The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero and Emir of Ilorin, Alh Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, are some of the dignitaries expected to grace commissioning of the Muhammad Kamalud-deen University (MKU), Oloje-Ogidi, Ilorin slated for Saturday.
Former senate president, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki (the Baba Adini of Ansarul Islam Society of Nigeria) and Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu (the Iya Adini of Ansarul Islam Society) are also expected to attend the event.
Muhammad Kamalud-deen University, established by the Ansarul Society of Nigeria, received accreditation from the National University Commission (NUC) on June 9, 2023.
The pro-chancellor, Prof. Shuaib AbdulRaheem who addressed newsmen yesterday on preparations for the event, described the institution as a university with a difference as it would combine spirituality with sociality so that its products could benefit from this world and in the hereafter.
Extolling the virtues of the founder of Ansarul Islam Society of Nigeria, the late Sheikh Muhammed Kamalud- deen Al- Adabiyy, the pro- chancellor said: “As a visionary leader, Muhammad Kamalud-deen spearheaded the integration of Western education into his Arabic and Islamic schools, thus modernizing and standardizing Arabic education in Nigeria.
“Despite opposition, he championed the teaching of English and introduced innovative tools like blackboards, tables and chairs. His steadfast pursuit of his social reforms, spiced by combining Arabic and Western education, has had a lasting impact, producing highly educated Muslims significant social standing.”
AbdulRaheem, who was flanked by the vice chancellor, Prof. Rasheed Jimoh and chairman of the Central Planning Committee, Engr Ahmad Ibrahim, recalled that seven decades after the establishment of Ansarul Islam Society of Nigeria, and four decades following the establishment of Al-Azhar Institute, Sheikh Kamalud-deen envisioned the need for a university. In honour of his legacy, his disciples and Ansarul Islam members decided to establish Muhammad Kamalud-deen University.
“This endeavour marks the culmination of the Sheikh’s contributions to over 200 primary schools across West Africa, approximately 70 government- aided secondary schools, and numerous traditional Islamic schools. In support of the Al- university, Al- Azhar authorities in Cairo have pledged to send qualified lecturers to the Faculty of of Arts, Social Sciences, and Education, specifically, to the Arabic and Islamic Studies’ department.
The pro-chancellor disclosed that following a resource verification exercise on October 2, 2023, the university was approved to commence 15 programmes for the 2023/2024 academic session.
