The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) has said that the activities lined-up for the celebration of Lagos @50 should be made all-inclusive by the honouring of outstanding students and distinguished clerics in the state.
The Amir (President) of the MSSN, Lagos State Area Unit, Dr. Saheed Ashafa, said this in a press statement to felicitate with Lagosians and government over key areas in which the state has witnessed tremendous improvement in the past 50years.
While congratulating the Lagos State Government, citizens and residents on the plausible development in the state, he expressed displeasure that the activities lined up for the anniversary were not true reflection of the values and moral system of the state.
He complained that majority of the activities scheduled for the anniversary were avoidable social events without recourse for the intellectual and morally inclined segment of the society.
According to him, the success story of Lagos State will not be complete without the celebration of academic scholars, religious leaders, and outstanding students in the state.
He said, “We have observed with keen interest that activities of the ongoing 50th anniversary in Lagos State are more of jamboree. It is regretful to note that less emphasis has been placed on core values like morality, spiritual development, religious balance and academic excellence.
“We are not saying it is not a thing of joy that Lagos State remains cohesive and worthy of celebration. Hence, seeing various inscriptions with images of meaningful Lagosians on our highways is not totally out of place.
“But, we are disturbed not finding more personalities among whom are distinguished Islamic scholars; and well-grounded academic scholars who have won reputable competitions like the Spelling Bee, Lagos Schools’ Debate, and Cowbell Mathematics Competition among others. We make bold to state that “My Success Story in Lagos” can never be complete without the impact of religious leaders, young academic scholars and accomplished youth organisations.”
On its part, he said that MSSN Lagos has concluded plans to celebrate First Class and Distinction Muslim students who recently graduated from University of Lagos (UNILAG), Lagos State University (LASU) and Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) on Sunday, April 22, 2017.
He said the Excellence Award of MSSN Lagos, which is expected to hold at Shamsi Adisa Hall, Old Secretariat, Ikeja, was aimed at encouraging academic excellence among students in the state.
Recall that the MSSN Lagos had also in August 2016 organised an Excellence Award and reception for outstanding pupils that emerged victorious in different competitions organised by Lagos State Government. Among them were those that emerged as One-day governor, deputy and Commissioners of Lagos State.
He added, “While we congratulate the Lagos State Government for a worthy celebration and urge the committee to do the needful in making appropriate amends to avoid one-sided event, the Excellence Award is our own way of encouraging academic uprightness in the State. Co-incidentally, it falls at a period where we are celebrating Lagos @50. We expect government to follow this path as a means to show concern for intellectualism.”
