* As institution holds special prayer for late sage at Founder’s Day celebration
Former Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and Chairman of Fajr Centre, Lagos, Ustadh Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, has paid glowing tribute to the late jurist and founder of Crescent University, Abeokuta, Prince Abdul-Jabbar Bola Ajibola, describing him as a towering figure whose legacy continues to shape education, law, and Islamic development in Nigeria.
Ustadh Hassan delivered the keynote commemorative paper on Sunday, March 22, at the 20th Founder’s Day celebration of Crescent University, held at the IMA Research Centre in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
The event also featured special prayers in honour of the late former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice.
Muslim News gathered that the 20th Founder’s Day, held under the leadership of the Proprietor and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Barrister Mahruf Adesegun Ajibola, SAN, brought together members of the Ajibola family, the university management, leadership of the Islamic Mission for Africa (IMA), and students to honour the late founder.
Ustadh Hassan revealed that he had initially planned to rest after the Ramadan period, having observed a spiritual retreat (I‘tikāf) in Osun State. However, he said the invitation to speak in honour of Prince Ajibola was “a call to honour excellence, legacy, and service” that he could not decline.
Reflecting on Prince Ajibola’s passing in April 2023 at the age of 89, the former NAHCON boss described his death as a monumental loss not only to his family but to Nigeria and the global Muslim community, noting that his contributions to justice, scholarship, and Islamic propagation remain indelible.
Building a university as an act of worship
Describing Crescent University as Prince Ajibola’s most enduring legacy, Ustadh Hassan, who is also the Chairman, Fajr (for Qur’an memorisation) Center in Lagos, said the institution represents more than an academic centre but it is a symbol of sacrifice, identity, and vision.
Founded in 2005, the university was established through Prince Ajibola’s personal resources, including proceeds from the sale of his properties in Nigeria and abroad.
“In a region dominated by mission-owned universities, Crescent University stands as the first Muslim faith-based university in South-West Nigeria,” Ustadh Hassan noted, adding that it has since become a model for balancing academic excellence with moral discipline.
Graduates of the university, he added, are contributing meaningfully to national development across sectors, reflecting the founder’s vision of producing not just educated individuals but responsible and ethical leaders.
A legal luminary with global influence
Beyond education, the Chairman of Fajr Center Lagos outlined Prince Ajibola’s far-reaching contributions to the legal profession starting from when he founded the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators in 1979, pioneering arbitration and alternative dispute resolution in Nigeria.
He also served as President of the Nigerian Bar Association (1984–1985), where he championed the rule of law during military rule, and later as Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice.
On the international stage, Prince Ajibola served as a judge of the International Court of Justice in The Hague, further cementing his global reputation in jurisprudence.
Ustadh Hassan urged the university to deepen its impact by aligning academic programmes with modern realities, including entrepreneurship, technology, and industry collaboration.
He said institutions like Crescent University must go beyond academic instruction to address societal challenges such as unemployment, social instability, and ethical decline.
“When students are trained not only to succeed but to serve society, they become agents of national development,” he said.
Champion of Islamic unity and development
Ustadh Hassan also highlighted Prince Ajibola’s pivotal role in strengthening Islamic unity in South-West Nigeria, particularly through his involvement in the formation of the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN).
According to him, MUSWEN emerged from a growing need among Muslim professionals and stakeholders for a unified platform to coordinate activities, enhance representation, and promote socio-religious development in the region.
He traced the initiative to discussions within The Companion, which later evolved into a broader movement bringing together scholars, leaders, and institutions under one umbrella.
Prince Ajibola, he said, also played a key role in promoting Islamic enlightenment through media and community engagement, including sponsoring radio programmes and fostering institutional collaborations. Read the full text HERE.
VC highlights Prince Ajibola’s vision for girl-child education
Earlier in his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof Ibraheem Gbajabiamila, emphasised that the legacy of the late Bola Ajibola extends far beyond his roles in the Islamic Mission for Africa (IMA), his tenure as Attorney-General, his diplomatic service, and his position at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
According to him, the establishment of Crescent University Abeokuta remains the most enduring symbol of Bola Ajibola’s life and vision, corroborating the position earlier expressed by the guest speaker, Ustadh Zikrullah Hassan, as a lasting investment in education and humanity.
“When you are considering Baba’s legacy, it is beyond IMA, beyond Attorney-General, ambassadorship, and the World Court at The Hague. To me, his legacy is the establishment of Crescent University,” he said.
Prof. Gbajabiamila, who joined the institution in the 2010/2011 academic session, reflected on the founder’s strong passion for girl-child education. He noted that at inception, the university had a gender ratio of about 70 per cent male to 30 per cent female.
However, he recalled that as far back as 2017, Prince Ajibola expressed his desire to see a balanced 50–50 ratio. Over time, while the founder was still alive, the trend shifted significantly, with female students rising to about 70 per cent, compared to 30 per cent male.
Prof. Gbajabiamila said this milestone was achieved during Ajibola’s lifetime, and he was particularly delighted, as it aligned with his vision of advancing girl-child education.
The Vice Chancellor also highlighted the institution’s diversity, noting that students are drawn from across all states of the federation, with about 30 per cent of them being Christians.
“Every single state in Nigeria is represented at Crescent University,” he said, underscoring the inclusive nature of the institution.
He further showcased a group of students from Kano State who joined others at the Founder’s Day special prayer, recalling how he and Prince Ajibola had, during the latter’s lifetime, visited Kano to seek collaboration with the state government. That effort, he said, led to the admission of the first batch of about 100 students from the state.
He also revealed that the institution has continued to experience steady growth and rising demand, to the point where it now has to turn down some applicants due to limited capacity.
“Today, the institution is growing, and for the first time, we are at a stage where we have to reject some applicants,” he said.
Crescent University stands as a symbol of sacrifice, education, and Islamic values
Also speaking on Prince Ajibola’s establishment of Crescent University, the Secretary-General of Islamic Mission for Africa (IMA), Alhaji Sa’eed Aweda underscored the founder’s vision of combining education with Islamic propagation.
He recalled that the Islamic Movement for Africa (IMA) founded by Prince Ajibola was unveiled to the world in December 1996, and after about 10 years, in 2006, the name was changed to Islamic Mission for Africa (IMA), which remains in use today. He noted that by December 2026, the organisation will be celebrating 30 years of promoting Islam.
Alhaji Aweda explained that the founder’s intention in establishing Crescent University was to present Islam to the world in its pristine form as a religion of peace and harmonious coexistence.
He said Prince Ajibola believed that founding a higher institution of learning was the most effective way to achieve this calling, citing the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), whose first revelation through Angel Jibril was Iqra, “Read in the name of your Lord.” (Qur’an chapter 96)
The Secretary General described the university as an institution that not only provided education but also instilled religious and moral values in students from across the country.
“Education, especially reading and writing, must be given priority. That is why the message of Islam championed by Prince Bola Ajibola was delivered through education, even though there are other means,” Alhaji Aweda said.
Proprietor hails Crescent University’s progress, celebrates Founder’s legacy
In his address, Barrister Mahruf Ajibola, SAN, said the gathering was not just a remembrance or special prayer for the late sage. He described it as a reunion for the family, providing an opportunity to come together once again while keeping the focus on ensuring the institution achieves its goals.
“I am very happy with the progress we have made so far, and I must commend the management for keeping the legacy alive,” he said.
The Proprietor of the University also expressed his appreciation for the organisation of the special prayer and the choice of the guest speaker, describing him as a learned colleague, good friend, and brother, someone he admires for his dedication.
Alhaja Sherifat Oluyemisi Dosumu, a member of IMA and family member, described Prince Ajibola as “like a father to all of us. He never treated anyone as an ordinary member of the organisation.”
She recalled the emotional moment during the special prayer held in his honour. “It feels as if he just left us. We were deeply moved as we sat down for this special prayer on his behalf,” she said.
Alhaja Dosumu described him as very jovial, accommodating, and a genuinely kind person.
She also reflected on his mentorship:
“Apart from the Adkhar we normally do, he would always lecture us, share his story, and encourage us to hold on to our religion. When he started, many people thought he was a Christian. That was when he began using ‘Abdul Jabbar’ in his name, showing that we worship none but Allah, ” he added.
Other beautiful faces at the event
Nigerian Muslim Personalities of the Year 2024/2025
Global Muslim Personalities of the Year 2024/2025
Sponsored
