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Shaping Scholars: Inside MSSNUI’s Drive for Academic Excellence with Abeeb Olawuwo

This interview features Abeeb Olawuwo, the current Director of Studies, Muslim Students' Society of Nigeria, University of Ibadan (MSSNUI). He delves into the directorate's activities in the first semester, and its plans for the second semester. The DoS also shares insights into the impact of these programmes, as well as the challenges facing the directorate.

How will you describe your experience so far, as the DoS of MSSNUI?

Alhamdulillah.
The experience has been wonderful so far.
I must say that it’s not as easy as it might seem from the outside. The workload is pretty demanding, but I see it as an opportunity to build myself for the future, while also serving Allah.

The Directorate organises various tutorials. What do these tutorials aim to achieve?

The aim of our tutorials is to help Muslim students become better academically. The tutorials are there to help Muslim students reach their potential, increase the number of Muslim students on first class CGPA, help those struggling academically thrive, and reduce the number of Muslim students on low CGPA to the barest minimum.

Aside from the tutorials, what were the other programmes you organised for students last semester?

The major programme we organised for students was the Grand Award of Academic Excellence event, where Muslim students on first class CGPA were awarded.

Aside from that and tutorials, the Directorate of Studies also provided scholarship updates and mentorship programmes for Muslim students.

Did you get any feedback (positive or negative) about those programmes?

Yes. We did get feedback, mostly positive and some people gave us tips on how we can improve the way the programmes were organised.

What impacts did the programmes have on students?

Starting with the Grand Award of Academic Excellence event, the event was designed to motivate freshers to aim for a first class CGPA in their journey in the university of Ibadan. The programme however motivates not only fresh students, but also non-freshmen. Many Muslim students have now included making it to the scholars’ list at the end of the session as one of their motivations for striving for academic excellence.

I remember a 200-level student telling me that it was a moment he had been preparing so hard for, to be called upon that stage, and recognized for his excellence.

The scholarship updates as well have assisted a lot of Muslim students financially. Due to this information, Muslim students become beneficiaries of scholarship programmes that sponsor their tuition in the university, and also cater for their wellbeing as students.

What are the programmes you have planned for students in the second semester?

For the second semester, we will continue with our tutorials, in which we will explore means to improve their efficiencies, and continue to share scholarship updates with the Muslim students.

The other event we have for the second semester is the Paper and Powerpoint Presentation event, which aims to introduce Muslim students in their first and second year to research writing, and to train them on public speaking and presentations.

The second semester tutorials, are they any different from the ones of the first semester?

No, they are not different. What changes is just the courses that will be treated in each semester.

How do you hope to achieve the programme in the second semester?

We pray that Allah grant us success.

Work has been ongoing on the programmes we have for the second semester.

And as always, Allah’s aid is sought. With the support of members of the Academic Committee, the support of the Central Executive Council, guidance from our predecessors, and the cooperation of the Muslim students who will be the participants of our programmes, the programmes will be impactful, bi IdhniLlah.

What are the challenges facing the directorate?

One of the major challenges we are facing in the Directorate is finances. We need money to actualize some of our visions for the Muslim students. Our donors are sincerely trying, may Allah continue to bless them. We will appreciate more financial support from people who are able to.

The academic calendar being operated in the school is also a big challenge. It reduces the amount of time we have to plan our programs, it reduces the amount of time we have to prepare students for CAs and exams.

These are the two major challenges I can talk about at the moment.