UMA Raises ₦130m Scholarship Endowment, Awards ₦20m to 28 Beneficiaries as New Exco Takes Office

The University of Lagos Muslim Alumni Association (UMA) has raised about N130 million towards its N750 million postgraduate scholarship endowment, with 28 beneficiaries set to receive approximately N20 million in scholarship support.

The association’s National President, Dr. Abdulmumin Alao, disclosed this in his welcome address at UMA’s 37th Annual General Meeting and Elective Congress held on Sunday at the UNILAG Mosque Islamic Centre, Akoka-Yaba, Lagos.

Alao said the association generated more than N100 million for its postgraduate scholarship programme in 2025, enabling it to support 23 beneficiaries in a single year.

He expressed confidence in the programme’s growth as UMA pursues its long-term endowment target.

He also announced that the association’s Zakat and Sadaqat Fund had raised N5.16 million, which would be distributed among 23 needy members as part of efforts to strengthen members’ welfare while preserving the beneficiaries’ privacy.

The president said the National Executive Council had also shortlisted Hilal Takaful Insurance to arrange a group insurance scheme for members, subject to approval of its proposal by the Congress and formalisation by the incoming executive.

Reviewing his administration’s two-year tenure, which began in October 2024, Alao highlighted the successful organisation of the UMA Retreat in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, in December 2025, where members deliberated on repositioning the association and expanding its activities.

He said resolutions from the retreat had been published in a book for implementation and monitoring, adding that proposals requiring constitutional amendments would be presented to the Congress for consideration.

Alao further disclosed that UMA had relaunched its website to improve membership registration, subscription payments and digital engagement, urging members to use the platform to remain informed about the association’s activities.

On the association’s student development initiatives, he said UMA maintained cordial relations with the University of Lagos Muslim Community and the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, UNILAG Branch, supporting Ramadan feeding programmes, student welfare grants and send-off activities for graduating students.

The outgoing president also identified the proposed student hostel project as a major initiative for the incoming executive council.

He said the association had inspected properties near the university and prepared preliminary architectural plans for a project estimated to cost about N960 million.

According to him, the proposed hostel would be developed outside the university campus following the discontinuation of an earlier plan to partner with the university authorities on acquiring and renovating a female hostel.

Alao expressed appreciation to the association’s Board of Trustees, former presidents, committee members and members across Lagos, Abuja and the diaspora for their support throughout his administration.

He urged the incoming executive council to sustain the association’s scholarship, welfare, digital engagement and student development programmes while pursuing initiatives that would strengthen UMA’s impact.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Housing, Engr. Abdulhafis Gbolahan Toriola, said the state government’s decision to review the Tenancy Law was aimed at making it more effective and beneficial to residents.

He disclosed that the reviewed Tenancy Law had gone through its third reading at the Lagos State House of Assembly and was awaiting passage before being forwarded to the governor for assent.

According to him, the proposed law would stipulate a minimum rent payment period of one month and a maximum of one year, while removing bottlenecks associated with tenancy agreements and agency commissions, which contribute to rising rents in the metropolis.

Speaking on the theme, “Unlocking Real Estate Opportunities Amid Lagos State Housing Deficit,” the guest speaker disclosed that the state’s housing deficit had reduced to 3.3 million units, adding that the government was leveraging public-private partnerships to address the challenge.

Toriola noted that about 10,000 housing units had been constructed across 24 housing estates since 2019 under the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. He said 4,414 units were delivered through direct state government funding, while 6,209 were realised through the private sector.

He added that the state government had established the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA) to ensure standard practices in the real estate sector and curb cases of developers defrauding unsuspecting residents.

UMA Executive Members for 2024–2026

The executive members of the University of Lagos Muslim Alumni (UMA) for the 2024–2026 tenure are:

1. Dr. AbdulMumin Alao, President
   Executive Consultant, Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Completesports.com, and Executive Director, Medianomics Limited, a marketing communications firm.
2. Alhaji Muhammad Abiodun Salami, Deputy President I
   MD/CEO, PMAS Treasure Insurance Brokers Limited.
3. Alhaja Muhidat Bello, Deputy President II
   Director, Amaanah Finance Company.
4. Prof. Ismail Ishola, Deputy President III (Special Duties)
   Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, UNILAG; Secretary-General, West African Pharmacy Council.
5. Prof. Shakirudeen Odunuga, Vice President I (Akoka)
   Department of Geography, UNILAG.
6. Dr. Zainab Shogbesan-Yisa, Vice President II (CMUL)
   Chief Anatomist, Igbobi Orthopaedic Hospital.
7. Alhaji Tajudeen Adebanjo, Secretary-General
   The Nation newspaper.
8. AbdulHakeem Olubunmi Qazeem, Assistant Secretary-General
   Department of Educational Administration, UNILAG.
9. Alhaja Dr. Bilqees Mopelola Oladunni-Muhammad, PRO I (Akoka)
   Department of Educational Technology, UNILAG, alongside her other executive roles.
10. Dr. Aminat Adegoke, PRO II (CMUL)
    Medical Officer, Ministry of Health; Founder and Lead, Medics on Duty Ltd.
11. Taiwo Kuye, FCA, Financial Secretary
    Senior Manager, Advisory, KPMG West Africa.
12. Alhaji Muftau Tijani, Treasurer
    FirstBank Nigeria Plc.
13. Babatunde Jamiu Yusuf, Internal Auditor
    Assistant Audit Manager, Deloitte Nigeria.
14. Prof. Taofeeqa Adesalu, Welfare Officer I (Akoka)
    Department of Botany; former Head of Department and former Sub-Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies, among other roles.
15. Dr. Zainab Olaniyan, Welfare Officer II (CMUL).
16. Dr. Issa Akanji Adedokun, Legal Adviser
    Faculty of Law, UNILAG; second-best doctoral thesis award recipient at the university’s 55th convocation.
17. Dr. Ibrahim Ayodele Shittu, Education Officer
    Department of Economics; former Deputy Director, ESDC; member of the UNILAG Committee on Student-Industry Engagements and the Scholarship Committee.
18. Alhaji Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, Ex-Officio I
    Senator representing Ogun Central.
19. Prof. Khalid Adekoya, Ex-Officio II
    Director, School of Foundation Studies, UNILAG.