*Photo L-R: Special Guest of Honour, and Pro-Chancellor, Summit University, Offa, Alhaji Rafiu Ebiti, MAJMA Secretary General (right), Prof. Saheed Ahmad Rufai, presenting certificate to one of the graduands, on Sunday*
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Summitt University, Offa, Kwara State, Alhaji Rafiu Ebiti, has applauded the strides of MAJMA’ Training and Research Institute.
He gave the commendation at the graduation ceremony of the institute, in Ikeja, Lagos State capital, on Sunday.
MAJMA’ Training and Research, is a world-class higher training and research service provider covering both post-secondary and postgraduate levels.
The academy was established in 2008 as an empowerment-focussed training outfit committed to professional training on Arabic-English-Arabic translation and interpreting.
The MAJMA’ enjoys a partner status with the Association of Arab Universities, based in Amman, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan through the instrumentality of a Memorandum of Understanding under the leadership of the Secretary-General of the body, Prof. Dr. Amr Ezzat Salama.
Alhaji Ebiti who was the Special Guest of Honour at the graduation in Lagos said Majma was making giant strides.
He congratulated the graduands and charged them to keep striving for excellence.
A former Dean, Faculty of Education, University of Lagos, Prof. Muritala Bidmos in his lecture at the ceremony made case for the floating of modern Arabic printing press in Nigeria, so as to, among other benefits, create jobs for the language’s experts.
The former Chief Imam of UNILAG Muslim community said “for example, if you have a printing press that can publish books, newspapers in Arabic that is published daily, the experts in this area would be very glad with such a venture, and would be productively engaged, as well as empowered.”
Prof Bidmos stated in order to catch up with the Arabic language values, stakeholders should explore various aspects of the language, rhetorics, syntax, morphology, among others.
Speaking to newsmen at the event, a former Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Muiz Banire, said what the institute needed to do better was to improve its technology and empowerment.
Dr Banire reiterated that it was not only about training, but also about creating opportunities for the graduands, such as employment, adding that if this feat is attained, every prospective student would desire to attend Majma. This, he maintained, should be the target of the institute.
The former Lagos Commissioner asserted that there are opportunities for graduates if they are serious-minded, saying that there are many Muslims still striving and struggling to study Arabic.
He stressed that “If they are serious, they will design their syllabus, use technology, and from there, they can float their institute…it’s about setting direction for themselves”.
The Distinguished Guest at the ceremony, Chief Tunde Fanimokun charged the initiators and administrators of Majma to sustain the good works they are doing. He pledged collaboration and using all resources available in his establishments, in ensuring that the institute achieves its set goals.
While speaking at event, the Secretary-General, Association of Arab Universities, Prof. Ezzat Salama, commended MAJMA’s for its efforts.
He equally lauded the institute’s
Secretary-General, Prof. Saheed Ahmad Rufai, on the efforts to expand the scope of learning and understanding the Quran at MAJMA’.
Salama urged the graduands to adhere to the values and teachings of the Quran and equip themselves with Islamic knowledge, science and technology to advance their skills, using digital instruments, including Artificial Intelligence.
The academic disclosed that his association seeks for collaboration with the academic institutions in Nigeria on Islamic knowledge, Arabic language, capacity building, academic programme exchange and training in Arab Universities.
Not less than 40 students graduated with Diploma and Postgraduate Awards in Arabic and Sharia’ah studies – for the 2023 and 2024 session.
The ceremony was attended by Prof. Tajudeen Gbadamosi, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, represented by his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Muhammad Kabir Saba, Baba Adinni of Lagos, Alhaji Sikiru Alabi-Macfoy, Alhaji YKO Abdul Kareem of The Companion, an association of Muslim men in business and the professions, National President of University of Lagos Muslim Alumni UMA, Dr Abdul Mumuni Alao, the Vice Chancellor, Summit University, Offa, Prof. Musa Aibinu, the Iya Suna of Lagos, Alhaja Muinat Alake Sopeyin, the Managing Director of Lotus Capital, Alhaja Kafilah Araoye, among others.