BISIRIYU OLAOYE

Ahmadiyyat Muslim Jama’at Nigeria will soon join league of religious organizations in Nigeria that own universities as it has proposed to establish a university in Osun State.

Already, 250 hectares of land have been acquired for the establishment of the tertiary institution to be called International University of Technology, Ikirun.

The re-elected National Secretary, Publications/Media Relations of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria, Alhaji Qosim Akinreti, disclosed this to Daily Champion last weekend in Lagos shortly after the annual Post-Ramadan Get-together the Islamic group organized for its new and re-elected national officers at the Jama’at headquarters Ojokoro along Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

Alhaji Akinreti said the proposal for the establishment of the university is already with the National Universities Commission (NUC) for approval.

He further said the Jama’at would use the opportunity of its forthcoming International Conference (Jalsa Salana) in London to inform other member countries and the whole world about the proposed university for those who will be interested to lecture there when it takes off.

According to him, the aim of establishing the University of Technology is to, among others, contribute to the technological advancement in the country and the whole world as a whole.

“Showcasing the International University of Technology is the building block of the country like Nigeria. With the establishment of this university, we will, among others, be contributing to the advancement of technology in the country and this will go a long way in making the products of the tertiary institution to be self employed”, Akinreti stated.

He further stated that his department will focus on publication of series of historical documents about the Jama’at since 1916 and showcase other things like the exhibition of the Holy Qur’an and Hadith.

Stating that the Holy Qur’an is being translated in various local languages by the organization, Akinreti disclosed that the Qur’an translated in Etsako language in Edo State will be ready for launch this year.

“The translation of the Holy Qur’an into Tiv language is also one of our priorities. This has gone to London for review and it will be launched in September this year. Also, the historical documents of the Jama’at and other Islamic Literatures will be launched in September.

“We will also embark on publication of Pictorial Almanac that will feature the Ahmadiyya’s contributions to education, health, agriculture, among other various sectors of the economy. We are also working on other Special Publications”, he added.

Akinreti, who said the Jama’at will maintain its cordial relationship with the media by involving them in its various programmes of activities at home and abroad, urged the media to continue partnering with the organization in its strive to propagate Islam through radio, television, newspapers and magazines and other platforms of communication.

Also speaking with Daily Champion on education, the National Education Secretary of Ahmadiyya, Brother Oladoja Tajudeen, said the scrapping of the Post-UTME by the Federal Government was in order, adding that admission should be made very simple to seekers.

Brother Oladoja attributed inadequate funding and motivation to the bane of education in the country, stating that the stakeholders in education sector should “make our graduates employable”.

“Another problem facing education is value system. People do not study hard nowadays; they just study to pass exams and they just study to acquire theoretical skills. Material wealth is not the driver of what we do”, Brother Oladoja further stated.