The Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Dawud Akinola, on Sunday, organised a reception in honour of the best graduating student of the Lagos State University, Aminat Yusuf who scored a CGPA of 5.0 and three other graduates of the university’s Faculty of Law who finished with first-class honours.
At the event held at his residence in the Ikolaba area of Ibadan, Akinola announced a grant of N1 million each to each of the honourees and promised them further support for the future.
The other honourees are Balkis Rufai with CGPA of 4.61; Maryam Lawal, a 4.57, and Modinat Olowogaba, 4.51.
Dignitaries present at the programme include the Oyo State deputy governor, Chief Bayo Lawal (represented); Deputy National Chairman (South) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; Dr Saka Balogun, former Chief of Staff to former governor of Oyo State, the late Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala; the Iyalode Adinni of Yorubaland, Alhaja Sidiqat Bola Aderibigbe; former president of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Chief Bayo Oyero; Executive Secretary of the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN), Professor Muslih Yahya, and other political and religious personalities.
In a remark, Alhaji Akinola said: “What we are doing today, celebrating these ladies of excellence, is part of my responsibility as the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, which is to promote Islam and its adherents.
“I am happy for myself today and I count myself lucky to be able to part of the good people that are celebrating these LASU super stars, all four of them ladies who rounded off their academic careers at the university with excellent results.
“We are happy that they are not just Muslims, but they are hijab-wearing faithful. This is a thing of pride for us. As the leader of Muslims in the whole of the South West and beyond, if we have our children doing well like this, we have to encourage them because they are ambassadors of Islam and models for Muslims and adherents of other religions around the world.”
Two Muslim personalities who gave talks at the programme, Imam Mudathir Bada and Dr Musliah Badmus, urged the honourees to continue to shine the light of Islam to the world and advised them not to give up their quest for further breakthroughs because of challenges.
Arapaja commended Aare Akinola for honouring the graduates and described the reception he held for them as a message that education is the best legacy.
The Amirah (President) of the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN) in Oyo State, Dr Bushrah Oloso, said the achievements of Aminat and the others being celebrated are a pride and “have shown to the world that covering our heads does not diminish our intelligence.”
Alhaja Oloso said: “In fact, the head covers we put on have enhanced our sense of reasoning and appreciation for Allah’s goodness and mercies. This is proof to people who think that covering your head makes you a nonentity that Islam has given women the best gift and showing that gift is what these ladies have done for us. They have made us proud as hijabis (Muslim women who wear hijab). We pray that they will continue to fly.
“FOMWAN is an active participant in this programme. We were part of the planning to receive our children, to show that they have made us proud.
“As a women’s organisation, our key objective is the care of children and the education of children Islamically. We are proud to be at the heart of this programme.”
Aminat Yusuf, speaking on behalf of other honourees, said: “We did not expect to be celebrated this much, but to have this kind of celebration is a testament that our nation’s leaders really put premium on academic excellence.
“There is evident joy in everybody’s face here today. They are celebrating us like their own children. They are making us understand that we are their children by religion. It is not just the financial reward that makes us happy at this event, it is also the expression of joy on everybody’s face. We are happy and honoured to be here.”
