Markaz-ul-Uloom, one of Nigeria’s foremost Arabic and Islamic educational institutions, celebrated its 40th anniversary on Saturday at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, under the theme, “Arabic and Islamic Schools in the Contemporary World: Achieving Synergy through Diverse Mechanisms.”
The symposium brought together scholars, academics, alumni, religious leaders, and captains of industry to reflect on the past four decades and explore strategies to adapt Islamic education to the demands of the modern era.
In his welcome address, Sheikh Dr. Tunde Abbas Abdulazeez, founder and director of Markaz-ul-Uloom, expressed profound gratitude to Almighty Allah and warmly welcomed the event’s distinguished guests, including the Chairman of the Occasion, the 14th Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness, Dr. Muhammad Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II, represented by His Highness, Abdullahi Sarki Muhammad.
He also paid homage to the Spiritual Father of the Day, His Eminence Fadeelatu Sheikh Muhammad Habibullah Adam Abdullah Al-Ilory, a scholar whose intellectual contributions have shaped generations of Muslims in Nigeria and beyond.
Sheikh Abdulazeez recounted the institution’s humble beginnings with only a few students and two Alasalatu groups in a small mosque space at Otubu. From these modest origins, Markaz-ul-Uloom has produced generations of scholars, professionals, and change-makers who continue to impact society.
He emphasised that the essence of the symposium was to highlight the need for collaboration and synergy among Arabic and Islamic schools, noting that no institution, regardless of its historical prestige, can operate in isolation in today’s interconnected and technologically advanced world.
“The world has changed dramatically,” Sheikh Abdulazeez said. “Our students now carry phones more powerful than the computers that sent humans to the moon. The madrasa of today must produce graduates who are spiritually grounded, academically capable, socially aware, technologically literate, and economically resilient. Graduates who can open the Qur’an with one hand and a laptop with the other. If the world has moved, we too must move.”
He stressed that synergy among institutions is critical for their relevance. Collaboration multiplies resources, enriches learning, and strengthens administration.
“If two madrasahs teach the same text but refuse to learn from each other, they will both struggle unnecessarily. When institutions stand side by side rather than back-to-back, they become unstoppable. Innovation without compromising principles and partnerships without surrendering identity are the keys to success.”
The Emir of Kano, represented at the event, highlighted a pressing challenge: ensuring that graduates of Arabic and Islamic schools are economically competitive without compromising their Islamic knowledge and values. He pointed out that this issue is particularly acute in south-western Nigeria, where Arabic and Islamic education is not as highly valued as in the north.
The Emir noted a two-fold challenge: a small group of graduates, despite Western training, disengage from Dawah (Category A), while others (Category B) remain active in Dawah but face limited livelihood opportunities, sometimes resorting to questionable activities to sustain themselves.
Addressing the need for practical solutions, the Emir raised critical questions: How can graduates become employable in a multicultural society? Should the syllabus be reformed to shorten study duration and introduce in-demand skills? How can a collaborative ecosystem between Category A and B graduates be established to fund and support one another? How can the seemingly conflicting goals of pursuing religious scholarship and seeking economic prosperity be reconciled?
In his keynote address, Professor Amidu Olalekan Sanni reflected on the historical and contemporary relevance of Arabic and Islamic studies in West Africa.
He noted that Arabic served as the “Latin of Africa,” enabling scholars to participate in a global intellectual and spiritual network, communicate across vast distances, and contribute to trade and administration. While religious knowledge remained central, Arabic education also equipped Muslims with the skills necessary for practical, societal, and administrative functions.
Professor Sanni highlighted that Markaz-ul-Uloom is at a transition stage from evolution to maturity, poised to navigate the next forty years and beyond. He urged institutions to extend collaboration beyond formal schools to include traditional learning systems in mosques and homes, as well as contemporary digital platforms, including Artificial Intelligence and other technological innovations.
He emphasised the importance of integrating traditional knowledge with Western-oriented education and modern digital tools to prepare graduates for global opportunities.
“The reality today is that educational certificates alone are becoming less relevant,” Professor Sanni said. “What the world demands are new skills, entrepreneurship, innovation, and adaptability. Graduates must be equipped not just to survive but to thrive in complex, interconnected societies. Institutions like Markaz-ul-Uloom must evolve to meet these challenges, blending tradition with modernity.”
Throughout the symposium, speakers stressed that the future of Arabic and Islamic education in Nigeria depends on unity, strategic collaboration, and practical engagement with contemporary realities.
Sheikh Abdulazeez called on participants to ignite new partnerships, generate fresh ideas, and develop administrative models that harmonise tradition and innovation.
He prayed that the event would serve as a turning point, enhancing the prestige of Arabic and Islamic schools and ensuring their contributions to society remain profound and enduring.
The symposium concluded with a shared vision: to ensure that graduates of Arabic and Islamic schools emerge as spiritually grounded, intellectually competent, socially responsible, and economically capable individuals.
By embracing synergy, adopting modern tools, and fostering collaboration, Markaz-ul-Uloom and similar institutions hope to cultivate a generation that can engage confidently with the modern world while remaining deeply rooted in Islamic knowledge and values.
As Markaz-ul-Uloom marks its 40th year, the celebrations and discussions at the symposium have set a clear agenda: to bridge tradition and modernity, expand opportunities for graduates, and strengthen the impact of Islamic education in Nigeria and beyond.
The symposium underscored that through unity, innovation, and strategic collaboration, Arabic and Islamic schools can achieve relevance, resilience, and excellence in the 21st century.
