• Home
  • News
    • Nigeria
    • Africa
    • Middle East
    • World
    • Features
    • Interviews
    • New Edition
    • Muslim News
  • Analysis
    • Islam & Media
  • Perspectives
    • Opinion
    • Press Releases
    • Editorial
    • Letters
    • Al-Fahm
  • Islam-tainment
    • Sports
    • Arts
    • Poetry
  • Multimedia
    • Audio
    • Video
    • Photos
    • Investigations
  • iGuide
    • Testimony
    • Salah
    • Zakat
    • Fasting
    • Muslim Personalities
  • DONATE
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Muslim News Nigeria
  • Home
  • News
    • Nigeria
    • Africa
    • Middle East
    • World
    • Features
    • Interviews
    • New Edition
    • Muslim News
  • Analysis
    • Islam & Media
  • Perspectives
    • Opinion
    • Press Releases
    • Editorial
    • Letters
    • Al-Fahm
  • Islam-tainment
    • Sports
    • Arts
    • Poetry
  • Multimedia
    • Audio
    • Video
    • Photos
    • Investigations
  • iGuide
    • Testimony
    • Salah
    • Zakat
    • Fasting
    • Muslim Personalities
  • DONATE
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Nigeria
    • Africa
    • Middle East
    • World
    • Features
    • Interviews
    • New Edition
    • Muslim News
  • Analysis
    • Islam & Media
  • Perspectives
    • Opinion
    • Press Releases
    • Editorial
    • Letters
    • Al-Fahm
  • Islam-tainment
    • Sports
    • Arts
    • Poetry
  • Multimedia
    • Audio
    • Video
    • Photos
    • Investigations
  • iGuide
    • Testimony
    • Salah
    • Zakat
    • Fasting
    • Muslim Personalities
  • DONATE
No Result
View All Result
Muslim News Nigeria
No Result
View All Result

Full transcript of Dr. Moruf’s powerful, inspiring graduation speech at UNILAG’s 51st Convocation

by Muslim News Nigeria
4 years ago
in Muslim Personalities, Uncategorized
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0
Full transcript of Dr. Moruf’s powerful, inspiring graduation speech at UNILAG’s 51st Convocation

GRADUATION SPEECH BY DR. MORUF, RASHEED OLATUNJI

(UNILAG 2019 Overall Best Ph.D.Thesis Award Winner, delivered on the 8th July 2021)

The Visitor, President Mohammed Buhari GCFR,

The Chancellor,

The Pro-Chancellor,

The Vice-Chancellor,

Members of the University of Lagos Council,

Members of the University of Lagos Management

Deans, Heads of Departments,

Distinguished Professors and Faculty,

Parents, Ladies and Gentlemen

Fellow graduands of the University of First Choice and the Nation’s Pride – The University of Lagos!

All other established protocols duly observed and all our Guest.

It is an honour and real pleasure to stand before you all today as the recipient of the overall best Ph.D. Thesis Award for the 2018/2019 academic session. I will forever remain grateful to Almighty Allah
and the University of Lagos. My gratitude knows no bounds as this award is very important for me, Rasheed Olatunji Moruf, the man from not-so privileged background in Ajegunle-Apapa. I sold honey and rode “Okada” to meet up with tuition fees and family upkeep. The man who squatted and hung around throughout his University education (from undergraduate days at the University of Ibadan to UNILAG) because he couldn’t afford accommodation fees! C.S. Lewis did say and I quote “Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.”

When I first came to the University of Lagos and fell in love with Shellfish Bio-Ecology, a discipline in the Department of Marine Sciences, little did I know I will be winning this Unilag nobel award. I only resolved to get the most out of everything I laid my hands on. In the words of Estée Lauder, ‘I never dreamed only about success, I worked for it’. It might be true that being the best makes you the number one but being unique makes you the only one! The driving force and real inspiration has been my wife, who received numerous prizes as a First-Class Honours graduate from the University of Ibadan. Today, I make bold to re-emphasise the saying, ‘behind every successful man is a woman’.

Thanks to the transformative education platform provided by the University of Lagos, which empowers learners to see the world differently and through an ethical lens, which allowed me to think
about Nigerian Portunids fisheries and seafood consumption safety, a field in which I joyfully devoted my time and energy.

With respect to what I had done within the 3 years of my full time Ph.D. programme, the journey to my current prominence began with a perfect CGPA of 5.0 in my course work with twelve (12)
extracted published papers from my thesis and still counting; winning the 2018 University of Lagos School of Postgraduate (Doctoral) Trust Fund alongside two other doctoral students. During the period, I was also recognized and given the UNILAG Muslim Alumni (UMA) grant and Bayero University (where I work) fellowship to complete my project. Howbeit, it was indeed a journey filled with uncertainties, anxiety and pressures amongst others. In all, I only set the goals while Allah perfected it.

To all graduating students, we have learned, unlearned and even relearned with pleasant and sometimes not so pleasant memories. Finally, we are here today against all odds. The hard work,
sacrifices, diligence, perseverance, pains and all paid off after all. It was indeed a worthwhile and Excellent Travail! If there is any lesson in this for all as we go out from here, the words of Oprah Winfrey sums it all “It doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, the ability to triumph begins with you. Always!”

As we go forth from here, remember this, never compete to be the best but strive to be unique in your own way. Being the best makes you the number one but being unique makes you the only one. Each person (s) knew its own place for water (Qur’an 2:6). My sincere prayer is that our doctorate degrees will open great doors for our future and that we bring the much-needed innovations, real change and solutions that our world desperately need.

On this note, I will like to appreciate my supervisors Prof. Aderonke Omolara Lawal-Are (popularly known as AOL, Aunty of Life) and Associate Prof. Khalid Olajide Adekoya for the tedious but time￾tested procedural approach they inculcated in me throughout the conduct of my doctoral research. This has made my thesis to win this highly competitive award. Congratulations to the entire staff of the Faculty of Science particularly the Department of Marine Sciences. On behalf of the graduating set of 2019, I appreciate the relentless efforts of the Postgraduate school management – our Dean, Prof. Alabi Soneye, the sub-Dean, Dr. (Mrs) Taofikat Adesalu and our ever able Vice Chancellor, who was once
the Dean of Postgraduate School, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, FAS. May God in his infinite mercy continue to bestow on you the wisdom, guidance and enabling environment needed to deliver your
statutory duties.

To our mentor in Marine Sciences who is also the current Deputy Vice Chancellor (Management Services), Prof. L.O. Chukwu; to my parents, Alhaji and Alhaja Moruf, my siblings (Daud, Wasiu &
Ramat), my beautiful wife (Hajia Hawwau Adeleke Moruf), my children (Musharof, Muqodaz and Mubaraq) and to my best and childhood friend, Kazeem Alarape, this great recognition belongs to all
of us!

Congratulations to all fellow Doctoral graduands. Completing the Ph.D. programme has justified our stay here in deed and in truth. It is now time for us to go out there and make the difference for our community, the nation and the world.
God bless the School of Postgraduate Studies.

God bless the University of Lagos
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Thank you and God bless you all

Sponsored

SUPPORT MUSLIM NEWS NIGERIA

With your generous financial contributions to MUSLIM NEWS, you are helping to sustain a culture of journalistic integrity that promotes tranquil Islamic values and ensures it remains free and available to all.

BANK TRANSFER

Rawshield PR Company

0568624004

Guaranty Trust Bank

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Related

Previous Post

Dr. Moruf Rasheed Awarded UNILAG’s Overall Best PhD Thesis at 51st Convocation

Next Post

Graduating with a First Class, it feels good and fulfilling – Fmr. Amir, MSSN, UNILAG, Salaudeen

Next Post
Graduating with a First Class, it feels good and fulfilling – Fmr. Amir, MSSN, UNILAG, Salaudeen

Graduating with a First Class, it feels good and fulfilling - Fmr. Amir, MSSN, UNILAG, Salaudeen

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Post

MPAC decries gruesome killing of Muslim passengers in Plateau, demands swift justice

MPAC decries gruesome killing of Muslim passengers in Plateau, demands swift justice

June 24, 2025
MSSN Lagos holds 2025 annual conference, names new leaders for Council of Higher Institutions

MSSN Lagos holds 2025 annual conference, names new leaders for Council of Higher Institutions

June 24, 2025
Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation empowers 136 widows on International Widows’ Day

Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation empowers 136 widows on International Widows’ Day

June 24, 2025
Israel surrenders, agrees ceasefire with Iran to end war – Trump announces

Israel surrenders, agrees ceasefire with Iran to end war – Trump announces

June 24, 2025

Donate to Muslim News

Nigerians and the world need alternative journalism that unites Muslims; promotes Islam and spreads the universality of its true message.

If you help Allah’s cause, Allah will help you. Qur’an 22:40

Muslim News Nigeria is committed to reporting Islam and happenings in the Muslim world in accordance with Islamic principles based on truth and truth-telling (siddiq and haqq), pedagogy (tabligh), seeking the best for the public interest (maslahah), and moderation (wasatiyyah).

We have a fold of professional, conscious and devoted Muslims who work tirelessly on stories and those who donate to assist the cause.

News reporting and production is a process with different stages, each with its cost implication. Hence, as we appreciate existing supporters and sponsors, we look forward to more donations from well-meaning Muslims and members of the general public.

Your kind gesture will make our work seamless.

Donate now!!!

Rawshield PR Company,
GTB Account: 0568624004

About Us

Muslim News, a publication of Rawshield PR Media, is a mouthpiece for underreported Muslim achievers and events in Nigeria and across the world, which are never given prominence in the mainstream media.

Email: muslimnewsng@gmail.com
Tel: +234 805 240 4597

Our Mission

To give special media attention and coverage to important people and events in the life of Muslims that do not gain mainstream media attention, and to change the media narrative of blaming Islam and Muslims for offences committed in its lofty name.

About Us

Muslim News, a publication of Rawshield PR Media, is a mouthpiece for underreported Muslim achievers and events in Nigeria and across the world, which are never given prominence in the mainstream media.

Email: muslimnewsng@gmail.com
Tel: +234 906 869 5152

Our Mission

To give special media attention and coverage to important people and events in the life of Muslims that do not gain mainstream media attention, and to change the media narrative of blaming Islam and Muslims for offences committed in its lofty name.

Editorial Policy

We shall be fair to all persons, irrespective of their religions and ideologies, as long as that promotes the image of Islam and unites the Muslims. We shall also uphold the ethical standards of journalism, as allowed by Islamic ethics.

Support Muslim News

Rawshield PR Company

0568624004

Guaranty Trust Bank

  • Home
  • News
  • Analysis
  • Perspectives
  • Islam-tainment
  • Multimedia
  • iGuide
  • DONATE

© 2022 Published by RawshieldPR

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Latest News
  • Nigeria News
  • Africa News
  • Middle East News
  • World News
  • Sports News
  • Support Muslim News Nigeria

© 2022 Published by RawshieldPR