The Islamic Education Trust was established by the three reputable educationalists viz – Dr. Sheikh Ahmed Lemu, Hajiya B. Aisha Lemu and Alh. Sani Ashafa Suleiman – these are recognized as the Founder trustees.
Dr. Sheikh Ahmed Lemu, OON & OFR was born in Lemu, Gbako Local Government Area, Niger State of Nigeria, on 1st December 1929. He began his educational career as thus:
- Entered Qur’anic School, Lemu, in 1932.
- Entered Elementary School, Lemu, in 1939.
- Entered Niger Middle School (now called Government College), Bida in 1944 and obtained Middle IV Certificate in 1948.
- Entered Shari‘ah Law School (now called School for Arabic Studies), Kano in 1949. Obtained Middle VI Certificate (of Arabic, Islamic Studies and General Education) in 1950 and Higher Elementary Teachers’ (Grade II) Certificate (of Arabic, Islamic Studies, Shari‘ah and General Education) in December 1952.
- Entered School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, in October 1954 and obtained Diploma in Arabic, Islamic Studies and Shari‘ah in June 1955.
- Obtained University of London General Certificate of Education (Advanced Level) in History, Arabic, Hausa and Persian in 1961.
- Re-entered School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, in October 1961 and was awarded B. A. (Hons) Degree in History in 1964.
- Awarded (Hon.) Doctorate of Laws on 13th January 1996 by Usmanu Dan Fodiyo University Sokoto, Nigeria.
He excels in education, administration/judiciary and an erudite scholar who share his vision either through lectures/sermons/seminars/conferences or through writing (author) at various levels.
He served and found many Islamic NGOs at national and international levels as
- Founder Member and National President of the Islamic Education Trust (I.E.T) Nigeria, and Nigerian Counterpart Organization for Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Scholarship Programme, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- Founder Trustee of the International Council for Islamic Information (ICII), Markfield, United Kingdom.
- Foundation Member of the International Islamic Charitable Organization (IICO) Kuwait, and Director of IICO (Nigeria Office).
- Member of the Constituent Assembly of Muslim World League (MWL), Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
- Member of International Board for Educational Research and Resources (IBERR London, United Kingdom.
- Member of the Leadership Committee of the International Islamic Council for Da’wah and Relief (IICDR) Cairo, Egypt.
- Member of Presidential Inter-religious Committee on Nigeria’s membership of the Organization of Islamic Conference (O.I.C).
- Member, Nigerian Vision – 2010 Committee.
- Member, Nigeria Vision Foundation (being Presidential Advisory Committee on the Implementation of the Nigerian Vision – 2010).
- Member, Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) under the Presidency.
- Member, Presidential Advisory Council on Youth Development.
- Member, Presidential Panel on (Nigerian) National Security
Hajiya B. Aisha Lemu, MON & FNAE, born 14th October 1940 in Dorset, U.K. and embraced Islam in the U.K., December, 1961. Came to Nigeria as a teacher in 1966 and served in various capacities as:
- Teacher at School for Arabic Studies, Kano
- Principal Government Girls’ College, Sokoto
- Principal Women Teachers’ College, Minna
- 1979 Left Government Service to work under the
- Islamic Education Trust (1979 to date)
- Currently Director General & Head of IET Education Dept.
Hajiya B. Aisha served and found Islamic organizations in different capacities as:
- Founding member of the Islamic Society, SOAS University of London.
- Founding member of FOSIS (Federation of Students’ Islamic Societies of the UK and Eire), 1963.
- Founding member and Trustee of the Islamic Education Trust (IET) Nigeria, 1969.
- Founding member, Trustee and First National Amirah of FOMWAN, 1985.
- Founding Trustee of International Council for Islamic Information, 1994. (And in 1996, Honorary Co-ordinator for West Africa)
- Delegate to Beijing Conference in 1995.
- Committee member of International Islamic Committee for Woman and Child, based in Jeddah, 1996.
- 1st National President of AMIS (Association of Model Islamic Schools), 1998.
- Member of the International Board for Educational Research and Resources, based in the UK under leadership of Yusuf Islam – 1995 to date.
- Year 2000 – she received National Honour (MON – Member of the Order of the Niger) by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Author of textbooks on Islamic Studies and other topics.