A lecturer at the Kwara State University Abdulrazak Katibi has blamed Arabic scholars for marrying the best among their students, thereby causing a dearth of female authors of Arabic literature.

Mr. Katibi who spoke with NAN in Ilorin on Sunday during the public presentation of his book said the practice affects the intellectual and literary potentials of the women.

“This makes Arabic language and Arabic literature not to flourish as they did during the time of Usman Dan Fodio,” he said. “We should remember Nana Asmau was a wife, a mother and daughter, yet she still did all those kinds of literary works and still excelled in those areas.”

The author noted that women needed to be encouraged and recognised as a veritable part of developmental projects in any society.

Mr. Katibi said the lackadaisical attitude of women to Arabic literature prompted him to write the book titled: “Women in Arabic Literature in Nigeria: Issues, Expression and Analysis”.

He also said some political, educational, social and religious reasons were responsible for this dearth in women authorship in Arabic literature in the country.

One of these, according to him, were the Europeans who came to Nigeria with their own culture thereby relegating others, particularly Arabic, to the background.

“In terms of socials, women have always been told they should be seen and not heard, thereby making their involvement in literature not felt,” Mr. Katibi said.