Minister of state addresses First Class graduates at Honour Roll event
Delivered by the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, at PEACE Magazine’s 23rd Anniversary & 2nd Honour Roll Ceremony, Abuja, October 28, 2025.
To the honourees, I say this: your journey has only just begun. The nation needs your intellect, your compassion, and your courage. As you move forward, continue to embody the values of excellence, humility, and service. Use your education to transform lives, strengthen communities, and uphold the ideals of justice, equity, and peace. Let this honour inspire you to aim higher.
Full text:
I am very happy and excited to be part of this momentous occasion marking the 23rd anniversary and the second annual Honour Roll Ceremony organized to celebrate the exceptional academic accomplishments of 23 brilliant young Nigerian Muslim women from our nation’s federal universities.
I bring you warm greetings and congratulations from the Federal Ministry of Education, which takes pride in the excellence and promise embodied by today’s honourees. This gathering is a powerful testament to what is possible when faith, learning, and purpose come together to uplift individuals and inspire communities.
Today’s celebration is more than a recognition of academic excellence; it is a celebration of discipline, perseverance, and the quiet strength of women who dared to dream and stay the course. These young women represent the best of our universities and the future of our nation.
They remind us that the pursuit of knowledge is not only a personal journey but also a service to humanity and a contribution to nation-building. In many ways, your achievement affirms one of the core priorities of the Federal Ministry of Education and of this administration, to ensure that every girl in Nigeria has access to quality, inclusive, and equitable education that empowers her to thrive and lead. Education remains the surest path to liberation, confidence, and sustainable development.
I see myself in you. I see you as future leaders, as future ministers, heads of state, and even heads of Nigeria. I graduated the best in my class, and today I stand as an education leader. I see that same potential in you.
As Muslim women, your success also sends a powerful message that Islam upholds the pursuit of knowledge as a sacred duty, and that intellectual excellence and moral integrity can coexist beautifully in one life. I enjoyed the poem, the citation, and the message delivered by the young girl who reminded us that it’s not about what we wear, but about our intellect; it’s not about modesty alone, but about the strength of our minds.
There is a symbiotic relationship between our modesty and our intellectual identity, and I see that beautifully reflected in you. You are breaking stereotypes, redefining possibilities, and serving as role models for countless younger girls who will follow in your footsteps with renewed confidence.
Let me also commend the organizers of this ceremony for creating a platform that recognizes and amplifies the voices and brilliance of Muslim women scholars. Such efforts complement the government’s broader vision of advancing female participation in science, technology, innovation and leadership, areas where women’s perspectives and talents are critically needed.
To the honourees, I say this: your journey has only just begun. The nation needs your intellect, your compassion, and your courage. As you move forward, continue to embody the values of excellence, humility, and service. Use your education to transform lives, strengthen communities, and uphold the ideals of justice, equity, and peace. Let this honour inspire you to aim higher.
Remember that success is sweetest when it uplifts others, and that leadership is most meaningful when it empowers those without a voice. On behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education, I once again congratulate the honourees, their families, and the institutions that nurtured them.
I commend the organizers for this inspiring initiative and encourage you to sustain it as a beacon of hope and excellence for generations to come. May the Almighty Allah continue to bless your efforts, reward your perseverance, and grant you the wisdom to use your gifts for the progress of Nigeria and the upliftment of humanity.
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