Nigerian Babatunde Emerges Best Graduating Student Of Cairo’s Al-Azhar University

27-year-old alumnus of Darul-Kitab Wa Sunnah College of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Gaa-Akanbi, Ilorin, Kwara State, Muhammadul-Awwal Babatunde, has emerged as the best graduating student at the prestigious Al-Azhar University Cairo, Egypt.

Darul-Kitab Wa Sunnah College of Arabic and Islamic Studies was founded about three decades ago by the Ubandoma of Ilorin Emirate, Sheikh Dr. Abdulkadir As-Salman Oba Sholagberu, who is also one of the Imams and Khateebs of the National Mosque of Nigeria, Abuja.

Muhammadul-Awwal secured admission to study Arabic at the Language Development Centre, Faculty of Islamic and Arabic Studies at Al-Azhar University Cairo in 2020 through a full scholarship from Darul-Kitab Wa Sunnah College of Arabic and Islamic Studies.

The young scholar graduated as the Best Graduating Student of the entire Al-Azhar University, earning the distinguished title of “Excellent First Class with Highest Honours.”

Born on July 2, 1998, he grew up in a family that values knowledge, scholars, and Islamic religion.

Although originally from Ikirun, Osun State, he was born in Kaduna, where he spent his formative years before moving to Ilorin, the city of knowledge, where he completed most of his education.

He completed his primary and junior secondary education at Ahbabul-Deenil-Islami group of schools, Offa-Garage, Ilorin, and graduating as the best student at both levels.

He then joined Darul-Kitab Wa Sunnah College at Gaa-Akanbi, Ilorin, starting from JSS 2 and graduating in 2017 as the best student.

Muhammadul-Awwal later gained admission to the University of Ilorin, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Food Science, where he studied for over two years before receiving a full scholarship to study at Al-Azhar University through Darul-Kitab Wa Sunnah.

At Al-Azhar University, he pursued studies that combined Arabic Language, Usul al-Din, and Shari’ah.

Despite advice against the difficulty of the faculty, he embraced the challenge and excelled, receiving recognition from professors early in his academic journey.

Throughout his studies, he remained dedicated and driven, carrying a sense of purpose to honour his late mother, his father’s sacrifices, and the mentorship of his teachers at Darul-Kitab Wa Sunnah.

His achievement represents one of the highest academic ranks at Al-Azhar, earned among tens of thousands of students worldwide.

He was recognized with an award of academic excellence from the prestigious institution.

Graduating not only as the best student of his faculty but also as the overall best of all faculties, he has brought pride to Nigeria, emerging as the top student among students from more than 40 countries.

This accomplishment reflects the strength of Nigerian scholarship and the contributions of Darul-Kitab Wa Sunnah College to global Islamic knowledge.

He carries this achievement with humility and a commitment to serve his community, enhance the reputation of Nigerian scholarship, and contribute meaningfully to Islamic learning worldwide.