The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit (MSSN Lagos), has praised the Federal Government’s student loan initiative, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), saying it has helped many students remain in school despite financial challenges.
The society, however, urged the government to do more by expanding scholarship and bursary programmes to support students from low-income families.
Speaking during the inauguration of a new administration in Lagos, the newly elected Amir of MSSNLagos, Dr Ajibola Yusuf Salami, said access to quality education should not be determined by a student’s financial background.
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He noted that while NELFUND has provided relief for many students, increased investment in educational infrastructure, research, innovation and student support programmes remains necessary.
Dr. Salami also expressed concern over the growing insecurity in parts of the country, particularly incidents of kidnapping, banditry and violent crimes.
According to him, schools and student communities should never become targets for criminal activities.
Sustainable Solutions
The society called on the government to establish special courts to handle kidnapping, terrorism and banditry cases and ensure the speedy prosecution of suspects.
“We must move beyond condemnation and focus on practical and sustainable solutions to the security challenges facing the country,” he noted.
MSSN Lagos further recommended stronger collaboration among security agencies, wider deployment of technology in security operations and increased protection for schools and campuses.
The group also stressed the need for more youth-focused economic opportunities, noting that unemployment and lack of opportunities continue to expose many young people to social vices.
On youth development, the society commended the Lagos State Government for its investments in entrepreneurship, innovation and skills acquisition programmes, describing them as important steps toward empowering young people.
It pledged to continue supporting students and young professionals through mentorship, leadership development and entrepreneurship training.
The event also featured the inauguration of a new executive council led by Dr Salami, who succeeds the immediate past leadership of the organisation.
The new administration said its priorities would include educational advancement, youth empowerment, protection of students’ rights, leadership development and community service.
Contribute Positively
MSSN Lagos also urged Nigerian youths to remain focused on education, acquire relevant skills and contribute positively to national development.
This version reads more like a reporter’s story and less like a rewritten press release, which is typically how Voice of Nigeria stories are presented.
The society also reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the rights of Muslim female students, particularly their right to wear the hijab in public schools.
MSSN Lagos noted that seven years after the landmark court judgement affirming the right of Muslim female students to wear the hijab in Lagos State public schools, reports of harassment and restrictions still emerge from some schools.
The group expressed concern over instances where students are allegedly compelled to tuck their hijabs into their uniforms or wear them in ways inconsistent with Islamic requirements.
According to the society, such actions undermine both the spirit of the court ruling and the constitutional rights of affected students.
MSSN Lagos, therefore, called on the Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, the Teaching Service Commission and school administrators to ensure full compliance with the judgement across all public schools in the state.
The society maintained that every student should be able to learn in an atmosphere of dignity, inclusion and respect for religious freedom, adding that it would continue to engage relevant stakeholders through peaceful advocacy and dialogue.
