The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, Yaba College of Technology Branch, Lagos is celebrating the accomplishments of about thirty-three members who performed excellently and graduated with distinctions in their various fields of study.
The young Muslim scholars were among the 7,554 students who received their ND and HND certificates at the college’s 34th Convocation ceremonies held between 14th and 24th November 2022.
Muslim News reports that the graduands belonged to the class of 2018/2019, 2019/2020, 2020/2021 academic sessions.
The Amir (president) of the Muslim students, Mallam Abdul-Azeez Juma’ said the plan to honour its members who graduated with distinctions was informed by the fact that it has become an unpopular culture to celebrate academic excellence in Nigeria, stressing that there is a great need to change the narrative and tell the world that Muslims are exceptional and extraordinary achievers anywhere, anytime.
He said: “We live in a society where we don’t celebrate academic excellence well enough. Instead, we spend fortune on immoralities. Moreover, many youngsters have been bamboozled by “school na scam”. There’s a need to disillusion them.
“We can’t really ascertain the number of Muslims who graduated with distinctions but we have thirty-three registered members and eight of them are ex-officios of the Society. This event was organised to celebrate academic excellence among Muslims, because the mainstream media has done a great harm in stereotyping, labelling and misrepresenting Muslims, hence, the need to change the narrative.”
Mallam Juma’ added that the event would give birth to a platform that will foster healthy relationships, networking and mutual assistance among the Muslim alumni.
“This is not going to end here as Yabatech Muslim Graduates (YMG) is going to serve as a platform for networking and for the meaningful relationship among its members. It will birth Yabatech Muslim Students Alumni which will be a platform for networking and mutual assistance after school.”
I celebrate the graduands – Dr. Abdul
The Chief Lecturer, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dr (Engr) Ibrahim Abdul who celebrated with the students wished them the best in their lives after school.
“We celebrate with them. Thank Allah for their successes and wish them the best in their respective sojourns”, he said.
Engr. Abdul praised the leadership of the MSSN Yabatech branch for their laudable programmes – both academic and spiritual, noting that there’s room for improvement.
The celebrated scholars couldn’t hide their excitement as they spoke with Muslim News, giving glorification and adoration to Almighty Allah for crowning their efforts with successes.
Allah made it possible – Naibul Amir
Ganiyu Ibrahim Adeniji, a graduate of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (HND) with a 3.77 CGPA, who was the MSSN Naibul Amir (Vice President) 2019/20 set affirmed that the success was recorded through the mercy of Allah.
Overall best student, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
He said: “It is neither by my power nor by my strength, but by the infinite mercy of Allah.”
In his advice to students, he implored them to learn to multitask, set priorities right, ask questions when necessary, and put their trust in Allah.
Choosing between academics and MSSN – Yekini
Khadijat Olayinka Yekini, a graduate of Microbiology with a 3.65 CGPA, who was the Amirah, (female Head) MSSN Yabatech 2018/19 set told Muslim News that as the Amirah, there were times she had to choose between her academics and MSSN, but thanked God that she was able to set her priorities right.
She said: “There were times when my academics and MSSN activities clashed, but I weighed the importance, set priorities and made informed decisions. I delegated when I could and showed up when I had to.”
She urged other Muslim students to always fulfil their obligations to Allah and take advantage of MSSN on campus to level up.
“My message for students who are still on campus is to know that we have an obligation to fulfill towards our Lord and that is paramount. The MSSN is a platform for us to level up in that regard. From my experience and interactions with the Muslim students so far, I realize that most of us don’t give much attention to our religious and spiritual life. We should always strive as Muslims wherever and in whatever situation to be identified as one.”
I spent my nights between classes and the mosque – Akintunde
Kazeem Nifemi Akintunde, a graduate of Mechanical Engineering with a 3.68 CGPA was a one-time Assistant Director of Studies, MSSN, Yabatech. As one of the distinction graduates that were celebrated, he told Muslim News how he could not afford an apartment, textbooks and materials as a student on campus. He described his experience in school as a coin with two sides.
“The ugly experience I had in school were informed by the fact that I had serious issues with accommodation, because my financial strength was very low. I passed my nights between classes and Masjid (Mosque), but Alhamdulillah. Allah (SWT) saved the day. Moreso, I couldn’t afford textbooks and materials, I had to snap questions and assignments from my colleagues then go source for answers on my own, using the school library. Alhamdulillah, my efforts have been crowned with success.”
He told Muslim News how it all paid off. “During my days of hanging around the mosque, I was able to grow spiritually, academically and I started a tutorial center known as Zenith Integral Academy, leveraging my potentials. Through that, I was able to help Engineering students on different campuses with difficulties in their studies and earn a living legitimately.”
He advised students across campuses not to give up, learn skills that will make them indispensable and urged MSSN Yabatech to continue to groom outstanding scholars.
I sew through weekends to sustain myself as an orphan – Abdullah
One of the outstanding students, a graduate of Accountancy with a 3.55 CGPA, Miss Rabiat Abdullah recounted her experience on campus as one that was filled with hurdles.
She emotionally told Muslim News how she had to study in the school during the week and sew for clients through weekends because her father was already late during that time of her studentship.
“I attended classes on weekdays and had to sew for my clients through weekends because I wanted to remain in class. My father was late and I wasn’t going to give in to the threats and temptations in the society. It wasn’t really easy. Sometimes, I was down and almost cried out my eyes, but Alhamdulillah, I was able to sail through.”
She added that she wasn’t really set out to achieve distinction from the outset.
“My boss at work told me I must make distinctions, but I didn’t take him serious. After I saw my first Semester results, I was motivated and I worked for it.”
I journeyed from school to Island to combine academics with endeavours – Abdul-Lateef
Jamiu Olawale Abdul-Lateef, a graduate of Civil Engineering with a 3.60 CGPA and former Director of Studies, MSSN Yabatech told Muslim News how he had to deal with traffic to combine work in Lagos Island, organise tutorials for students in school and still attend to his own academic demands.
He said: “The most challenging part of my experience in school, however, is the fact that I worked while in school and my workplace was far from school. I run to Island and back to school to combine my academics with other activities on campus. I had to deal with Lagos traffic and other factors, I was mentally stressed, but, to the glory of Allah, we’re celebrating the success today.
COVID-19 era almost eroded my academic record – Eniafe
Fatima Eniafe, a graduate of Microbiology, with a 3.61 CGPA told Muslim News how she almost lost her balance academically when their online platforms were flooded with books and materials towards the end of the COVID-19 era in a bid to cover their course contents. She had to deal with a lot of Issues, including bad internet from service providers, while studying from home.
She said: “There was a point in time when we were being overworked. That was towards the end of the COVID-19 era. We were being bombarded with materials in a bid to cover course contents. I was at home at that time and I had issues studying from home, arising from network issue, but I rose back to my feet when school resumed, because I wanted to be on top of the game.
“I feel excited and overwhelmed with joy for being celebrated today. It gives me a sense of accomplishment.”
I found it hard to acclimatise in Yabatech for HND – Ajao
Halimah Ajao, a graduate of Office Technology and Management with a 3.65/4.00 CGPA said she found it hard to adjust in a new environment, saying she had to contend with colleagues who obtained their OND from Yabatech and were already familiar with the climate.
HATS OFF TO THE DISTINCTION GRADUANDS
1. Ganiyu Ibrahim Adeniji, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, 3.77 2020 (HND)
2. Kehinde Hameed Olawale Business Administration and Management 3.74 2021 (ND)
3. Bolaji Rahmat Feyikemi Agricultural Extension and Management 3.71 2021 (HND)
4. Muibi Sodiq Olabisi Civil Engineering 3.68 2021 (ND)
5. Akintunde kazeem Nifemi, Mechanical Engineering 3.68 2019/2020 (HND)
6. Opadijo Toheeb Adekunle, Civil Engineering 3.65 2022 (HND)
7. ALIMOT SHADIAT ABIODUN AJAO OFFICE TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT 3.65 2021 (HND)
8. YEKINNI KHADIJAT OLAYINKA SLT (MICROBIOLOGY OPTION) 3.65 2019 (HND)
9. Yunus Khadijat Abimbola Mechanical Engineering 3.64 2021 (HND)
10. Badmus Faruq Olawale Chemical Engineering 3.62 2020 (ND)
11. Eniafe Fatimah Omobolanle Biological science 3.61 2021 (HND)
12. Lateef Jamiu Olawale Civil engineering 3.6 2021/2022 (HND)
13. Afeez Zainab Adejumoke Office Technology and Management 3.6 2021 (HND)
14. Okunlola Olalekan Kazeem Civil Engineering 3.59 2021 (HND)
15. Abdulsalam oparinde Civil engineering 3.59 2021 (HND)
16. Adefemi Rofiat Adejoke Microbiology 3.59 2021 (HND)
17. Adeshina Ridwan Mayowa Mechanical 2022 3.59 (ND)
18. Abdullahi Rabiat Oreoluwa Accountancy 3.55 2021 (HND)
19. Abolade Yunus Adekunle Accountancy 3.54 2020 (ND)
20. Adebayo Ajani Ismail Business administration 3.54 (ND)
21. Alli Olarinde Mechatronics Engineering 3.54 2019 (ND)
22. Lawal Sodiq Olayinka Civil Engineering 3.53 2021 (ND)
23. Bolarinwa Barakat Adewunmi Industrial design – Textile 3.52 2021 (HND)
24. Shukurat Omobukola Sanni Mass Communication 3.52 2019 (MD)
25. Alade Kamaldeen Temitope Metallurgical and Material Engineering 3.52 2021 (HND)
26. Amzat Abdulbasit Damilare Civil Engineering 3.52 2021 (HND)
27. Olatidoye Morufat Motunrayo Hospitality Management 3.52 (ND)
28. ADIGUN OMOWUNMI MARIAM HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT 3.51 2021 (HND)
29. Badmus surat Physical science 3.51 2021 (HND)
30. Adeyemi Aminat Adenike Banking and Finance 3.5 2019 (HND)
31. Adeyemi Akorede Ridwan Electrical Electronics Engineering 3.5 2022/2019 (HND)
32. OGUNJIDE RIDWAN AYODELE
Accountancy (3.55) 19/20 (HND)
33. Adeniyi Kozeem Olatunde
Civil Engineering 3.51 2020 (HND)
Story by: AbdulMumin AbdulQuadir
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