Muslim First Class Graduates Honoured in Lagos, Tasked to Build a Legacy Beyond Certificates
By Taiwo Olapade
It is exactly one week since highly placed, well-connected, and result-oriented Muslims from across the country gathered in Lagos to celebrate a new generation of Muslim first-class graduates with the aim of moulding their future and presenting worthy role models.
The occasion was the second Muslim First Class Graduates Reception organised by the Muslim in National Development Foundation (MIND), held at the prestigious Radisson Blu Hotel, GRA, Ikeja.
The event attracted distinguished personalities including Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Habeeb Adewale Abiru; Senator Mikhail Tokunbo Abiru, Chairman, Senate Southern Forum; Senator Shuaib Salis, Chairman, Senate Committee on ICT; former House of Representatives member, Hon. Habeeb Fasinro; Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy and Strategy, Ms. Hadiza Bala-Usman; President of the University of Lagos Muslim Alumni, Dr. Mumuni Alao; CEO of Credit Bureau Company Limited, Dr. Tunde Popoola; Professor Khalid Adekoya, Director, School of Foundation Studies, UNILAG; Dr. Salisu Adebayo, pediatrician; Alhaja Sherifat Andu, CEO of Arabel Islamic Clothings; and Barr. Musbau Oyefeso, among others.
Convener of MIND, Dr. Muiz Banire, in his welcome remarks, said the vision of the foundation is to celebrate Muslim students who have excelled academically, while also giving them access to mentors who can guide them in sustaining their brilliance. He described the graduates as “the shining pride of Islam” and urged them to be inspired by accomplished Muslims who have reached the peak of their careers.
Senator Shuaib Salis, in his characteristic style, added colour to the event with his insightful presentation titled “Prepare for Today, Poise for Tomorrow.” He advised the graduates not to be overconfident in their academic feat but to remain humble, wise, and resolute in positively impacting society. Recalling the 1980s when there were only two prominent Muslim professors, he expressed joy at the growing number of Muslim scholars excelling in every sector today.
Also speaking, Senator Tokunbo Abiru, in his paper titled “Empowering the Next Generation, the Journey Starts Now,” commended the convener for celebrating young Muslim achievers. He stressed that young talents are the real game changers of today, citing examples of global tech companies like Microsoft, Meta, Apple, Tesla, and Nigeria’s own Flutterwave, all led by youthful innovators. He reminded the graduates that the real test lies not in their certificates but in applying their knowledge to solve real-world problems.
The guest speaker, Dr. Salisu Adebayo, urged the graduates to remain focused on their academic and professional goals while keeping emotional intelligence and moral integrity at the forefront. He emphasized that the ultimate calling of every Muslim scholar is to integrate faith with excellence and become models of uprightness.
Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Strategy, Ms. Hadiza Bala-Usman, in her address titled “Beyond the Certificate, Building a Life of Impact,” commended MIND for investing in the growth of young Muslim geniuses. She noted that their success was the product of sacrifice and discipline, not chance. She encouraged them to distinguish themselves from the crowd by building purposeful lives beyond their certificates.
The event was both a celebration of academic excellence and a call to responsibility for the next generation of Muslim nation-builders.
