By Nasiru Muhammad
Graduands of Islamic-based educational institutions should consider their qualifications as tools to rid societal ills, and an avenue to prepare moral rebirth for the younger generation.
The products of such schools must also imbibe the culture of religious uprightness thereby soliciting Allah’s favour for better life both in this world and the hereafter.
The Proprietor of Alhaji Akilu Comprehensive Islamic Secondary School, Madobi, Brig.- Gen. Halliru Akilu (rtd) made the statement at this year’s graduation of the institution.
He noted with satisfaction the significant strides being recorded by the school annually thereby boosting both Islamic and western education.
A former Director of Military Intelligence, Gen. Akilu stressed the need for all sections of the community to give a helping hand to the development of education at all levels as governments alone could not provide the needed manpower and infrastructure.
Gen. Akilu emphasised the need for robust community action to arrest the decay in the educational sector.
On his part, the Coordinating Director of the school, Amb. Bala Sani reminded the graduands that the completion of their studies at the school meant a new world awaited them, as education was a continuing process.
He advised them to utilize the knowledge acquired by educating other segments of the society.
Amb. Sani noted with delight that the development of institutions like Akilu Secondary School perfectly tallied with the resolve by the Kano State Government to reform the Almajiri education system.
Speaking earlier, the Principal, Alhaji Tijjani Idris Ahmed had traced the history of the school which was established in 1997 with an initial intake of 25 students.
The first set of WAEC and NECO graduands passed out in 2000 and 2003 respectively. According to the Principal, the school named after General Akilu’s father, has been actively devoted to both Islamic and western education.
On achievements, he explained that from inception to date, the school rolled out 1,350 graduands.
He expressed great satisfaction that more than 70 percent of their products had gained admission to various universities qualifying as doctors, lawyers, engineers and a host of other professionals.
Other achievements credited to the school included granting scholarships to three indigent students of the host local government annually up to the completion of secondary education at the rate of N242,000.00 per student, the scheme gulped N1,452,000.00 in the last six years.
So far N117,612,000.00 were expended on the 81 beneficiaries of the scholarship programme.
The Principal then commended the Kano State Government for its award of scholarships to students at the Akilu Islamic Secondary school, as well as those in other institutions in Nigeria and abroad.
Others who spoke at the occasion included the Acting Chairman of the Parents/Teachers Association, Dr Yusuf Inuwa who urged both the staff and students to rededicate themselves to the objectives and ideals for which the institution was established.
The member representing Madobi constituency in the the State House of Assembly, Hon. Sulaiman Muhtar was among the special guests who distributed prizes to deserving graduands.