UMA: 29 years of unbroken Spiritual Diets

By Abdullahi Yusuf

Islam is a Universal Religion for Humanity (jinns and all that exists) Q 21:107, and one of its principles is seeking knowledge from the cradle to the grave. Islam is a beautiful religion, with its unique methodology of imparting knowledge to the nearly 2 billion adherents who want to know.

The first revelation of the glorious Quran is about reading, a command to read that suggests listening, understanding, appreciation and assimilation of information and knowledge passed from a teacher to a student (Angel Jubril with permission from Allah, to prophet Muhammad SAW).

Over the years, this accounts for why Muslims often gather inside their Mosques, court-yards areas, open fields (eid grounds) and in modern times, classrooms and auditoriums to listen to Islamic sermons, lectures, preaching, Tafsir from the Quran and teaching of Hadith.

Islam teaches man to be at peace with Allah and seek Allah’s favour through total submission to His Will and commandments. In this regard, each Muslim strives to ensure maximum rewards from Allah in this world and hereafter, hence the emphasis on the spiritual strives of Man to have the ultimate price, -Al Jannah.

In today’s world, the strives are through periodic and daily activities like Salaat, Sawn, Zakat, Hajj and every act of good deeds that Allah loves (Ibadah). But efforts are heightened in Ramadan, for it is an auspicious month to earn rewards in double folds.

To ensure this happens, the University of Lagos Muslim Alumni (UMA), 29 years ago, started its hybrid pre-Ramadan lecture series PRL to prepare Muslims for spiritually rewarding Ramadan, soul purification and informing the general public on the gains derivable from Ramadan.

In time, the annual pre-Ramadan lecture has become a dietary prescription for many Muslims to swallow for revitalisation. The choice of topics for the lecture is often by contemporary development and global concerns and is usually cut across many areas of human endeavour that affect the populace.

Professor Khalid Olajide Adekoya, a Professor of Genetics in the Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, University of Lagos, Nigeria and currently the National President of the UNILAG Muslim Alumni Association (UMA).in a brief interview on the 29th series of the lecture, believes, UMA PRL has been a programme that the public, Muslims and Non-Muslims look forward to every year because erudite scholars from within and outside the chores of Nigeria are resource persons.

‘’UMA presents to the audience a mixture of academic/professional scholars with indigenous speakers to deliver the lectures for maximum impact on different strata of the society. Thus, the University community has taken it as one of its annual key lecture programmes because it complements the University Management educational thrust in all aspects. In addition, the impact resonates to the extent that other Alumni groups in Nigeria emulate us’’. 

The lecture series is a platform for the Muslim graduates of the University to relate, reunite, impact the public and give back to the University.

Beyond the lecture series, it also undertakes Medical outreaches to prepare Muslims for Ramadan, gives scholarships to deserving students in all cadres of the University education, and financially supports the economically vulnerable in society. It has always been a memorable moment for guests as each year’s lecture directs its message to interrogate and proffer solutions to seemingly challenging situations or crises from Islamic perspectives.

The 29th edition lived up to its billing under the themed Economic Reforms for Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects for the Future. The Speakers were carefully selected to do justice to the topic and ignite the spiritual preparedness of the participants for Ramadan.

Mr Niyi Yusuf Chairman, Nigeria Economic Summit Group, Dr Jubril Salaudeen, Director Executive Education and Consulting Nungu Business School, Professor Jameelah Yaqub, Professor of Economics, Lagos State University, Sheikh, Dawud Alfa- nla Abdulmajeed –Eleha, the Mudeer Markaas Daaru Salaam, scholastically, handled the topics to the delights of guests.

The special guests at the occasion included the Vice President of Nigeria, Malam Shettima Kashim, GCON and many other distinguished Nigerians. The management of the University, led by Professor Folashade T. Ogunsola OON, FAS, recorded its presence. Malam Yusuf Olaolu Ali SAN, chaired the occasion, while HRM Oba (Prof.) Adeyemi Abdulkabir Obalanlege, Olota of Ota, Ogun State was the royal father of the day. The Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) of UMA Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo and other distinguished members of the Board of Trustees were also present. 

Professor Khalid used the occasion to appeal to the Nigerian Government to address the current economic hardships in Nigeria. He pleaded with Nigerians to endure the present situation in an atmosphere of peace while the Federal Government of Nigeria is searching for solutions to ease the hardships.

Prof. Adekoya, on behalf of other executive members, promises to continue to strive for the goals and aspirations of the fore-fathers of UMA and to achieve the objectives of UMA as reiterated in the constitution, bye-laws and retreat mandates and embark on construction of dignified hostels for students use in the University of Lagos, as well as Introduce in the coming years the capacity building initiative for graduates of UNILAG, Mentor-mentee programme for its members and construction of students’ hostels.

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