The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), University of Lagos (UNILAG) Branch, has marked its 2023 Da’wah Week with a series of activities heralding the week-long event.
The Da’wah Week with the theme, “The Equilibrium – Islam and Modernity” was held between March 31st and April 8th, 2023, coinciding with the holy month of Ramadan.
From a procession organised in the school premises to announce the event, other programmes were also scheduled for different days in commemoration of the 2023 Da’wah Week.
Muslim News gathered that different programmes were held for eight days to celebrate the UNILAG MSSN Da’wah Week, and they were well-attended by students from the various faculties making up the institution.
Day One: The Great Procession
The Week started with a procession which is a traditional mass movement of Muslim students to various strategic places on the campus.
Led by the Amir (President), Mallam AbdurRahman AbdulAzeez Mayowa, who rode on a horse with a special attire, the procession took place on March 31st, and the students converged at the university’s central mosque as the meeting point after Solatul Jum’ah.
The procession visited the popular Faculty of Education, Distance Learning Institute (DLI) and New Hall, among other places, with educative Islamic songs chanted to keep the movement alive.
At every stop, sensitisation messages were passed with members of the procession who displayed placards with different informative statements about Islam. The movement eventually came to an end at dusk, following which food items were distributed for iftar.
Day Two: Formal Opening
On April 1st, the Da’wah Week was formally commenced at the JF Ade Ajayi Auditorium Foyer, adjacent the university’s senate building.
A special lecture themed ‘The Equilibrium – Islam and Modernity’ was delivered by Ustaadh Ja’afar Akinfenwa, where matters concerning Muslim students were also explained.
The formal opening also featured a Qur’an Recitation Competition. Participants were drawn from all faculties in the institution.
The competition had three categories based on the juz. The first category was based on 3 ajzaa, while the second and third categories were based on 5 and 10 ajzaa respectively.
After the drilling conducted by a panel, Aisha Olanrewaju, Ruqayyah Idowu and Atukale AbdulQadir emerged as winners of the Juz 3, 5 and 10 categories respectively. They were awarded cash prizes.
Day Three: The Personality Profile
The Da’wah Week also featured a Personality Profile event on April 3rd.
The Personality Profile, according to the Muslim students’ group, “Is a gathering where a dignified personality decorated with inspiring accolades and achievements, blessed with experience, wisdom and academic prowess is invited to share personal experiences coupled with the challenges encountered in his career, and above all admonish the attendees on finding that balance between the Deen and a very occupied lifestyle.”
Professor Musa Obalola, Dean of Students’ Affairs of the University, was the guest at the session that took place at the Faculty of Science Board room.
The don who is also an alumnus of the University of Lagos spoke on his career at the session which was guided by a panel.
Day Four: Special Faculty Forum
Another major activity lined up for the Da’wah Week was the Special Faculty Forum which took place on April 5th.
The UNILAG MSSN has a tradition of holding Faculty Forum every Wednesday across the various faculties.
Muslim News gathered that the aim of the forum is to improve spirituality, moral consciousness and general academic welfare of Muslim students.
The April 5th edition was, therefore, a special event that comprised a quiz competition and Qur’an recitation, among others, apart from the regular lecture.
The programme was held simultaneously across all faculties in the institution with a unified topic: ‘Islam and the Secular World’, delivered by invited lecturers at the faculties.
Day 5: The Philanthropic Visit
The exciting week-long event was brought to a close with a visit of the Muslim students to the Kirikiri Correctional Facility in Lagos.
Described as a memorable experience, the students who took off from the university’s central mosque in their ‘Shari’ah Jet’ were conducted around some places in the facility by Imam Abdul-Rahman identified as the Muslim chaplain of the maximum correctional facility.
The congregation later met with Muslim inmates and gathered at the mosque for a brief lecture session.
An excerpt from Suratu Yusuf was examined by Mallam Mustapha Oyekanmi. His admonition inspired hope for the inmates, while also charging them with repentance and maximal utilization of their time in incarceration for good.
