The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat in Nigeria is set to establish a university in Ikirun and a campus in Agbonbiti, Ile-Ife, both in Osun State, Southwest Nigeria.
It is named Minaret International University (MIU).
Through this project, the religious group hopes to combine the Islamic and western education models. It would be open to Nigerians and foreigners.
Speaking during the foundation laying ceremony and unveiling of Minaret International University (MIU), the Amir (Head) Ahmadiyya Nigeria, Alhaji Alatoye Folorunso Azeez, said the organisation was quite methodical in approach to educational pursuits for better understanding of the religion of Islam, the humanities, science and deep knowledge of the Holy Quran.
Azeez said, “Against this background, we are fully prepared and ready to face the challenges of faith-based higher education at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels with the establishment of the Minaret International University in Ikirun and another campus in Agbonbiti, Ile-Ife, both in Osun State.”
He recalled that the organisation first forayed into secondary education, followed in the 1950s and 1970 across the country with a special programme called, ‘The Nusran Jehan Scheme’ (Africa Leap Forward Project).
“Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone and the Gambia profited immensely from this scheme. In Nigeria, we have over 20 secondary schools in Lagos, Ibadan, Owode, Ogbagi Akoko, Onda, Ara, Umaisha and Kano. The primary school was the feeder for the secondary educational institutions for the next generation of elite in Nigeria.
“Within this period, a wholly Islamic Missionary Training College, Jamia Mubashireen, was established in Ilaro along Owode road in 1976. Two schools for memorisation of the Holy Quran for boys and girls with 9 to 13 years as well as a Science College, which will metamorphose into a technical college any moment from now, were established in Ilaro too.”
Azeez said the journey for the MIU began in 2016, following resolution at the Shoora (Annual Consultative meeting of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat), Nigeria, led by the immediate past Amir (Head) of the global Islamic organisation, Professor Mashuud Adenrele Fasola.
“The international Shoora proposal came from the Ibadan circuit of the Jamaat. Once adopted, it was presented to the Worldwide head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Masroo Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih, V, at a Mulaqat – meeting by the Nigerian delegation to the annual Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, United Kingdom, Jalsa (Islamic Conference) with the spiritual leader, in London.”
He added that the mission of the university is to establish a world-class tertiary institution for the intellectual and manpower development of human resources for sustainable socioeconomic development nationally, regionally and internationally.
“The University will be committed to giving opportunity to all qualified candidates at home and abroad on the basis of merit and equity, through a work-study methodology, and without any sectarian or racial discrimination,” Azeez added.
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