Through dept of hard work, prayer, focus and determination, a 15-year-old boy, Olaoluwa Kamaldeen from Ilesa Muslim Comprehensive School has emerged as the overall winner in the national scholarship examination organised by a renowned Islamic group, Standard Bearers Islamic Organization (SB).
The scholarship examination, conducted by the National body of the Standard Bearers Islamic Organization, included Mathematics and English Language tagged ‘Career Mentorship Program’ (CMP 2023) and was conducted for over 700 Muslim students who are in SS3 across the country.
The award for Ife/Ijesha Zone which included Ife, Ilesha, Olode, Akure, and Iwo was held at Ile Ife Central mosque at Enuwa in Ile Ife on Sunday, 27th January, 2024.
Six Muslim students made the merit list of the WAEC Scholarship having scored 70 marks and above in the screening examination. They include, Olaoluwa Kamaldeen took first position with 82 marks, Shaib Mariam Fikewa took second position with 78 marks, Fadolah Abbass took third position with 76 marks, Awotide Toheeroh Ajoke and Aliu Fatimah took fourth position with 72 marks respectively and Mikail Soffiyah took fifth position with 70 marks.
The students who made the merit list were each given a cash award of 25,000 naira with an award for participation while the overall national was given a payment of 75,000 naira from SB and dignitaries at the event. Kamaldeen was also given scholarship for his upcoming JAMB examination.
11 Muslim students made the honour list of the WAEC Scholarship having scored 60 marks and above and were given each given 10,000 naira with a certificate for participation.
They are; Sarafadeen Barakat Adeshewa (66 marks), Elurele Rosheedah (66 marks), Misbaudeen Zaynab Adeola (64 marks), Elurele Rosheedah (66 marks), Adesiyan Fatiha Adesewa (64 marks), Shuaib Abubakar Sadiq (64 marks), Adeleke Yusuf (62 marks), Muazu Aishat (62 marks), Omoola Rahmat (62 marks), Abdulsalam Aisha (60 marks), Oseni Soliat (60 marks) and Luqman Roqeebah (60 marks).
Other 13 Muslim students who scored between 50 to 59 marks were given certificate of participation and a textbook of their choice to prepare them for the upcoming examination.
They are; Badru Yusuf (58 marks), Tijani Taqiyyullahi Ayomide (58 marks), Alabi Muhsinat (56 marks), Olayeni Rashidah (56 marks), Oyeniyi Mulikat (56 marks), Moshood Abdulmuiz (56 marks), Okoro Nasrullahi (56 marks), Makinde Aliyah Ajibola (54 marks), Adeyinka Abdulsamad Balogun (52 marks), Lawal Mubaraq Bayan (52 marks), Aliyu Abdulhamid (50 marks), Ayoola Aishat (50 marks) and Lukman Arqam Afolabi (50 marks).
While speaking with our correspondent, the overall national winner, Kamaldeen, expressed his happiness for the opportunity given to him by the SB.
When he was asked about how he felt when he emerged the winner, he said: “I was very happy. I thank Allah that everything came out well and I didn’t disappoint parents.”
He also advised the students at his level to be very hardworking, prayerful and seek advice in everything they do in life.
Why the SB Award?
Dr. Ibrahim Mogaji, the National CMP coordinator for SB, said the award of scholarships which started seven years ago, is designed to help the less privileged in the society, especially the indigent who find it difficult to fund the payment for their final school certificate examination.
He said: “These are ways of helping the government, helping the society to bring about development especially in the area of education. The idea emanated from the fact that we noted that most these students don’t have enough especially, the brilliant but indigent ones.
”We deemed it to contribute our own quota in this little way, so the indigent ones could also have sound education. We believe this will assist them in reaching their goals in life and thereby becoming productive members of the society.”
He urged government on the need to collaborate with willing and relevant nongovernmental organisations like the SB in their bid to help the indigent students in the pursuit of their education.
Speaking during the awards day, A Professor of Chemical Engineering at Obafemi Awolowo University, Shuaib Osunleke, while delivering his lecture on the topic: ”Unlocking the potential”, stressed the essence of attaching seriousness to everything one does in life.
He also advised the students to refrain themselves from the habit of using unnecessary excuses to destroy their plans and goals.
Also speaking, the Chief Imam of Ile-Ife, Sheik Abdul-Sami Abdul-Hameed who was represented emphasised on the necessity of Muslim children to be educated as to overcome some of the challenges and unequal treatments to which Muslims are being subjected in politics and other domains relevant to decision making in our society.
He commended the efforts of the organizers as well as those of the beneficiaries and charged them to watch everything they are doing because what we do today is an history tomorrow.
He also implored the students to see the organisers, guest lecturers, and parents as their model from whom they need to learn a lot and seek advice on the cause of their journey in life.
He also advised parents to always treat children equally especially in giving education.
