By AbdulQudus Abiola Ojomo
• Don’t be deceived by success attained in this world: Don
Yusuf Aminat Imoitesemeh who recently bagged an LLB from the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo with a perfect CGPA of 5.0 was honoured on Friday, July 14 by her secondary school alma mater, Al-Hikmah College, Mulero, Agege, Lagos.
Ms. Yusuf graduated from the school in 2015 before proceeding to Lagos State University, LASU, for a Diploma in Law, which was instrumental to her success during undergraduate studies at the Faculty of Law.
In attendance at the colourful event were other trailblazers and high-performing alumni of the school who all finished from the State University at its 26th convocation ceremony.
They included Bilal AbdulRasheed, Best Graduating Student, Department of Biochemistry; Bilqees Bello, Best Graduating Student, Department of Pharmacology and Fareedah Lawal, who finished with a Second Class Upper from the Department of Botany.
“Welcome back home”, said the Proprietress of the school, Hajia Aminah AbdulKareem in her opening remarks.
She said, “Just like parents welcome their children back home. I do not consider our graduates as alumni, I consider them our children.”
Dr. Ibraheem Adedotun Abdul who doubles as the Rector of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) was the Keynote speaker at the event.
He said, “Don’t be deceived by the success you attain in this world. There are so many yardsticks for success. I happen to be the first Muslim Rector of Yabatech. There’s always a first you can attain, just continue to work”
He continued, “Keep to that paradigm, keep working. I keep mentioning a word on my return (for my Ph.D. studies) from Japan, ‘Kaizen’, which means ‘keep improving’ in English.”
He added, “The motto I used to reiterate, which I think the 5.0 graduate (Yusuf Aminat) also mentioned is “work hard and pray harder”. Let your motto be similar to that.
Speaking with our correspondent after the event, one of the alumni, Bilal Abdul Rasheed who was the Best Graduating Student from the Department of Biochemistry of LASU with a CGPA of 4.71 (2020/2021) said, “I honoured the invitation of the school because they are part of my success story.”
Bilqees Bello, another alumnus of the school who finished with a CGPA of 4.45 (2021/2022) from the Department of Pharmacology, Lagos State University College of Medicine said, “This school is my foundation. It helped me spiritually, morally and academically”.
The LASU record-setter, Aminat Yusuf, who was unavoidably absent due to a tight schedule since she was announced to the world, said her educational background at Al-Hikmah aided her success at LASU.
Speaking with Muslim News, she said, “I proceeded to Al-Hikmah College in Agege, where immeasurable values are being inculcated in students. The school doesn’t just teach, it also makes students self-reliant academically. The teachers do their best possible to impart knowledge to students to excel without any form of assistance, manipulation or malpractice.
“I was greatly shocked when I learnt about the unimaginable things people do for results. For the about five years I spent in Al-Hikmah, we were well-taught, given the materials and resources we needed, and encouraged to study well, but left on our own during exams. So, having gone through rigour, I knew there was a reward for hard work and my mind was made on what I wanted,” she noted.
In his emotional speech, the Principal of Al-Hikmah College, Mr. Misbahudeen Bishi said, “Aminat (Yusuf) was not the best student (when she graduated from Al-Hikmah College), but she was able to refine herself and now everyone is celebrating her”.
Addressing the current students of Al-Hikmah College, the principal said “As you gain admission into the university, do not assume you have long years to spend there. You have a very limited time there. Immediately, buckle down and seek advice from those that are ahead of you in the university”.
“Don’t assume you can’t make it. Whoever strives and makes effort, Allah always supports such people, ” he concluded.
The school seized the occasion to also reward outstanding staff for their contributions to the development of the 24-year-old school.
Mrs. Risqat AbdulAleem and Mr. Rasheed Soetan were rewarded for their long service and dedication to the school with expensive gift items.
