The
Islamic Online University (IOU) yesterday held its 3rd Annual Graduation
ceremony for more than 300 students in different areas of study, at the UTG law
faculty grounds on MDI Road.
Since
the IOU was set up in The Gambia in 2013, spearheaded by the scholar Dr Bilal
Philips, who is also the chancellor, more than 1,500 Gambians have benefited
from the IOU’s English, Arabic and IT programmes.
This
year, 378 Gambian students earned certificates and diplomas in the following
areas: 342-students graduated in Intensive English Course (IEC), 30 students in
Intensive Arabic Programme (IAP) and 6 students in Arabic for Quran.
The
Chancellor of IOU, Dr Bilal Philips, stressed the importance of acquiring and
sharing of knowledge, especially one guided by Islam.
The
IOU is unique compared to others as it seeks to make a difference to the Ummah,
one bent on changing nations with an education which is guided by Islam, he
said, adding that “this is what the IOU represents.
“The
most important thing we need to know about in this life is Allah. If we don’t,
then this life is no different from the life of animals,” he continued.
The
IOU seeks to help the Ummah achieve its role in the ultimate education that
brings out the good in humans beings and in world society.
He
called on people to recognize and teach to understand evil acts, and how to
prevent them from taking place.
The
chancellor said as long as people are learning, calling for good, preventing
evil, those people are the best of humankind.
He
reminded the graduates not to live dual lives, and to endeavour to practise the
knowledge gained.
‘’Let
me remind you, one who has the knowledge of this world but does not worship
Allah, who denies Allah’s existence or neglects the worship of Allah, then this
life is a wasted life,” he said.
The
Islamic scholar said he was thankful to God that the IOU has over the past two
years reached a global network of 288,000 students, and that 282,000 of them
are studying at virtually no cost.
“Because
the university was and is dedicated to serving the Ummah, not to accumulate
wealth; but to spread the knowledge of Islam
far and wide,’’ he said.
Dr
Philips noted that they will continue to expand the IOU in The Gambia with the
help of all Gambians, who should get their hands on deck to encourage students
to study in its programmes and get enlightened with the light of Islam.
Dr
Cherno Barry, the vice chancellor of IOU, encouraged the graduating students to
seek more knowledge, saying: “It’s just the beginning of a long road to the
ocean of knowledge.”
Dr
Mariama Ceesay, the guest speak on the occasion, praised the graduating
students, especially the females who persevered so much to realize their
educational goals.
The
IOU country representative, Aminata Jaiteh, and registrar Gora Faal both
expressed delight and appreciation to the UTG, the guests and all who graced
the occasion.
The
valedictorian, Lamin Marenah, expressed gratitude to all the IOU and management
for providing them with qualitative education which would go a long way in
shaping their lives.
He
implored all his colleagues to continue to raise the flag of the university to
higher heights, and encouraged them to utilize the knowledge gained in the
interest of their families, the society and the nation as a whole.
As
seeking knowledge is an obligation on every Muslim, the Islamic online
university provides a golden opportunity to access Islamic courses wherever
people may be and whenever they wish, without having to travel overseas or even
leave the confines of their homes.
It
offers its students an organised and structured intensive programme in the most
convenient and innovative form, placed intellectually and conceptionally in the
hands of globally known Muslims scholars from the various fields of Islamic
studies and Islamised modern disciplines.
