Ebiti, others honoured as Crescent University celebrates 13th founder’s day

Integrity in leadership as a moral compass for societal development was the centre of discourse at the recently held 13th Founder’s Day Lecture of Crescent University in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The occasion was also used to honour four distinguished Nigerians who have been of help to the society and humanity. One of the awardees at the occasion was the Managing Director of Istabaraqim Nigeria Limited, Alhaji Rafiu Ebiti, whose Ibeji Foundation, an NGO founded in memory of his father in 2010, has been directly involved in the education of several indigent students at Crescent University.

The Foundation has provided immense opportunity for the empowerment and entrepreneurial development of Muslim youths, access to quality education, research and vocation, enormous contributions to the promotion of Islam and economic and social welfare of anyone that Ebiti has been opportune to meet.

The occasion, which also coincided with the 85th birthday celebration of the school’s founder and eminent jurist, Prince Bola Ajibola, SAN, paraded the who is who in Nigeria.

In his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of Crescent University, Professor Akeem Gbajabiamila, stressed the importance of the 13th Founders Day anniversary to the school, noting that it was a major scale for the university. “At the start of 2018, we had about 12 programmes that were deemed for accreditation. Indeed, by the end of the year and the start of this year, we are very proud to announce that all our programmes scored 100 per cent, and we got accreditation for all. This is an important recognition of the quality of our university at the very best.”

Delivering the Founder Day’s Lecture themed: Integrity in Leadership: A Moral Compass for Societal Development, Professor of Law, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, Professor Mashood Baderin, stressed the need to build human capacity in the drive for development in all spheres.

According to Baderin: “Government must be about integrity if they want to bring about development. Because, development is about people, and that is the only criterion for measuring its ultimate success or failure, it is what is it does to enhance the lives of individual human beings.

“In my constituted opinion, for Nigeria and indeed Africa, effective societal development must reflect societal development, must reflect an actual human development which facilitates freedom and opportunities for ordinary people, leading to actual improvement in their general wellbeing. Human development is about empowering ordinary people to decide who to be, what to be, and how to enjoy an adequate standard of living as enhanced by the concept of individual and collective capabilities. What people can do, and what they can do now, are necessary equipment for realising a path to follow.

Speaking further, the erudite scholar said: “In advancing human development, I propose that the following germane areas must be prioritised to enhance effective societal development in most African countries, including Nigeria. Namely- promoting and ensuring respect for human dignity, pushing human’s right and enablement, advancing good and functional public education and capacity building for all, promoting and ensuring human security.”

Eulogising Alhaji Ebiti, the University’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Idris Katib, described him as a man of sterling character. “He is a man of sterling character who sees life as an opportunity to seek the pleasure of Allah and prepare well for the life hereafter, protect the weak and advance the cause of Islam and humanity to the best of his ability. He is man naturally endowed with the spirit of altruism, fellowship, co-operation, empathy and regards for others.

“He is a hardworking individual that gives a hundred and one percent to whatever course he believes in. He strives to encourage the progress of others and frequently contributes to the development of his community. A philanthropist, who is well-known and appreciated in the Muslim communities where he seeks to spread the knowledge and practice of Islam and foster the spirit of the Islamic brotherhood.”

Alhaji Ebiti, in a brief chat with The Guardian, said he was overwhelmed by this recognition “To say that on a daily basis you can make a difference, well, you can. One act of kindness a day can do it. You have nothing until you can affect your immediate environment with the little Allah has given you. I derive joy in giving back in any way I can, and that is what has kept me going. I’ll enjoin everyone to render a helping hand to all the needy out there, only then can the world be a better place. And I am grateful to this University for counting me thus worthy of this prestigious award.”

In same vein, the wife of the award recipient, Alhaja Rafiat Ebiti said: “I thank Almighty Allah for today, for his mercies over my husband, I thank the University for the honour bestowed on him today, may Allah continue to give him strength, good health and prosperity to be able to continue to help the needy. And I am very proud of him because he is a very compassionate person, so kind hearted, and someone that skips food to take care of the needy.”

Old friends of Alhaji Ebiti, Messrs Y.K.O Abdulkareem and Mobolaji Abdulfatai, simply described their friend of over 30 years as deserving of the award a million times, describing him as a philanthropist and man of the people.

Kamorudeen Kehinde and Abdulsalam Ibrahim, two students among several others whose education is being sponsored in Crescent University, courtesy of Ibeji Foundation, also thanked Alhaji Ebiti for his kind gesture.

After graduation from the popular University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University Ife, Nigeria), Ebiti bagged his fellowship of the prestigious Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) in 1992. He is a seasoned accountant, administrator and an entrepreneur of note.

Alhaji Ebiti belongs to many organisations and has won many meritorious awards. He is a founding member and Chairman Finance and Business Committee of the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) the umbrella organisation of all Muslims in the South West Nigeria, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Obafemi Awolowo University of Ife Muslim Graduates’ Association, Ansar-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Ebuta-Meta branch, Vice Chairman, Forum for Islamic Education and Welfare and a host of others.

Dignitaries present at the occasion include the Governor of Ogun-State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, ably represented by his Deputy, Mrs. Yewande Onanuga, the Jamb Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, Alake of Egba Land, HRM Oba Adedotun Gbadebo III, Prof. Dawud Noibi, Olowu of Owu, Oba Adegboyega Dosunmu among several others.