* School celebrates eight Huffazh, certifies others at various levels of Qur’an memorisation
Sunday will remain a significant day for At-Tanzeel Schools, its parents, teachers and the wider school community as the institution held its 7th Valedictory and Haflah Programme, marking another milestone in its journey of combining Qur’anic education with academic excellence and character development.
The ceremony, held at Adeyemi Bero Hall, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, on Sunday, August 9, 2026, brought together scholars, educators, parents, dignitaries and members of the school community to celebrate 38 graduating students, comprising 17 males and 21 females, who have also attained various levels of Qur’an memorisation.
The programme, themed “Preparing for Success: Character Before Career,” featured lectures, Qur’anic recitations, certification of Huffazh and Haflah learners, goodwill messages and reflections from members of the graduating class.
The Chairman of the Occasion, Alhaji Ghazali Yemi Ajijolaiya, joined other distinguished guests and stakeholders at the ceremony.
Among the notable guests were the National Missioner of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdur-Rahman Ahmad; National Amir of The Companion, Imam Nojeem Jimoh; and prominent Nigerian Islamic scholar and teacher specialising in Qur’anic sciences and Tajweed, Sheikh Habeebullah Abdur-Rahman Al-Edewiy, among others.
Muslim News gathered that the event came a week after the school held its Qur’an Haflah and Primary Six Graduation Ceremony on Saturday, August 1, 2026, underscoring the institution’s continued focus on Qur’anic memorisation, academic development and character formation.
‘Your character will define you before you speak’
Delivering the first lecture, titled “Achieving Success Through Good Character,” distinguished energy engineer and youth mentor, Engr. Nasir Giwa, urged the graduands to make character building a deliberate and continuous part of their lives.
Engr. Giwa described reputation as one of an individual’s most valuable possessions, warning the students against sacrificing their values for temporary gains.
“Your character will define you before speaking for yourself. It is your greatest asset. You have to protect it like your life depends on it because rebuilding one’s reputation once damaged is almost impossible,” he said.
He urged the graduands to work on their character every day and remain committed to their convictions even when faced with difficult choices.
“Strive every day to build your character and never sacrifice your values for temporary gains. The Prophet’s character preceded his message and that’s why many embraced Islam,” he added.
Engr. Giwa described Prophet Muhammad (SAW) as the epitome of good character and encouraged the students to emulate his honesty, humility, benevolence and other noble qualities.
He also urged them to make gratitude to Allah a habit, saying it could unlock success, while encouraging them to live by their words and uphold piety, honesty, humility and excellence.
The youth mentor prayed for the graduands’ success in their future endeavours and extended his generosity to them ahead of the oncoming Nasir Giwa Mentorship Conference, a brainchild of his.
At-Tanzeel ‘raising the bar of excellence’
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of At-Tanzeel Schools, Alhaji Saheed Bashir, described the graduating students as embodiments of excellence, saying their achievements had continued to bring pride to the institution.
He said At-Tanzeel students had distinguished themselves in academics and extracurricular activities, winning local cum international competitions
“Our students have excelled within and outside the four walls of At-Tanzeel. They’ve participated in competitions locally and globally, and they have done nothing but make us proud,” he said.
He said the outgoing set, known as “The Imperials,” also performed excellently in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), with the least score among them standing at 250 and the highest exceeding 300.
He added that every student from the previous set had already secured opportunities to continue their education within and outside Nigeria.
Alhaji Bashir stressed that the school’s academic results were a reflection of the students’ abilities, noting that results were not padded.
He said the school and its staff remained committed to maintaining high standards and pursuing excellence.
The Board Chairman also spoke about the philosophy that guides the institution, explaining that At-Tanzeel’s identity is deeply rooted in the Qur’an.
“Our very name, At-Tanzeel, is a name of the Qur’an itself, and it shapes all we do: an education that binds the memorisation of the Qur’an, mastery of Arabic, and a globally competitive curriculum into a single cord, content wedded to character,” he said.
Alhaji Bashir recalled that the school began with only nine pupils in 2010 and had grown through years of challenges and perseverance.
“From just nine pupils in 2010, through lean seasons and hard lessons, we have grown; and if there is fruit today, it is because the roots held,” he said.
He urged the graduands to share the knowledge of the Qur’an with others, citing the prophetic teaching on the virtue of learning and teaching the Qur’an.
‘Do not raise entitled children’
The Head of School, Mr Hakeem Isioye, counselled parents against raising children who feel entitled to privileges without acknowledging the responsibilities attached to them.
Mr. Isioye urged parents to ensure that the lessons and values their children acquired at At-Tanzeel continued to guide them beyond the school.
“Dear parents, ensure they live by the message of the Qur’an which they’ve learnt. They’ve spent years, made sacrifices and given their best to come this far. Please, encourage them to make the experience worthwhile, and do everything possible not to raise entitled children,” he said.
He congratulated the 2026 graduating set, The Imperials, describing their graduation as the beginning of a new chapter and reminding them of the responsibility that comes with their knowledge and upbringing.
‘Stick to your convictions’
Also speaking at the ceremony, Arch. Ganiyah Yemi Afariogun challenged the graduands to pursue excellence without compromising their convictions.
Speaking on
“Excellence Without Compromise: Aspiring to Greatness While Standing Firm,” she urged them not to allow criticism, uncertainty or opposition to derail their aspirations.
“Stick to your convictions. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Be firm in your resolve to excel.
People are ready to get you off track. There are uncertainties on the path, but your personal conviction determines your direction. Be firm. You change the plan, but not the goal,” she said.
Arch. Afariogun explained that the choices individuals make ultimately shape who they become, urging the students to be deliberate about their friendships, environments and activities.
“The choices you make affect who you become, and as such, you have to be very mindful. Choose your friends carefully. Choose the people to surround yourself with. Carefully choose the places and the things you get yourself involved in. Consciously or unconsciously, your choices determine what becomes of you later in life. Be selective,” she said.
She also encouraged the graduands to build strong relationships, particularly with their parents, whom she described as their greatest cheerleaders.
Arch. Afariogun further encouraged young women aspiring to pursue careers in traditionally male dominated fields to embrace teamwork and seek supportive life partners who would not hinder their professional growth.
8 complete complete Qur’an memorisation
Muslim News learned that the 7th Valedictory and Haflah Programme also featured the certification of students who attained different levels of Qur’an memorisation.
Eight students were certified as Huffazh, having completed memorisation of all 30 Juz of the Qur’an.
Seven Haflah learners were recognised for memorising 25 and 15 Juz, while another 10 learners attained 10 Juz. A further 12 students were certified for memorising five Juz.
The school explained that all 38 members of the graduating class, The Imperials, were Qur’an memorisers at different levels, although only eight had completed the memorisation of the entire Qur’an.
Qur’anic recitations stir emotions
A major highlight of the ceremony was the recitation of the Qur’an by the Huffazh and other memorisation students.
Among those who recited was Hannatullah Asaju who had memorised the entire Qur’an.
Flanked by family members and dignitaries, she recited before Sheikh Al-Edewiy, who described her performance as “nothing short of excellent.”
The National Missioner of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdurrahman Ahmad, congratulated the Huffazh, the graduands and their parents on the achievement.
“Congratulations to you on this feat. May you not be unfortunate to forget the Qur’an which you’ve memorised. Now, it’s upon you to live by its message for a lifetime. May Allah SWT assist you in the cause,” he said.
Sheikh Ahmad expressed particular happiness for families whose children had memorised the Qur’an, describing the achievement as an opportunity to earn Allah’s mercy.
He specifically commended the Asaju family, noting that several of its children had become Qur’an memorisers.
‘Our feat did not come on a platter of gold’
Members of The Imperials said their achievements were the product of years of discipline, sacrifice, perseverance and hard work.
The Head Boy, Teslim Ajani, described his experience at At-Tanzeel as challenging but ultimately rewarding.
“The experience wasn’t an easy one. It was tiring and frustrating then, but in the end, it was worthwhile. At-Tanzeel has really influenced us in so many positive ways. Alhamdulillahi. I feel great that we’re graduating today,” he said.
Another graduand, Mubarak Babalola, said his Qur’an memorisation journey began after he joined the school at the age of five.
“There were times I felt like giving up, but Alhamdulillahi for the gift of great friends who served as my support system,” he said.
For Aisha Dosunmu, one of the high performing students, an inscription she encountered when she joined At-Tanzeel nearly nine years ago became a guiding principle throughout her time at the school.
“An inscription, ‘What’s worth doing at all is worth doing well,’ greeted me when I first set foot into At-Tanzeel about nine years ago, and it became my philosophy since then,” she said.
The 7th Valedictory and Haflah Programme therefore served not only as a celebration of graduation, but also as a reflection of At-Tanzeel Schools’ long standing commitment to producing young Muslims whose education combines Qur’anic memorisation, Arabic proficiency, academic excellence and sound character.
With the 2026 graduating class now moving on to the next stage of their education and lives, the school community was left to celebrate not merely the end of another academic cycle, but the culmination of another chapter in At-Tanzeel’s journey of raising young Muslims prepared to excel with faith, knowledge and character.
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