The First Class Muslim Foundation has trained and mentored over 350 first class graduates on career development in seven years.
Dr Sulaimon Ogunmuyiwa, the Chairman, Board of Incorporated Trustees of First Class Muslim Foundation, made this known during the M-First Series 7 for First Class Muslim Graduates, on Wednesday at Ikeja.
Ogunmuyiwa said for the series 7, the foundation had gathered 51 first-class graduates from various Nigerian universities for a three-day programme, to inspire and motivate them for the next steps, after graduation.
He said the M-First programme aimed to help the first class graduates identify their core competencies, develop goals, network, and secure scholarships for further education or industry entry.
According to him, industry experts are also involved to guide participants on career pathways.
“This is the seventh edition of the programme, with a total of 350 graduates trained so far. Many of the graduates are pursuing masters or PhD programmes in countries like the UK, Germany, Canada, U.S., and Malaysia.
“Those still in Nigeria are either in top universities or top companies, contributing positively to their fields. The foundation tracks the progress of these graduates annually and is pleased with their achievements.
“So, today, we have 51 first class Muslim graduates from different universities in Nigeria, we have brought them here to be able to inspire them and motivate them to be able to do more.
“They have first class from their first degree, and then we feel that the first class will get expired in two to three years, if they don’t make use of it now.
“So in order to ensure that they take the right step, we have brought them together to teach them about how to identify their core competence, how to develop goals, how to network, and how to also get scholarships that will support their further education,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr Faheed Olajide, Board Member, First Class Muslim Foundation, urged the graduates to be committed and think about ways they could serve humanity and their communities.
Olajide, who is also the Managing Director of Omnicom Solutions Ltd., said there was the need for stakeholders collaboration on raising the standard of the education sector in the country.
“We need more investment into education. Quality planning needs to be invested in our education. If any nation is going to grow, it is only the next generation ofthe students , of the youth that are coming up that are going to do it.
“If you don’t invest enough in them, then it is as well as saying that you are not building yourself for tomorrow.
“So, every dream that we have for Nigeria today, the government should know that it is only by the investment in the youth and the education sector that is going to get this for Nigeria.
“It is not something that will give you reward today, but it is what will ensure that the next generation and the generation coming after them build a better Nigeria,” he said.
One of the participants, Haruna Abdullahi, who studied Biochemistry in Kogi State University, said that there was stigma associated with obtaining a first class degree, as it often led to unrealistic expectations of perfection in their workplace.
Abdullahi said that obtaining a first class degree provided self-fulfillment, as it signified personal achievement and success.
He advised on reorienting undergraduates to ercome the common perception that education is a scam.
Abdullahi urged undergraduates not to waste education resources, whether self-funded or sponsored, but pay attention to their education.
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