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Scholars Advise UI Freshers on Academic Excellence and Purpose

Fresh students of the University of Ibadan have been urged to pursue academic excellence through diligence, reliance on Allah, good character, and a commitment to making meaningful impact beyond the classroom.

The charge came at the Muslim Students' Society of Nigeria, University of Ibadan (MSSNUI) Academic Symposium, held on Saturday, 7th March 2026, at the Prof. Musa Oladipupo Abdul Civic Centre, UI Central Mosque, Ibadan.

Abdullah Ishola Hammed, the Best Graduating Student of the Faculty of Technology, encouraged freshers to take up leadership roles, build meaningful connections, and become part of the force providing solutions to societal problems.

He also urged them to carry their fellow Muslims along. "What I carry along with me is this: if I am at the top of my class and my Muslim brothers are failing, I think I have failed as a Muslim. We are meant to carry each other along. Fall in love with the process," he said.

Speaking on the theme, "Beyond the Gown," Ahmad Adewale Tajudeen, a first-class graduate of Arabic and Islamic Studies, explained the concepts of Qadar and Tawakkul, stressing that academic success ultimately comes by the will of Allah while students are expected to put in the required effort.

"Qadar is to believe that no amount of energy a person channels towards achieving a first-class honour will make it happen unless Allah wills it. Tawakkul, on the other hand, is putting in the required effort," he said.

He noted that many students receive mentorship, study diligently, and remain committed to their goals but still do not graduate with a first class, urging students to do their best and leave the outcome to Allah.

Tajudeen also advised students not to see their courses as limitations but to seek opportunities beyond their disciplines.

He reminded students of the Prophet's saying that a person's deeds continue after death through continuous charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for them.

The Chairman of the University of Ibadan Muslim Community Student Advisory Committee, Professor Bolatito Lanre-Abass, urged the freshers to combine academic excellence with good morals.

"Do not have the impression it's only academics that will take you places. You have to combine it with your morals. By the time you combine it with your morals, you will be stronger as a student in UI. Take your academics seriously, and this is the right time to start," she said.

Prof. Lanre-Abass advised students to attend classes consistently, fulfil their academic responsibilities promptly, and seek clarification whenever they encountered difficulties, noting that course advisers remained the best people to approach with academic questions.

She also cautioned students against visiting a lecturer's office alone or submitting assignments after deadlines, warning that such actions could attract unnecessary attention and lead to victimisation.

The symposium also featured a panel discussion with the BGS of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, a first-class law graduate, and a 200-level student of the Faculty of Computing who completed his first year with a CGPA of 4.94/5.00, as they shared their academic experiences and insights with the freshers.