Danfodiyo Varsity Students Defeat UI, Others In Qur’an And Debate Competition 

Saturday 25th September 2021 remains a remarkable day for the entire student body of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, as their schoolmates travelled to southwest Nigeria to defeat other higher institutions in a Qur’an And Debate competition. 

The Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), University of Ibadan Chapter, hosted an Inter-Varsity Qur’an and debate competition as part of its Jihad Week, which took place at the central mosque of the university. 

The competition was attended by representatives from UDUS and other tertiary institutions across Nigeria including the University of Ibadan, Lagos State University, Ahmadu Bello University, (ABU ZARIA), Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Federal College of Education (SPECIAL) Oyo, The Polytechnic Ibadan, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, and Obafemi Awolowo University, out of the twelve invited institutions.

According to a source, six of the universities participated in the Qur’an competition while seven participated in the debate competition. 

The three representatives from Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Zubair Muslim Oluwatosin, a 400 level student of Fisheries, who represented the school in Qur’an competition, Aboki Yusuf, a 400level Law student, and Musa Halimah Moturayo, a 400 level student of English Language, represented the school in the debate competition, defeating other institutions, and emerging in the first position in both the Qur’an and the debate competition. 

Danfodiyo Representatives Express Happiness 

While speaking with Campus Reporter, the victorious representatives expressed their joy on the success and gave thanks to Allah for the success.

According to Zubair Muslim Oluwatosin, “I will say Alhamdulilah, every success is only from Allah. It’s no victory, for I believe every competitor is victorious, they are all memorisers of the Holy Qur’an.

“I’m only happy to have not disappointed the most prestigious University when called upon. Every competitor prepared, I was only lucky to emerge [in the] first position.”

Musa Halimat Moturayo said: “The debate topic; Insecurity: Social Indifference or Inadequate Policing,  where  we were to argue from the motion of “Inadequate policing” which we did by presenting the lapses of the law enforcement agencies which have been causing security challenges.”

When asked if they had foreseen the victory or the challenges they came across in the course of their preparation, Halimat said that the UDUS team did not imagine defeating the likes of Obafemi Awolowo University, Lagos State University, and most importantly, the University of Ibadan, but with determination and God’s grace, they made it. 

“I never imagined beating UI in this kind of competition, but I was determined to try our best, which I did.

“I and my partner, Aboki Yusuf, prepared very well. We held online rehearsals, even till midnight. Alhamdulillah, I can say that we didn’t face many challenges because the topic is objective and there are practical exams around us. All we did was to logically bring the examples together and make good points from them,” she said. 

Meanwhile, Halimat could not hide how joyous she was when the award was presented to them by an alumna of UDUS who commended their efforts. 

“Alhamdulillah, I felt overwhelmed. I was so happy and moved to tears when Mrs Afusat Jagun Jubril presented us the award while commenting that she had her degree in UDUS, and stated we are natural winners. Alhamdulillah,” Halimat narrated. 

Aboki Yusuf, the confident 400 level student of Law, said: “Alhamdulillah, I am very happy because most of the renowned lecturers in UI were supporting UDUS. 

“Not only that, they unmasked the face of UI and made it [public] that they did their first degree in UDUS and they are very proud of it and proud to be one of its pioneers,” he said. 

Further speaking on the preparation of the debate, Yusuf Aboki said, “We equally supported our argument, using the three basic principles of every debate i.e the A.R.E, meaning A-Argument, R-Reasons and E-Examples, (recent examples). Lastly, we put adequate preparations in place, through several rehearsals online.” 

Danfodiyo Representatives Advise Fellow Danfodites

Halimat Motunrayo and Aboki Yusuf advised Danfodites on the need to stand up for courage to feature in competitions like that.

“Someone has always motivated me. When I told him I wanted to go for this competition, he was extremely happy. He guided me all through the preparation phase. When the victory came, it was my name that was sung, not his name. Everyone has the potential to do good things, always put things into trial and that is when you will become perfect in it. When the victory comes, you get all the praises,” Halimat said. 

Like Halimat, Aboki Yusuf advised his fellow students to strive and try to succeed at extra-curricular activities like these. 

“UDUS students are always naturally ahead in everything they put in mind that they want to do. Be in the know that those participating in various competitions today are not better than you. It’s just that they’ve attempted putting their potentials into use and realise that they have it. 

“Don’t always sit at the other end, celebrating people, try your best for you also to be celebrated,” he said. 

Danfodiyo MSSN President (AMEER) Expresses Joy

In an exclusive interview with the president of the Association who is a 400 level student of Arabic Language, Mustapha Muhammad Babadoko,  he expressed his joy and narrated how the selected representatives prepared for the competition. 

“Don’t be surprised if I tell you that, that day was the happiest day of my life as AMEER, and term it as the beginning of the success of our administration Insha Allah,” Mustapha Muhammad Babadoko said.

Furthermore, the AMEER expressed how he felt about the invitation and how the arrangement was made for the selected participants.

“When I received the letter, I felt honoured, for UI MSSN to have extended their brotherhood invitation to me and MSSN UDUS in particular. At the same time, I thought it was going to be a difficult task to get those who would represent UDUS MSSN because we were not in session. 

“[The] arrangement was later done with the help of the Deputy Ameer planning. Screening of interested participants took place through a WhatsApp group where those who later represented us were chosen.”

When asked if the representatives were sponsored by the school management or from the association itself, the AMEER expressed how the school promised to offer the association some amount of money for their expenses.

“The initial plan was to convey our participants and some of the EXCOs with the MSSN bus, but unfortunately all the efforts made to put the bus in a good shape were in vain. So we decided to write a letter to the school management through the DVC and the Dean, requesting a bus. Our request for a bus was not granted for a strong reason. Instead, we were promised some amount of money which was to be deposited into the society’s account to take care of the travelling expenses. Although, we were asked to go on with our arrangement pending the time that the money will be deposited,” he said.