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Interview: Al-Ansar Foundation Bridges the Gap for Students in Need — Fawaz Adeyemi

In this interview, Fawaz Adeyemi, Chairman of Al-Ansar Foundation, Muslim Students' Society of Nigeria, University of Ibadan (MSSNUI), shares insights into the foundation's activities, goals, and strategies for supporting underprivileged students on campus.

What role does Al-Ansar Foundation play in supporting underprivileged students within MSSNUI?

Al-Ansar Foundation operates as a committee within the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, University of Ibadan Branch. It is dedicated to supporting underprivileged students and providing financial aid to Muslim students on campus, particularly those facing financial hardships. The foundation plays a vital role in bridging the gap for students in need, ensuring they have access to essential resources for their academic journey.

Some of the foundation’s key activities include the payment of school fees for indigent students, distribution of exam packages, monthly stipends, empowerment programmes, among others. All these are devoted to ensuring that indigent and less privileged students see themselves as full members of the academic community and have access to the basic requirements for university life.

What are your key goals for Al-Ansar Foundation this term, and how will you achieve them sustainably?

We plan, but Allah is the best of planners.

As chairman, I have developed a blueprint for this term, and it includes the following goals:

i. Improving existing welfare packages (e.g., school fees support, stipends, exam packages)

ii. Organising a Self-Sustainability Seminar

iii. Increasing membership

iv. Expanding our donor base

v. Conducting periodic hall visitations

Achieving these and more will be by Allah’s help, and then, through the collective effort of the committee.

What specific challenges did Al-Ansar face during the previous tenure, and what strategies do you propose to address them?

Some of the challenges included:

i. Limited funding

ii. Low membership

iii. Low commitment from members

Our current administration is already implementing strategies to address these issues, and we are seeing significant improvement in all areas. AlhamduliLlah.

How do you plan to engage new students and enhance membership?

We plan to engage new students through hall visitations and one-on-one interactions with existing members.

What strategies do you employ to ensure that both academic commitments and spiritual life are prioritized for yourself and your members while actively participating in the foundation?

Na'am, that is the primary reason we are on earth and in school. We try as much as possible to remind and encourage ourselves to be proactive, always keeping in mind that we must excel both academically and spiritually.

How would you define success at the end of your tenure as chairman of Al-Ansar Foundation?

Ahhh, success can be measured in many ways:

i. Having committed and dedicated members;

ii. Achieving all the laid-out plans;

iii. Seeing personal development in myself and the members;

iv. Looking back to find that what we’ve left behind is in good condition.

What advice would you give to students balancing serving Allah's cause with academic responsibilities?

They should not be afraid at all, as many have gone through the storm and come out unscathed. Studies have shown that having responsibilities helps you manage your time better and work more efficiently. It's also essential to develop yourself mentally and intellectually by taking up responsibilities, academics alone won’t provide that growth.