An Assessment Of Secondary School Students Enrolment Of Islamic Studies In Ssc Examinations In Abeokuta From 2012-2016
[CASE STUDY OF ABEOKUTA SOUTH, LOCAL GOVERNMENT OGUN STATE]

According to Abdullah (1990) “The first people that spoke Arabic language i.e. conversation among Yoruba tribe came from Abeokuta and they were opportune to this privilege due to group of ‘Ulamai that lived therein’ A scholar called Abdul-Kareem Murady sent the Ulamai to Abeokuta. Those whom he sent were Abubakar Safij and Umar Safij to establish Arabic and Islamic school and thus done in the year 1917C.E, some of the early schools of Arabic and Islamic Studies in Abeokuta are listed below:
i.    Muhdul-Arabiyyatu Wal-Islamiyyah Ago-Ika, Abeokuta. The Madrasat was established in (1934) by Shaykh Abdul-Azeez Olohungbo.
ii.    Madrasat Al-Arabiyya Igbore, Abeokuta. According to Alhaji Maruf Yayi (1999) in an oral interview” The Madrasat was established in 1940 by the late Shaykh Yayi, and Late Dr. Abdul-Lateef  Adegbite (Baba Adinni of egba land and the Secretary of Supreme Council for Islamic Affair) he was one of the students graduated from the said Madrasat.
iii.    Zumuratul Muimin Madrasat-Arabiyyah Ago-Ika, Abeokuta According to Imam Jamiu Shitu Bello (1999) in an oral interview. “The Madrasat was established in (1952) by the late Abdul-Kareem Adepegba .
Other Development Arabic and Islamic Institutions
i.    Alasalatu College of Arabic and Islamic Studies Oke-Efon, established by Alasalatu society of Nigeria founded by Late Shaykh Alhaji Akorede of blessed memory to the wide spread of Islam in Abeokuta.
ii.    According to Alhaji Y.K Kehinde, The Islamic Societies and Organization have immensely contributed to the easy wheeling or propagation of Islam and the development of Arabic and Islamic Education. People formed themselves into different societies aiming at the same goal. Nawair-ud-deen with its Headquarter at Isale-Ijeun, Abeokuta, has fought tremendously with the fortification of the wide spread of Islamic religion.
The move of getting youths involved totally injected the ideal of establishing school into the head of the members. A role of which can easily be left today as these societies have a number of Primary and Secondary School (NUD Primary Schools, Abeokuta, Ilaro, NUD Grammar School, Obantoko, NUD High School Oke-Ijeun, Abeokuta.
iii.    Zulikha Abiola Arabic and Islamic Center, established in 1983 by Late Chief M.K.O Abiola
iv.    Zulikha Abiola College of Arabic and Islamic Studies an affiliated of Uthman Dan Fodio University, established in (1985) by late Chief M.K.O Abiola    
v.    So also Alhaji Z.A. Tijani in his own effort to forward the Jihad established a number of schools. They are the following (E.A.T.E) Egba Training Center Olomore Abeokuta, which was later approved and built on its permanent site and renamed. Another school at Oke-Odan in Egbado called Muslim Progressive High school Oke-Odan to mention but few. This was how Arabic and Islamic Education spread in Abeokuta the capital of Ogun State.
Concept of Islamic Education
    Islamic encourages the acquisition of knowledge. It even urges its follows to learn, read, write and conduct research. Education is very vital to the cause and course of Islam.
    Knowledge is the corner stone for understanding Islam. No religion values or cultures encourages learning as much as Islam.
    Empirical evidence abound to corroborate the validity of these assertions.
    The first chapter of the Qur’an revealed to prophet Muhammed (PBOH) emphasizes the importance of education, learning and scientific thinking. It reads:
•    Read in the name of your Lord who created
•    He created man from a clat of blood     
•    Read, and your Lord is the most generous
•    Who taught by the pen
•    He taught man that which he did not know Q96: 1-5.
    The above verses of the glorious Quran urge the prophet to acquire knowledge and to urge his follows to do the same. Read in the verses implied not only reading but also studying, researching, acquiring knowledge, including science, self knowledge and spiritual understanding. Jimoh (1996).