Lagos UIMGA retools for better service delivery

As part of effort to promote religious value through welfare programmes, the alumni of University of Ibadan Muslim Graduate (UIMGA) has lunched a new branch in Lagos.
During UIMGA reunion, The President of the association, Dr. Saka Adewumi, said the mission of the association is to promote ideal Islamic values as contained in the glorious Qur’an and the hadith amongst people, nations and continents through intellectual and welfare programmes that will improve the status of members all over the world.

He stated that the association has seven aims and objectives which includes creating a forum for Muslims who passed through the premier university to interact, assist Muslim students either as a body or individual with a view to achieve their primary aim and network with other Muslim organizations for the promotion of Islamic ideals among brothers and sister in Islam.

He said the association has assisted Muslim students in various universities across the country, a multipurpose hall is under construction in Ibadan and two acres of land has been donated by a member for the construction of a befitting Muslim burial ground.

“UIMGA since 2005 has assisted 55 undergraduates and eight postgraduate students benefited from the association scholarship and financial assistance. We also support PHD candidates in collaboration with Conference of all Muslims Organisation of Nigeria (CANON),” he said.

Alhaji Lukman Obileye during is presentation running an effective Muslim Alumni Association said the greatest strength of a Muslim alumni association is in the commitment of its core membership. Which is a very difficult job in view of the voluntary nature of membership.

“This is followed in importance by the ability of the drivers to leverage the university brand and the collective skill, intellect and resources of its membership”
He advised, the group to provide strategic leadership, set strategic direction, organise programmes and projects, Ensure resources are available to vision, plan, execute and review.

A speaker at the event, Alhaji Saka Matemilola, noted that Muslims need to build on human capacity to have strong influence on Nigeria political, economic and social uses.Noting that Muslims are heavily disadvantage at the education and professionals level, he said, “when we look at the Number of faith based private universities in Nigeria and Network of Muslim professionals across various industries it relatively low. Few businesses are owned by Muslim groups and number of Muslim academia and especially professors in the education sector is minimal.”

He urged UIMGA to focus more on this areas, creating network of professionals, organize capacity building events, share information about opportunities, providing of scholarships for indigent students, organize tutorials by higher level undergraduates for juniors, organize capacity building events for undergraduates, such as leadership training, career fair, mentorship program for undergraduates, encourage students to get involved in students union and governance at all levels
and set up structure for regular engagement with UI Muslim community on issues on campus.