and both a Master’s and Ph.D. in Economics from the prestigious International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) in 2008 and 2012, respectively. His doctoral thesis on Islamic microfinance earned him a gold medal at the IIUM Research, Invention and Innovation Exhibition in 2013, foreshadowing a career dedicated to practical, solution-oriented research in Islamic economics, banking, finance, microfinance, Zakat, waqf, and poverty alleviation.

Pic: Prof Aliyu (HOD IBEF) with Prof Makie Taal, Vice-Chancellor IOU, and Mr. Kebba Jaiteh, Director of Operations - HQ The Gambia, at the IOU HQ in Banjul.

His contributions to the field have garnered significant international recognition. Notably, he was named one of the World Zakat Forum’s 30 Most Influential People on Zakat in 2020 and received the Certificate of Excellence in Research Award from the US-based Clute Institute in 2014. He is a prolific author, with numerous publications in reputable journals covering Islamic economics, finance, risk management, and entrepreneurial development.

Beyond academia, Prof. Aliyu is deeply involved in shaping the Islamic finance landscape. He serves as Deputy Regional Coordinator for the IIIT West Africa Regional Office and is Vice President of the IIUM Alumni Nigeria Chapter. He is a member of the AAOIFI Working Group on Sustainable Financing (2021-2023) and provides Sharia advisory services to institutions like Al-Maal Microfinance Bank and Marble Capital Limited. He also serves as Secretary of the Association of Zakat and Waqf Operators in Nigeria (AZAWON). He was certified as a Zakat Administrator by the Indonesia Certification Agency and National Zakat Board of Indonesia (BAZNAS) in April 2025.

His global perspective is built on extensive travel and collaboration across Turkey, South Africa, Malaysia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Ghana, and beyond. He is an Academic Fellow at the Islamic Relief Academy (UK) since 2015 and sits on the editorial boards of several international Islamic finance journals. Prof. Aliyu also recently joined the council of the International Federation of Islamic Economics and Finance Educators as the West Africa representative.

Prof. Aliyu is renowned as a dedicated educator, actively teaching and supervising students at PhD, Master’s, and Bachelor’s levels. His expertise is sought internationally, serving as an external examiner for institutions like IIUM and Al-Madinah International University in Malaysia.