Innayatullah International Academy, Iwo, Osun State, on Tuesday held a grand reception to celebrate an outstanding Islamic scholar, Professor Elkhidr Abdul Baaqi Muhammad, for receiving the Best Scholar of the Year and A Role Model to African Students awards.
These awards were presented to him by the Vice President of the African Students Union and the President of the Nigerian Students Union in Egypt.
The international academy, which described the awardee as a man of integrity who is highly knowledgeable in his field, praised him as a good ambassador of the town who has made immense contributions to humanity.
Speaking during the grand reception to celebrate the scholar at the event, held at the open field of the school, retired Professor of Sociology, Professor Lai Olurode, described the awardee as a distinguished personality.
Professor Olurode, who was the chairman of the occasion, said he was not surprised that the awardee had attracted several awards, noting that Professor Muhammad has always excelled in whatever he does.
He said, “He is a distinguished scholar right from his young days in elementary Arabic school. It is often said that there is no hiding place for anything good enough. Even in darkness, it will shine.
“When he made his foray into the community of scholars, he distinguished himself as a foremost scholar, especially in Arabic literature.
“So, it is not surprising that he has attracted several awards and has distinguished himself in whatever he has done.
“This is a two-in-one kind of award. He has also received an award for being a role model for other students in Africa. So, he combines two strong elements—learning and character—which are very important. It is not all the time that a good scholar will be morally impeccable, but in his case, he combines the two.”
Professor Olurode urged the younger generation to emulate people like Professor Muhammad.
“The younger generation has a lot to learn, and this is the kind of thing that should be encouraged,” he added.
In his own submission, the host, the Chief Executive of Innayatullah Travel and Tour, Dr. Surajudeen Asrau Bilal, described the awardee as an indispensable tree in the forest.
He likened him to an umbrella that provides shelter for those being affected by the rain or sun and a rallying point for the less privileged in society.
Dr. Bilal, who referred to him as an embodiment of love, described him as a true believer in Allah who has added immense value to the religion, its worshippers, and society as a whole.
He also encouraged the younger generation to emulate Professor Muhammad’s good deeds to become useful members of their immediate environments.
Some of the important dignitaries at the occasion included Oba Azeez Olatunbosun, the Akire of Ikire-Ile; Oba Badejo Abdulafeez, the Olukoyi of Ikoyi; Sheikhhh Yakubu Abdulbaaqi, the Waziri of Yorubaland; Chief Imam of Iwo Land, Sheikhhh Mumin Akinlewon; Chairman of the Assembly of Muslim Organisations, Iwo Land, Alhaji Fasasi Magaji; Sheikhhh Muslim Hussein Akinola, an Islamic scholar; and the Chief Imam of the Islawudeen Missionary Association of Nigeria, among others.
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