* Urges them to sustain Qur’an revision, live by its teachings
* Memorisation is only the beginning, live the Qur’an – Founder
What began as a two-year commitment to memorising the words of Allah has ended in a milestone for 27 young Muslims, as The Fajr Center celebrated its second set of graduates from its residential Qur’an memorisation programme in Ikorodu, Lagos.
The 20 boys and seven girls, drawn from seven states across Nigeria, graduated at the Second Haflatul Qur’an ceremony held on Sunday, August 30, 2026, at The Companion Mosque, 254 Owutu-Isawo Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.
Muslim News gathered that the ceremony marked a significant expansion of the Centre’s programme, with the number of graduates rising from 10 in the pioneer class of 2024 to 27 in 2026.
The graduands are from Oyo, Ogun, Kwara, Ondo, Lagos, Osun and Kano states, underscoring the growing reach of the Centre’s residential Qur’an memorisation programme beyond Lagos.
The graduation also marked another chapter in the development of The Fajr Center, which commenced operations in 2019 and launched its Fajr Center Qur’an Scholarship (FCQS) in 2022 to provide talented Muslim children with access to intensive Qur’an memorisation, Islamic education and character development.
From a vision to a growing institution
Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Centre, Ustadh Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, welcomed the distinguished guests, students, graduands, family members and friends to the occasion, saying the Centre was established to nurture a generation of Muslims whose lives would reflect the teachings of the Qur’an.
“Two years ago, we stood before Allah to celebrate our maiden graduation, during which ten students successfully completed our intensive Qur’an memorisation programme. Today, by the grace and mercy of Allah, we celebrate the graduation of twenty-seven students, twenty boys and seven girls,” Ustadh Hassan said.
He described the growth as a testimony to Allah’s blessings and an indication that the Centre was steadily fulfilling its mission.
According to him, the objective goes beyond producing children who can recite the Qur’an from memory.
“The Qur’an should be reflected in your character, your speech, your conduct and your service to humanity. Wherever Allah takes you in life, strive to be worthy ambassadors of His Book,” he said.
Ustadh Hassan urged the graduates to understand that completing the memorisation programme was the beginning of a lifelong responsibility.
“Memorising the Qur’an is a great honour, but the greater responsibility lies in living by its teachings,” he said.
How the journey began
Member, Management Board, of the Center, Alhaji Tajudeen Akolade Mukaila, said the institution was founded with the belief that Qur’an memorisation should be accompanied by sound Islamic scholarship, academic development and character formation.
“The Fajr Center was established with a simple but profound vision: to nurture a generation of Muslims whose hearts are illuminated by the Qur’an, whose minds are enriched with beneficial knowledge, and whose lives exemplify the noble character taught by Islam,” Alhaji Mukaila said.
He said the Centre commenced operations in 2019 and, following planning and consultation, launched the Fajr Center Qur’an Scholarship in 2022.
The pioneer scholarship was fully funded and covered tuition, accommodation, feeding, learning materials, uniforms, healthcare and other major educational expenses.
Alhaji Mukaila said the initiative was made possible through the generosity of the Centre’s founders, family members and philanthropists who shared its vision of making quality Qur’anic education accessible to talented Muslim children irrespective of their financial background.
The success of the pioneer programme, however, revealed another challenge.
More children were seeking admission than the Centre could accommodate under a fully funded model. This led Management to introduce a partial scholarship arrangement for subsequent editions of the FCQS.
Under the arrangement, parents make a subsidised contribution, while every scholarship beneficiary continues to receive support amounting to well over 40 per cent of the total cost of the two-year programme.
Alhaji Mukaila described the model as a means of widening access without compromising the quality of education and care provided to the students.
Over 100 applications for successive editions
The growing demand for places at the Centre has also been reflected in its scholarship applications.
Alhaji Mukaila said the third scholarship edition in 2025 and the fourth edition in 2026 each attracted well over 100 applications from different parts of Nigeria.
He said the response demonstrated increasing confidence in the Centre’s model of combining Qur’an memorisation with Islamic upbringing and character development.
“This overwhelming interest is a strong indication that families across Nigeria increasingly recognise The Fajr Center as a trusted institution for quality Qur’anic education, sound Islamic upbringing and character formation,” he said.
However, he noted that the demand also highlighted the need to expand the Centre’s capacity to accommodate more deserving children.
32 began the journey, 27 graduated
The Centre’s Manager, Administrative, Mrs. Madinah Abdussalam, said the 2024 cohort began with 32 students, with 27 successfully graduating at the ceremony.
“Actually, they were 32. That’s why the going becomes tougher with me. So Alhamdulillah, we have 27 of them graduating today, and it has not been easy,” Mrs. Abdussalam said.
She described the cohort as one with different personalities and challenges, requiring continuous supervision, guidance and problem solving.
She described the graduation as a joyful moment, having watched the students progress from their admission in 2024 to completing their programme two years later.
Mrs. Abdussalam also urged the graduate to become good ambassadors of Islam and The Fajr Center.
“I want them to carry what we have instilled in them at the Fajr Center wherever they go and let people see the values they have acquired during their time at the Centre,” she said.
Graduands celebrate milestone, hail tutors, sponsors, management
The joy of the graduands knew no bounds as they expressed appreciation to their tutors, funders, parents and the management of The Fajr Center for supporting them throughout the two-year Qur’an memorisation journey.
Speaking with Muslim News, Abdur Rahman Ashafa, one of the graduands, described his journey to completing the programme as a lesson in persistence and determination.
Ashafa said he had previously applied to join the Centre but was not admitted. He later reapplied and was eventually offered admission.
His journey was also interrupted when he had to leave the Centre to sit for his examinations before returning to complete his Qur’an memorisation.
He said distractions and the frustration of repeatedly memorising verses only to forget them were among the challenges he encountered. However, he remained determined to achieve his goal.
“If you are determined to do this, Allah will make it easy. And if you put the effort required to memorise it, Allah will make it easy also,” Ashafa said.
He stressed the importance of regular muroja’ah, or revision, saying it was essential to retaining memorised portions of the Qur’an.
“If you keep on with your muroja’ah, you are not going to forget. But once you leave the muroja’ah, you are going to forget,” he said.
Ashafa said he found both individual and collective memorisation useful, although he sometimes preferred studying individually.
He advised young people aspiring to memorise the Qur’an to set clear goals, remain determined and put in the effort required to achieve them.
‘I could not be the oldest and be at the back’
For 18-year-old Sakeenah Muhyideen Adedayo, one of the seven female graduates, competition and determination played a major role in helping her complete the programme.
Adedayo, who joined the Centre in 2025, said the experience was initially challenging. Although she had memorised some portions of the Qur’an before joining the Centre, she had to adapt to its intensive routine and demands.
She said being the oldest among the girls became a source of motivation after she realised that she was behind some younger students in memorisation.
“I was determined. I was like, no, because I’m the oldest, I cannot be the one that will be at the back. I don’t like being the one at the back,” she said.
Adedayo said the progress of her younger colleagues and the healthy competition among the students pushed her to work harder.
Beyond memorisation, she said the Qur’an had taught her important lessons about humility, kindness, good speech and obedience to parents.
“Not to be arrogant, to be kind to people, to speak nicely to people and to be kind to parents. There are many lessons in the Qur’an,” she said.
She also acknowledged that living and studying alongside six other girls sometimes came with disagreements and challenges.
However, she said prayer, patience and perseverance helped them overcome their differences and build better relationships.
Fajr Center chairperson lauds parents, sponsors, teachers
The Chairperson, Management Board, The Fajr Center, Alhaja Mutiat Olasumbo Hassan, has commended parents, sponsors, teachers, management and other stakeholders for their contributions to the success of the Centre’s Qur’an memorisation programme.
She said parents had made significant sacrifices by entrusting their children to the Centre and supporting them throughout the two-year journey.
“Your prayers, sacrifices, patience and unwavering support have contributed immensely to their success. Today is as much your celebration as it is theirs,” she said.
Alhaja Hassan, wife of the Centre’s founder, also commended the teachers, hostel staff, administrative workers and volunteers for their dedication and commitment to the students’ development.
She particularly appreciated the sponsors and donors whose support, she said, had helped create opportunities for young Muslims to memorise the Noble Qur’an.
Rising applications spur Centre’s expansion, scholarship drive
With applications continuing to rise, the Centre said expanding its facilities and scholarship opportunities had become increasingly important.
Alhaja Hassan said the Centre was looking to expand its facilities, increase scholarship opportunities, invest in qualified teachers, improve learning resources and build a sustainable endowment to preserve the initiative for future generations.
She appealed to individuals, families, corporate organisations and charitable foundations to partner with the Centre in expanding its Qur’anic education and scholarship programme.
“Every verse they recite, every prayer they lead, every student they teach and every life they positively influence will, by Allah’s permission, become part of your enduring Sadaqah Jariyah,” Alhaja Hassan said.
…Inaugurates alumni association for 2024, 2026 graduates
A major feature of the Second Haflatul Qur’an was the formal inauguration of The Fajr Center Alumni Association.
The association brings together the pioneer graduates of 2024 and the new 2026 graduating class.
Alhaja Hassan said the initiative was designed to ensure that graduation would not mark the end of the relationship between the Centre and its students.
“This Association is not merely a social network; it is a lifelong platform for mentorship, spiritual growth, mutual support and service to Islam,” she said.
She said the association would provide opportunities for networking, mentorship and continued spiritual development while helping graduates remain connected to one another and the Centre.
Meet the 27 new huffaz
The 27 graduands who completed the two-year programme are Abdulazeez Alli Temitope (Oyo), Alimi Muadh Opemipo (Ogun), Abdulmuqeet Lukman Oluwaferanmi (Ogun), Hudhayfah Bunyamin Aremu (Kwara), Abdussalam Lukman Adisa (Kwara), Abdullah Adetimilehin Ololade (Ondo), Anas Alamutu Iyanda (Ogun), Hussain Abduladheem Ayomi (Lagos), Yussuf Al Ameen Omolade (Kwara), Abdullah Muhammad Solih (Kwara), Abdulhafeez Akorede Akanni (Oyo), Abdur Rahman Ashafa (Osun), Ismail Abubakr Sawaneh (Kano) and Abdullah Uthman Ishaq Olanrewaju (Kwara).
Others are Junaid Abdulqodir Abefe (Osun), Abdul Salam Murithador Ayomide (Oyo), Abdul Salam Abdullah Akanji (Kwara), Hamzah Abdulqodir Akanni (Osun), Abubakr Lawal Ajetola (Oyo), Abdulghaniyy Abdullah Ajagbe (Oyo), Maryam Yunus Jannah (Osun), Sakeenah Muhyideen Adedayo (Kwara), Nusaybah Abdulqodir Oluwatosin (Osun), Faatimah Abdulrafee’u Ashabi (Kwara), Zaynab Ipoade Aderonke (Oyo), Hamdalah Abdulkareem Titilope (Kwara) and Maryam Abdussalaam Najah (Ogun).
The Fajr Center: 1, Fajr Close, Off Alhaji Kawu Alabi Crescent, Oja Bus Stop, Owutu, Ikorodu, Lagos.
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