Nigerian Youths have been urged to shun the four raging crimes in Nigeria, particularly in the southern part of the country.
The Southwest Bureau Chief of Voice of Nigeria, Elder Yinka Salaam gave this charge at the Award Presentation Ceremony of the Standard Bearers Islamic Organisation to students who excelled in the mock Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) in Osogbo, the state capital.
SBIO is a faith-based NGO with focus on all-round educational, moral and spiritual development of the youth.
At a Career Mentorship Programme and Scholarship for WAEC/NECO Examinations held at Al-Falaah Model College, Osogbo, Elder Salaam enjoined the students to be exemplary citizens of Nigeria and good ambassadors of Islam, in deeds and words, wherever they find themselves.
He charged the students to always always be of good conduct and face their studies, saying their future lies in their hands and would largely be determined by the strength of their character.
The youth activist in a paper delivered during the ceremony urged the students to abstain from anything that can serve as a clog in the wheel of their educational pursuit.
He charged them on the need to be inquisitive in the pursuit of knowledge, saying they should be eager to know everything about something, and something about everything.
“Above all, know everything about something, and know something about everything. Ultimately, take care of your manners, behaviors, virtues – You are the light of the world. You are His ambassadors
“This should be achieved and balanced with Islamic values and ethics for you to be useful for yourself, Islam, the Ummah and general populace.
“Consciously read Islam to know, not to pass or to copy others. De-emphasis commitment to social media
“Read and know Islam, not just Tahfeez. Know about the Qur’an, Hadith, Fiqh, Seerah, Fiqr – Civilisation, Islamic History etc
Quoting from Qur’an 22:77, 78.
“And strive in His cause as ye ought to strive, (with sincerity and discipline). He has chosen you, and has imposed no difficulties on you in religion…”.
Parents advised
Addressing the parents who accompanied their wards to the event, the media professional enjoined them to invest in the education of their children rather than spend lavishly on clothes, cosmetics and ceremonies.
He charged them on the need to take good care of their children so they would, in turn take care of them at old age.
Education according to him is the only legacy that parents could bequeath to their children, saying once they do that, they have a chance and choice to relax and benefit from their investments in their prime.
Coordinator explains mission
The State Coordinator of SBIO, Dr. Kamil Tijani explained that the scholarship award which began six years ago was designed to help the less privileged in the society, especially indigents that could not complete their education without financial assistance.
Abimbola Aisha of Al Jihad Group of Schools and Sulaiman Mutumaina were among the best students and received N20,000 each for the payment of their WAEC fees.
Speaking on behalf of other 30 awardees, the duo of Abimbola Aisha and Sulaiman Mutumaina appreciated the organisers of the award and urged their junior colleagues to dedicate themselves to their studies and avoid being distracted by social media.
Parents were also full of appreciation and pledged further support for Standard Bearers
