THE University of Lagos Muslim Alumni (UMA) has called on government at all levels to redouble efforts and seek innovative solutions to the myriad of challenges facing the country, urging Nigerians not to give up on the Nigeria project.
The UMA president, Alhaji Shuaib Salisu, made the call at association’s 32nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) held last weekend at the university’s Islamic Centre Hall in Akoka.
Salisu said the elite, as opinion moulders, should ensure the right ambience for political participation, while also praising youths for showing courage in the face of daunting challenges that have undermined their potentials.
Salisu gave the charge while addressing members of the association during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at the Islamic Centre Hall, University of Lagos.
The event was also used to honour the 32 Muslim students who shined at the university’s recent convocation ceremony by emerging with first-class honours and coming up with the best PhD thesis for their academic achievements.
Addressing the meeting, Salisu said: “Our dear nation is confronted with challenges of immense proportion, notably insecurity, threats to our national unity and cohesiveness, and economic strains.
“These challenges, regrettably, are mutually reinforcing with one aggravating the other and thus undermining the efforts to address them. While we call on government at all levels redouble efforts and seek innovative solutions, we urge Nigerians not to give up on the Nigeria project.”
He appealed to all stakeholders to come together and work towards “the Nigeria of our aspiration,” adding that “we are stronger together as a united, prosperous and just country that works for, and is fair to all, irrespective of tribe, creed or geographical location.”
Salisu said the honour for the outstanding graduates was meant to inspire others and encourage the honorees to remain the best in their future endeavours.
He said the exceptional students and their colleagues who also graduated from the university would be inducted as UMA members.
Salisu said beyond the ceremonies, the UMA recognised the need to prepare and equip the new graduates for the opportunities and challenges ahead.
He added that with the token of the appreciation, the graduates were also challenged for even greater accomplishments.
The vice chancellor of the university, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe; his predecessor, Professor Rahaman Bello; a professor of Economics and Director, Institute of Nigeria/China Development Studies, Muibi Olufemi Saibu and the Country Human Resources Director of Nestle Plc, Mr Shakiru Lawal, urged students and graduates to match academic achievement with career success.
The Director, Institute of Nigeria/China Development Studies, Professor Muibi Olufemi Saibu, said a lot of opportunities abound in academics for those who might want to take up a career in lecturing.
He stated that through publication of their researches, they would be sought after by public and private organisations, once they have been able to distinguish themselves in their areas of specialisation.
A former vice chancellor of the university, Professor Rahaman Bello, urged the young members of the UMA who wanted to go into academics to look for a mentor, saying no matter how good they are, without a mentor, they could get stuck in their academic pursuits.
Highlights of the event included the unveiling of new logo of the association, free health checks for members and the induction of the new members. The unveiling was done by the VC, Professor Ogundipe. The VC and his predecessor, Professor Abdurrahman Bello, were also decorated with the new crest of the association.
According to Professor Rahaman Bello, the academia offers several means of making legitimate money and there is no law that says that as an academic, one cannot make money.
Speaking on networking for career success, the Country Human Resources Director of Nestle Plc, Mr Shakiru Lawal, urged the honorees to explore the opportunity of networking in order to succeed in their chosen careers.
“Your network is your net worth. Don’t limit your networking to your field,” he said.
To be successful, he said, one must have emotional intelligence and there is the need for everyone to understand that things may not turn out the way one plans. He said that is the reason everyone must build resilience, the ability to bounce back.
In his remarks, the university’s vice chancellor, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, who commended the UMA for being a responsible alumni association, emphasised the gains of networking, saying that is the way to go, irrespective of academic success.
He added that lectures such as networking must be extended to undergraduate students, whom he described as more technology savvy than the old students.
A former chairman of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), and erstwhile National Legal Adviser of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Muiz Banire, charged the UMA to intensify efforts on garnering enough funds to execute its projects.
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