No fewer than 120 scholarships and grants totaling the sum of N9.43million was recently doled out to students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU).
The amount was given to the students at this year’s annual reunion of the Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates’ Association (UNIFEMGA).
This was contained on a communiqué issued at the end the reunion by AbdulFattah Olanlege (Engr.), National President and Shamsideen Adenopo, National PRO of the body.
Read the full text of the communique:
Being the Communiqué issued at the end of 2023 Annual National Re-union of Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates’ Association (UNIFEMGA) held at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State between Friday May 12 and Sunday May 14, 2023. (22nd to 24th Shawwal, 1444 A.H)
INTRODUCTION
The Conference whose theme is “the Future of Higher Education in Nigeria: Emerging Trends, Challenges and opportunities” commenced with a special Jumat service at the OAU Ultra Modern Central Mosque, Ile-Ife, Osun State followed by the formal commissioning of the OAU Mosque of Unity Library in Honour of Late Alhaji Abdullahi Ayinla Bello.
A special courtesy call on the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof S.A. Bamire and other Principal Officers of the Institution took place, where Prof. Abayomi Daramola , DVC Administration represented him. Issues of common interest were discussed. The University administration acknowledged the very positive roles of UNIFEMGA in the development of the Institution.
In line with our core values, there was a networking dinner sponsored by Alhaji Rafiu Ebiti the BOT Chairman of UNIFEMGA, which centred on entrepreneurship and the future of work.
The reunion lecture was delivered by Prof. Abubakar Adamu Rasheed, the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC) who was represented by Prof. Shehu Ado, a visiting scholar at NUC and a former Vice Chancellor of Al-Qalam University in Katsina, while Malam Yusuf Olaolu Ali (SAN) chaired the occasion with Prof. Adebayo Bamire, the OAU Vice Chancellor as the Chief Host.
The conference equally witnessed the presentation of 120 scholarships and grants to OAU students totaling the sum of N9.43million by the Association as part of its welfare gesture to the students on campus. To date from the inception of the programme in 2009/2010, the Association has disbursed about N50 million to over 800 students of the Institution.
The association also launched its new website and a new history book and had its keep fit exercise and novelty match as well as its Annual General Meeting (AGM) where its activities in the past one year were reviewed.
OBSERVATIONS
The following observations were made during the course of the conference:
Islam actually encourages development in all ramifications and enjoins Muslims to be involved in enduring, remarkable, non-terminal improvement in the quality of life, standard of living and life chances of the people
Islam encourages Muslims to seek and acquire knowledge, which is the basis of development and which benefits the individual and the society in the framework of religion as exemplified by various provisions of the Quran and the Hadith.
Corruption in Nigeria is a mass phenomenon which cut across all sectors of the polity. Governance and structure of state as well as the polity is a corruption mill in terms of practice and values.
That poor educational system coupled with lack of adequate knowledge are some of the factors responsible for the poor output of the country’s human resources.
Islam is a religion,that calls upon all its adherents to adopt modern ideas and technologies that can improve life, as long as they are within the limits set out by Islam.
RESOLUTIONS
At the end of the conference, the following resolutions were passed:
That Nigeria has a long way to go as far as development is concerned and need to go the extra miles to actualize the goal.
Nigeria should declare a state of emergency in the educational sector so that we can produce high quality manpower for the industry and for the purpose of self employment and enterpreneurship.
The universities are producing graduates that lack skills for employment and creative ability. There is need for universities to generate income to complement government efforts. The sector cannot be funded alone by government.
There is urgent need to invest in higher education by both the state and private sectors for national development while authorities at the higher Institutions need to be more prudent in their spending.
We urge the Federal and State Governments to adhere to the UNESCO recommended budgetary allocation to the educational sector to improve educational development in Nigeria
That the issue of brain drain, obsolete equipments, constant disruption of academic calendars by both labour and students’ unrest, archaic curriculum are some of the few challenges facing tertiary institutions in Nigeria and the incoming government must urgently address it.
That Nigeria should strive to improve significantly on all the major rankings so that Nigeria can reclaim its lost glory.
For the business environment to thrive government should provide the enabling environment such as focusing on the issues of electricity, infrastructural development and human capital development.
Above all, in doing business, Islam enjoins Muslims to uphold some essential values, such as abhorring corruption and abide by the ethics in Islam such as trust, justice, honesty, documentation and mutual respect.
That employment opportunities should be given to teeming unemployed Nigerians who are being used as instrument of violence by some selfish and unpatriotic individuals.
That the Association is worried about the crisis rocking higher institutions on the issue of appointment of a new Vice Chancellor. We hereby appeal for peace with due process strictly followed in the appointment of Vice Chancellors, Rectors or Provosts.
We commend the National and Local Organising Committees for giving the Association a befitting conference and providing the enabling environment for all the delegates.
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