*As ex-Lagos Deputy Governor Sinatu Ojikutu becomes Iya Adini
The Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Sunday assured of his commitment to see to the completion of the proposed Muhammad Kamaldeen University, Ogidi, Ilorin, in Kwara State.
He said the project, which was the brainchild of the founder of Ansarul Islam Society of Nigeria, Late Sheik Muhammad Kamaldeen Habeebullahi Al-Adabiy, was precious to him and he would do all he could to bring the dream of the revered Islamic scholar to fruition soon.
Saraki stated this in Ilorin on Sunday after his installation as Baba Adini of Ansarul Islam Society of Nigeria at an event in commemoration of the 49th Delegates’ Conference and 75th anniversary of the Islamic organisation.
Saraki, who eulogised the vision of the late founder, said the project was one of the legacies he left behind.
The Senate President however urged religious groups to continue to support the Federal Government in providing sound education for the youths in Nigeria. He said religious groups pioneered the funding, establishment and nurturing of educational institutions from pre-colonial periods.
Saraki said it had become obvious that government alone could not run the vital sector successfully and that the deep involvement of religious groups was necessary.
He said, “Religious groups like Ansarul Islam have critical role to play in revamping the education sector. In fact you have more experience than government at all levels in the operation of educational establishments and you need to intensify your involvement in this all-important sector.
“All is not well with our education sector. Most of the problems we have now in the running of the private and public sectors can be traced to the decay in the education of our children. There is the talk of disconnect between the classrooms and the industries. We also see that our public schools which produced graduates that could compete with their colleagues across the world are no longer being reckoned with in world rating. We spend so much on education of Nigerian youths in foreign schools. Our religious societies should come to the aid of government,” he said.
He said the Senate would review laws relating to the education sector and ensure that they were made to measure up to world standard while adding that the plan by the legislature to enact laws that would make the private sector get involved in funding of infrastructure so as to free funds for important social services like education.
The Senate President, while acknowledging that schools under Ansarul Islam had produced many scholars, advised that the society should continue to ensure that Muslim clerics preach peace, unity, tolerance and spread the gospel of development.
Saraki further promised that he would do all within his powers to ensure that the proposed Kamalud-deen University, which is one of the cherished legacies of the renowned founder of the society, Sheikh Habeebulahi Al-Adabiy, gets the license for operation by the National University Commission ( NUC).
Also turbaned at the ceremony witnessed by dignitaries including Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, was the former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Alhaja Sinatu Aderoju Ojikutu who became the Iya Adinni of the society.
In his sermon, the National Ansarul Islam Society of Nigeria, Sheik Abdulmumin Ayara, said the university was conceived when it was not known it would take so much time to realize it. He said funding remained a major factor and urged well-meaning Muslims to support the project.
