UMA Scholarship Scheme: Senator Yari Donates 100 Million Naira

By Abdullahi Yusuf

In a rare show of commitment to Scholarship for Muslims in Nigeria, His Excellency, Senator Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari, former Governor of Zamfara State and Senator representing the good people of Zamfara Central District in the current National Assembly, stunned the bunch of Muslims that gathered at the Prestigious JF Ade Ajayi Hall at the University of Lagos, when he announced, through his representative, the whopping amount, to support the Scholarship Scheme of the University of Lagos Muslim Alumni.

Represented by Senator Umar Shehu Buba, Senator representing Bauchi South Constituency, Yari emphasized the need for increased educational support within the Muslim community to address the shortage of scholars in academia. Senator Buba, in his own right also donated ten million Naira.

Dr. AbdulMumini Alao in his welcome remarks, highlighted that this year’s lecture sought to explore the balance between Islamic faith and societal responsibilities. One of the key topics of discussion was Shari’ah in South West Nigeria, following recent debates over the establishment of a Shari’ah Arbitration Panel in Ekiti State.

Dr. Alao, affirmed UMA’s commitment to educational empowerment, noting Muslims support for the Scholarships would significantly boost its PhD scholarship initiative. He invited more individuals and corporate donors to support the scheme, aiming to double the number of scholarships awarded in commemoration of UMA’s 30th anniversary lecture.

Delivering the keynote address, the Lagos State Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, urged Muslim clerics to tailor their preaching to Societal needs, particularly in the face of evolving global challenges. He emphasized that Artificial Intelligence and technological advancements are reshaping the world, and Nigerians must be pragmatic, law-abiding, and forward-thinking rather than being overly emotional about issues. In choice of courses in the university the Deputy Governor admonished that Muslim community should ensure that courses of their interest should be aligned with modern demands of the practical needs of today’s world. The era of abstract research topics for PhD students is over.

Furthermore, on the theme, The Transformative Power of Ramadan, Dr. Hamzat stressed that Ramadan is a tool for spiritual and societal transformation. He urged Muslims to lead by example in compliance with religious and civic responsibilities and use the fasting period to promote love and care within their communities.

One of the guest speakers, Professor Mashood Baderin of the University of London addressed Islam at the Intersection of Humanity and Religion, discussing how Islamic principles align with contemporary human rights and societal expectations. While, Justice Abdurraheem Ahmad Sayi of the Shari’ah Court of Appeal, Ilorin, underscored the constitutional provision for Shari’ah courts in the region, lamenting the absence of legal frameworks for Muslim family law and inheritance matters. He criticized attempts to suppress Shari’ah arbitration among willing Muslims, describing it as an infringement on religious freedom.

The 30th edition lived up to its billing. It attracted a large chunk of who is who in the south west Muslim community, dignitaries including the Royal Father of the Day, Oba (Professor) Saka Adeola Matemilola; UNILAG Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Research), Professor Bola Oboh; Senator Idiat Adebule (Lagos West); the Ogun State Deputy Governor, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salis (Ogun Central), UMA Board of Trustees, led by the Chairman, Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo, who doubles as the President of the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria, MUSWEN, former Lagos State Commissioner of the Environment, Dr Muiz Banire, former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Ustadh Dhikrullahi Hassan, former National Amirs of The Companion, Dr Tunde Popoola and Bar. Musbau Oyefeso, former UMA National Presidents, Alhaji. Lere Alimi, Alhaji YKO Abdul Kareem, Prof. Khalid Adekoya, Mallam A.U Mustapha SAN, representatives of different Muslim organisations, among others.

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 organizes medical outreaches to prepare Muslims for Ramadan, offers scholarships to deserving students at all levels of university education, and provides financial support to the economically vulnerable.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.

UMA Pre Ramadan Lecture 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.

The 30th anniversary of the UMA Pre-Ramadan lecture also featured the presentation of awards of recognition to scholars who have served as guest lecturers in previous editions of the event. The revered Muslim scholars honoured included Chief Missioner, Ansar-Ud-Deen Society Worldwide, Sheikh Abdur-Rahman Ahmad; Mudeer, Markaz Salaam, Sheikh Jubril Ramadan Jubril; Mudeer, Zawiyat Sofwat El-Islam, Sheikh AbduWahab Zubayr (Al-Gamawy); Chief Imam, Daru Na’eem Central Mosque, Sheikh Imran AbdulMajeed Eleha. Others who were represented are Mudeer, Mahdul-Iftai wan-Najaat Institute of Arabic & Islamic Studies, Sheikh Muhammed Robiu Adebayo (Baba Loworo); Mudeer, Markaz Nurul-Islam, Sheikh Daud Alfanla AbdulMajeed; and Grand Mufti, Conference of Islamic Organizations (CIO), Sheikh Dhikrullah Shafi’i.

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