VETERAN sports journalist, Dr Mumini Alao, has emerged the new president of the University of Lagos Muslim Alumni (UMA).
Dr Alao, who takes over from Professor Khalid Adekoya, was unveiled alongside other members of the new national executive committee of the association on Sunday in Lagos at the 35th Annual General Meeting (AGM)/Congress of the body.
The public relations expert was announced as one to steer the association to for the next two years by the shurah committee headed by Professor Luqman Adams.
Alao, who was said to be on an assignment outside of Lagos State, was represented by the newly elected Deputy President III, Alhaja Muhidat Kemi Bello.
In his acceptance speech, he promised that the new executive committee was looking to revitalise the UMA and sought the support of all members in achieving the aim.
“On behalf of my new President, Dr Mumini Alao, I hereby accept his nomination to be the president of UMA for the next two years. We beseech Almighty Allah to give us the wherewithal, the ability to move the UMA to higher heights.
“The previous executives have done quite a good job and the majority of our members have been quite supportive. We also seek the support of all members of the association for this new executive. There are a number of us that have been here for a long time, and we’ve seen the evolution of the University of Lagos Muslim Alumni.
“We are looking to revitalise the association and do a lot more. We will try to ensure that these trying times do not make us lose sight of what still need to be done. We need your support and prayers. We will also continue to run to former leaders to give us needed support and push where necessary.
“I hereby accept this on behalf of the new president. I pray that Almighty Allah make it easy for us,” she said.
In a lecture, an Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Lagos, Dr Waziri Adisa, said young Nigerians continue to leave the country because basic necessities of life are unavailable.
Dr Adisa spoke on the topic ‘Nigerian Youth Exodus: Matters Arising’, underlining unemployment among young people as a major driver of emigration from the country.
He charged the government to improve on the economy and the standard of living of the citizens.
The don said: “One thing we should also note is that not all of these youths are moving out of the country to the West or Europe. Many of them move to other African countries, including South Africa and Ghana, places where they think their economies are good.
“That is a message to Nigeria that we need to improve on our economy, infrastructure, job creation, skills acquisition, so that we can attract our youths. We should not be spending huge money producing professionals and allowing these professionals to leave and develop other countries of the world.”
“The state is the agent while the youths are the principals. So, the state must be accountable. One of the ways of being accountable is to manage the economy, cut down inflation and improve the standard of living of citizens.”
Earlier, the immediate past president of the UMA, Professor Khalid Adekoya, gave an account of his stewardship and assured the new executive members of adequate support.
Professor Adekoya also offered useful ideas as to how to steer the affairs of the association.
He said his exco also supported undergraduate and postgraduate Muslim students with scholarships and advisory services, leading to a good number of Muslim undergraduates finishing with first class honours.
Professor Adekoya said, “We’ve been able to bring erudite scholars to discuss contemporary issues in the areas of policies, economy, agriculture, and social wellbeing. We have been able to support our students in the Muslim Students’ Society (MSS) both monetarily as well as in advisory capacity.
He said, “One of the things we have been able to achieve in the advisory capacity was making sure that during the last three years, the Muslim students finished with first class. We contributed our quota to the extent that 30 of MSSN members finished with first class, and our post graduate students also did well, because of the involvement of UMA.
“We have also been able to support graduates with scholarships. Last year, we were able to give over 30 scholarships for PhDs and undergraduate programmes to our members.”
The Professor of Genetics advised the new exco to continue on the path already established by the preceding administrations.
Other members of the newly sworn in executive committee include Alhaji Muhammad Salam, Deputy President I; Professor Habeeb Tijani, Deputy President II; Alhaja Muhidat Kemi Bello, Deputy President III; Professor Shakirudeen Odunuga, Vice President I; Alhaji Tajudeen Adebanjo, General Secretary; AbdulHakeem Qasim, Assistant General Secretary; Dr Ganiyat Adenle-Tijani, Public Relations Officer I: and Alhaja Zainab Shogbesan, Public Relations Officer II.
