By Abdul-Mumin Abdul-Quadir
Renowned Islamic scholar, Ustadh Dr. Ishaq Abdul-Yaqeen Dada, has said that mastery of the Arabic language and Islamic studies will unlock greater opportunities for the next generation.
He made the statement while delivering a keynote lecture at the 4th matriculation ceremony of new students at Mahdul Furqaan for Arabic and Islamic Studies, held on Sunday, September 28, 2025, at the school premises in Mushin, Lagos.
Muslim News gathered that the reputable Arabic and Islamic institute admitted 18 new students into its various Qur’an and Arabic programmes for the 2025/2026 academic session.
The new intakes were enrolled across different academic levels, ranging from basic to intermediate classes.
A breakdown of the admissions shows that eight students were admitted into Awwal Ibtidaiyyah, three into Thanni Ibtidaiyyah, three into Awwal Idaadiyyah, two into Thanni Idaadiyyah, while one student each was enrolled in the Qur’an College and Thalith Idaadiyyah.
Ustadh Dada, who is the Mudir of At-taw’iyyah Madrasah, Iwaya, emphasized the historical importance of Arabic education in Nigeria, tracing its relevance back to the pre-colonial era.
He said, “When the colonialists arrived, they discovered that the Northerners were already well-grounded in Arabic and Islamic education. They were exposed to governance systems, trade, and administration, which made the Hausa-Fulani leadership more structured and coordinated than others.”
Ustadh Dada, who is also the District Counsellor, Education District VI Oshodi, added that Arabic retained its relevance after Nigeria’s independence, especially in foreign relations.
“After independence, Nigeria established bilateral relations with many Arab countries, which created a need for Arabic-speaking Nigerians in embassies abroad. Under Gen. Yakubu Gowon, many Nigerians were sponsored to study Arabic, to serve as translators, clerks, and diplomatic officers,” he said.
Respected Muslim scholar urged the matriculating students to take their Arabic studies seriously, noting that the global demand for bilingual professionals in Arabic and English will continue to grow.
He, however, lamented the growing disregard for Arabic language and Islamic studies, particularly in the Southwest, both in the post-colonial era and in contemporary times.
“Today, many people wrongly believe that studying Arabic or Islamic studies limits their success. That’s why even in departments of Arabic and Islamic Studies, it’s hard to find students or lecturers confidently communicating in Arabic. Everyone wants to show off their fluency in English,” he noted.
Ustadh Dada, a PhD holder in Counselling Psychology from University of Ibadan (UI) praised the shift in perception that is gradually occurring in Qur’an and Arabic education in Nigeria.
“Alhamdulillah, the narrative is changing. We now have professors who didn’t begin with Western education but rose through Arabic and Islamic scholarship. Some have become experts in law and other fields. There are journalists with international opportunities simply because they speak Arabic fluently. Others have secured scholarships up to PhD level due to their command of Arabic.”
Board chair calls for parents’ support
Earlier in his opening remarks, Engr. Muhammed Abdus-Salam, Chairman of the Board at the institute, urged parents to cooperate fully with the school in the upbringing and academic development of their children.
“The madrasah has embarked on a noble cause — a leap to mould the lives of these children — but we can’t do it alone,” he said. “We’ll be observing the learners closely, and we’ll need the active support of parents as we make our assessments. May Allah (SWT) assist us in this cause.”
Proprietor reiterates school’s commitment to academic excellence
Speaking during the prize-giving session, the school’s Proprietor, Sheikh Abdul-Ghaniyy Abdul-Hadi, reiterated the school’s commitment to excellence, announcing that top-performing students would be rewarded.
“It’s our tradition to recognise and reward excellence across classes,” he said. “However, because we currently do not have students enrolled in the thanawiyy (secondary) level despite being fully prepared for it, we’ll be rewarding only the best three students across the available classes this year.”
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