From Taiye Joseph Ilorin
Muhammadul-Awwal Babatunde, a 27-year-old alumnus of Darul-Kitab Wa Sunnah College of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Gaa-Akanbi, Ilorin, has emerged as the best graduating student at the renowned Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt.
Darul-Kitab Wa Sunnah, founded nearly three decades ago by the Ubandoma of Ilorin Emirate, Sheikh Abdulkadir As-Salman Oba Sholagberu, has produced generations of scholars, and Muhammadul-Awwal’s achievement adds a remarkable chapter to its legacy.
Muhammadul-Awwal gained admission to Al-Azhar University in 2020 through a full scholarship from his alma mater to study Arabic at the Faculty of Islamic and Arabic Studies.
He graduated with the distinguished title “Excellent First Class with Highest Honors,” becoming the best student across all faculties and nationalities, including Egyptians and foreign students from over 40 countries.
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In an interview, he reflected on his journey, saying, “I was blessed to grow up in a family that loved knowledge, scholars, and the religion. My mother, father, and teachers, especially the great scholars of Darul-Kitab Wa Sunnah, shaped every step of my path.”
Though originally from Ikirun in Osun State, Muhammadul-Awwal was born in Kaduna and spent most of his formative years in Ilorin, Kwara State.
He excelled academically from an early age, graduating as the best student in both his primary and junior secondary schools before continuing the tradition at Darul-Kitab Wa Sunnah.
He recalled the challenges and rewards of his studies at Al-Azhar: “The faculty I chose was difficult, but the difficulty only increased my love for it. I entered simply to learn, and to my surprise, I was recognised for my results in the first year. That encouragement became a turning point, and throughout my studies, Allah continued to grant success.”
On his historic accomplishment, he said, “This is not just a personal milestone. It reflects the strength of Nigerian scholarship and highlights the contributions of Darul-Kitab Wa Sunnah to Ilorin, Nigeria, and the world. It is a responsibility to uplift our community and advance Islamic knowledge globally.”
Muhammadul-Awwal’s achievement underscores the potential of Nigerian students to excel on international platforms and cements Ilorin’s reputation as a city of knowledge.
