By Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
The Founder, Baraje Centre for Arabic and Islamic Studies, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, says his aim of establishing the Institute is to develop actionable plan to build a new generation of leaders in Islamic education who can hold their own anywhere in the world.
Alhaji Baraje, who was the former National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stated this on Sunday in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital, at the graduation of the pupils and students of the Centre.
According to him, the Institute has moved Islamic education from the near collapse state with investments in infrastructure, recruitment of quality teachers, and reinvigoration of the monitoring system of the Institute by the management through the recently launched “Abubakar Kawu Baraje Foundation (AKBF) in Abuja.
The former National Chairman of PDP explained that his intention and that of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari are to make the Markaz the first choice for all in terms of the quality of infrastructure and teaching staff in this digital age.
The Founder, while appreciating Allah for promoting the Institute, enjoined staff, managements and Board of Trustees of the Centre for their commitment and support towards the progress of the Institute.
Alhaji Kawu Baraje, who is the new Tafida of Ilorin Emirate, noted that the Foundation has recorded good records for the state and the country at large, nothing that the Markaz is well known in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt and United Arab of Emirates.
He hinted that the Institute has gone a long way in terms of moving to the University level and prayed for the new graduates, while urging them to always be good ambassadors of the Institute.
In his sermon, an Ilorin-based Islamic cleric, Alhaji Abdulkadir Nemasa, called for strong collaboration among relevant stakeholders in the state towards moving the Institute to a greater level.
Alhaji Abdulkadir Nemasa, while applauding Alhaji Kawu Baraje for the establishment of the Institute, urged other well meaning individuals in Ilorin Emirate to emulate the good gesture of the Founder.
In his address, the Chairman Management Board of the Institute, Justice S. O. Muhammed, while appreciating the Founder of the Institute, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, for deeming it fit to Institute the Abubakar Kawu Baraje Foundation to take care of the future of pupils and students of this great Institute.
He noted that the management would soon bounce into action to ensure rapid improvement and development of infrastructural facilities on the site of the Institute.
The Board Chairman, who is the retired GrandKadi of Kwara State, also disclosed that the Management would soon introduce some achievable programmes to include care for the vulnerable, skill acquisition support, Public Health Support Programme, Entrepreneurship, Environmental, Peace and Conflict Support Programmes, among others.
Justice Muhammed said the large enrollment of the students has led the Institute to create its own online application for any interested pupils and students, noting that the portal has been opened since 20th of this month and urged parents and guardians to enroll their children through www.markazbaraje.org.ng
About 341 graduated from the Institute, including Quraniyah, Ibtidahiyah, Idadiyah and Thanawiyah who came out with bright colours.
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