MSSN harps on intellectual capacity building of students

Winners emerge at quiz competition

Towards improving the intellectual capacity of secondary school students, the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State Area Unit organised an intellectual quiz competition with the theme, “Quality Education: Parameters, Drawbacks and Intervention”.

At the maiden edition of LIQC, Majisa Okunade from Ansar-Ud-Deen High School, Surulere and Moosa Akintunde, a student of MIMS Comprehensive College, Bajulaye, Shomolu emerged champions in the senior and junior categories.

Muhammad Ajuwon, from Agidingbi Senior Secondary School, Ikeja, and Muhammad Isu, another student of MIMS Comprehensive College, Bajulaye, Shomolu, were the first and second runner-up in the senior category.

The junior category finalists were Khawlah Bello, from Excelsior Islamic Schools, Satellite Town, Amuwo Odofin (first runner-up) and Nimotallah Ibrahim, Odumola Junior Secondary School, Epe (second runner-up).

The winners in both categories smiled home with N200,000 each, while the first runners-up received N140,000 each, and the second runners-up went home with N100,000 each.

Speaking during the competition, the Amir of the MSSN Lagos State Area Unit, Mallam Miftahudeen Thanni, lamented the continuing decline in quality education in Nigeria.

“Undoubtedly, quality education has eluded our great nation, Nigeria. Quality and free education is almost made impossible or is now a tale of the past as various setbacks have been witnessed in the sector over the years. It is an eyesore that the quality of education has totally dropped,” Thanni said.

He added that students’ attitude to learning is worrisome and there is a decline in available facilities for learning to create an enabling environment for the future leaders.

“Teachers’ salaries can not take them home any longer compared to the robust and juicy packages lawmakers and other office holders at all levels of government earn. This is a cheating and abysmal fact we have to contend with in our country.”

He urged the Nigerian government to prioritise teachers’ welfare.
“I want to unequivocally challenge the government that they can do better to improve the welfare of teachers. There is a need to take the educational sector to a higher level and make teachers more comfortable to be able to build and nurture these students. It is a fact that no nation grows above its teachers. If teachers are poor, the standard of education will be poor and vice versa. At this juncture,

“Countries like Finland, Norway, Denmark, Germany to mention a few have over the years shown more commitment to teachers’ welfare, educational facilities and students’ wellbeing. These account for the level of success recorded in these climes.”

The Chairman of the event, Alhaji Saheed Adedayo Amzat, MD/CEO Zedcrest Capitals, said he was honoured to be in attendance, adding that it isn’t surprising that the quiz competition was organised by the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State Area Unit.

While announcing his intention to double the prize money in all categories, Alhaji Amzat noted that MSSN Lagos has been at the forefront of championing academic excellence over the decades.
“I am happy to be a part of this,” he stated.

The CEO of a Lagos-based proprietary and capital management firm also decried the state of education in the country, noting quality education is a luxury in Nigeria.

“Quality education is a necessity in our modern age. This is because it opens the door to opportunities and innovations. More importantly, it makes Nigerians competitive in the global market. Unfortunately, it is a luxury in our country. In 2017, the World Economic Forum ranked Nigeria 120th of 136 Countries with regards to the quality of primary education. Similarly, over 10 million Nigerian children of primary school age were not enrolled in school in 2019. This is the highest number of out-of-school children globally. This is indeed a setback to our progress as a nation.

“We all are aware the students of federal tertiary institutions have been at home for over 100 days now, since February. How did we get here as a Nation? The overall state of education and substandard stemming from it have severe implications on living standards, access to jobs, and economic growth,” he said.

The Head, Organising Committee, LIQC, Mr Kamaldeen Abiona, thanked Allah for the success of this year’s intellectual quiz with the theme, “Quality Education: Parameters, Drawbacks and Intervention”, saying that it’s just the beginning, and it won’t be the last.

Explaining details of the stages involved in the competition, the Head, Organising Committee said, the edition started with preliminaries across the Area Councils, which were held on November 20, 2021.

“This took place in 38 of the 45 Area Councils with over 500 participants. Best 3 participants from each Area Council moved to the second round (Zonal Stage). At this stage, the best 10 from each category emerged. This was held on January 29, 2022.

“The best 10 in each category were invited to a boot camp held between May 6 and 8 to drill them on the subjects of focus and at the same time organise a semi final for them. At the end, 7 out of the 10 participants in each category qualified for the final. And today, Saturday, the 7 from each category contested to produce a winner we are celebrating,” he noted.

Speaking further, Mr. Abiona revealed that the contestants were tested on general and departmental subjects at the preliminary stage, adding that, ” During the semi final to the final, the subjects were reduced to only general subjects so as to put all participants on the same level.

“The general subjects comprised Mathematics, English, Islamic Studies and Current Affairs. The departmental subjects were Physics and Chemistry for Science students, Account and Commerce for Social Science students, and Literature-in-English and Government for Art students.”