In an insightful discussion with Brother Tirmidhy Mustapha Kehinde — the Assistant Director of Studies I of the MSSN Oyo State Area Unit and former Ameer of the MSSN Akinyele Area Council — a first-class graduate from the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Ibadan, he shared how he successfully navigated his university journey and how assuming leadership responsibilities contributed to his excellence, contrary to the common belief that leadership roles negatively impact academic performance.

By: Al-Faaedah Press Correspondent – Abdulfatah Yussuf

As-salam alaykum warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu.
‎‎Wa Alaikum Salam Warahmatullah Wabarakatuh.

‎Can you briefly introduce yourself and share your course of study at the university of Ibadan?
‎‎I am Tirmidhy Mustapha Kehinde
‎I graduated from UI at the department of Arabic and Islamic Studies ( Combined Honour ).

Can you highlight the specific roles or positions you held within MSSN and what responsibilities they entailed?‎
‎ 100 – 200 level: Naibul-Ameer MSSNUI
‎ 200-300 level:  Ameer MSSN AKINYELE AREA COUNCIL (1st term)
‎300-400 level: Ameer MSSN AKINYELE AREA COUNCIL (2nd term ).
‎And presently A DOS 1, MSSN Oyo State Area Unit.

‎‎Can you tell us about your background before the University of Ibadan — what shaped your values and drive?
‎‎Before gaining admission into University of Ibadan, I was a Muhafidh ( Qur’anic memorization tutor ) at Mahd Al-Arobiy under the tutulage of مؤسسة الإحسان الخيرية ( Good People Charity Foundation ) sponsored by Saudi Arabia.
‎‎The Foundation has many positive impact they make but the aspect of Quranic memorization was where I was employed for.
‎‎Throughout my stay for 3 years, we were able to produce nothing less than 1000 students ( Memorizers ) with Allah’s assistance.
‎I left the place immediately I gained admission to UI and it couldn’t possibly for me to combine both learning in UI and teaching at Mahd.
‎‎That was why I left the Tahfidh to pursue my learning  further.
‎‎One thing I found very painful during my departure at the foundation ( Jãmia ) as it’s usually called was the stoppage of making impact in that regard especially teaching the word of Allah
‎‎خيركم من تعلم القرآن وعلمه  (‎The best among you is the one that learn Quran and teaches others.)
‎‎That was the situation when I left Jãmia and the reason I left there during that time.

‎‎What influenced your choice of UI and your course of study and did you imagine from the start that you would one day graduate with a first-class degree?
‎What influenced my choice of UI was as the same as what influenced my choice of Mahd.
‎‎GREATNESS, STANDARD, AND QUALITY EDUCATION
‎‎I chose my course because  it would give me more opportunities to learn more about my religion even with a little bit of Western lens. Also , it’s better to continue from where you already have some basic knowledge than starting again from scratch.
‎‎Yes, from the start of my UI journey, I had wished to graduate with First class, and that was why I did everything possible in 100 level to zero in all my focus on academics and avoid any form of distractions.
‎‎That was achieved and had my perfect CGPA of 4.0 in 100 level.‎ I believe that you can achieve anything you want once you put your trust in Allah and follow the proper ways and steps.
‎‎Allah has given us thousands and abundant opportunities we can use to realize our dream. The only limit to what we can be, what we can do, and what we can have are the limits we place on ourselves by our own thinking.
‎Think positive of yourself and positive things will start happen.

‎‎What inspired you to join the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) during your time at UI and how did being both a UI student and an MSSN member shape your character and outlook on life?
‎‎What inspired me to join MSSN ?
‎‎I didn’t have any intention of joining MSSN at all but always to make impact wherever I am.
‎The only thing I voluntarily joined was COL to teach in order to continue my campaign of making positive impact.
‎‎To buttress this, I became the Naibul-Ameer MSSNUI toward the end of my 100 level right !
‎‎I wasn’t even expect being appointed as an imam talk less of Naib, (the leader of the imams and coordinators on campus).
‎‎How will I become an imãm when I do not even stay at any hostel !
‎‎But as Allah would have it, surprisingly, I was chosen as Naib MSSNUI without having preconception or preconceived notion of how things work there.‎
‎But if Allah wants to honour a leader, He ( the exalted ) rally that leader with GOOD PEOPLE.
‎‎MSSNUI brothers and sisters are all wonderful.
‎May Almighty Allah bless them all.

‎‎Many people believe leadership roles distract from academics. How did you manage to serve MSSNUI from 100-200L,  MSSNAAC Ameer twice and still graduate with first-class honors?
‎Hmmm… Wallahul-Musta-ãn. ‎It was by Allah’s mercy indeed!
‎‎”I don’t usually believe in what many people believe because many people’s believe is usually wrong”
‎‎A verse of Qur’an gan affirms this.
‎‎In contrary to many people’s believe that “leadership roles distract from academics”
‎‎Though, it is relative but I don’t really believe in that.
‎‎If you don’t take that leadership position because of distraction, then you will surely be distracted by something else. ‎Or do you tell me that you use all your time on campus for academics alone? ‎From your hostel, to your class room and then to the library for your 4 or 5 years courses? ‎Therefore, your NO to something is a YES to something else.
‎‎The leadership role and the responsibilities even helped me a lot to attain the first class in many ways.
‎Among them :-
‎1. It helped me to manage my time properly
‎2. It helped me to start reading my books from the first day of resumption.
‎Why ?
‎I know I have a lot of responsibilities on me concerning the post and that made me to start reading as early as possible to avoid die minutes reading.
‎‎3. The leadership role made me to be conscious of my attitude cos we should lead by examples.
‎‎4. The leadership role gingered me to be excel academically to be a role model for others and to keep shut of those that believe in failure once you join MSSN.
‎‎Just to mention a few.
‎‎These were my secret of making it first class despite the leadership position from 100 level till 400 leveranging from MSSNUI to MSSN Akinyele Area Council.

‎‎What practical strategies or habits helped you maintain both spiritual responsibility and academic excellence?
‎‎Though, parts have been mentioned earlier.
‎‎1. Puting Allah first
‎He who put Allah FIRST will never be LAST.
‎‎2. Always remember that you’re not only Muslim student but also Islam ambassador as people study you and your character.
‎3. Avoid late reading but start reading from the first week of resumption
‎‎4. Attending tutorial organized by MSSNUI
‎‎5. Be conversant with past questions as ‎UI repeats past questions a lot. ‎It is even popularly saying that ” there’s no new question anywhere”
‎‎6. Taking your attendance and tests very seriously. ‎Once you joke with both attendance and tests, you’re joking with 40 marks.
‎‎You can’t score 60/60 in your exam! ‎So, for you to have grade A or B, both tests and attendance should be taken very serious as you take your exam seriously too.
‎‎7. PRAYER and READING
‎Pray as if everything depends on prayer alone and at the same time, read as everything depends on reading alone.‎

‎Can you describe your experience serving Muslim community through MSSN Akinyẹle Area Council, MSSNUI and what was the most challenging part of leadership experience you had, and how did you overcome it?
‎‎It was a great experience, great opportunity and privilege. ‎Alhamdulillah.
‎‎1.It made me to realize how to deal and relate with people.
‎‎2. It made me realize that Islam in Nigeria has a brighter future as Islam is blessed with brilliant and wonderful brothers and sisters.
‎‎3. People’s attitude depends on how you treat them‎
‎4. People ( especially those that once passed through the system ) always have their school in mind no matter who and where they are now.
‎And they are usually ready to be of help when they are being called.
‎‎5. Transparency as a leader will make people to trust you more and the otherwise will dent your reputation and image.
‎‎Just a quick contrast to the previous question sir.

What was your most fulfilling moment while serving MSSN?
‎That making impact didn’t end in Mahd ( Jãmia ) but also extended to University of Ibadan.

‎‎As you mentioned earlier that you’re the current A DOS 1, MSSN Oyo State Area unit, did you have a long ambition  serving Muslim communities or you’re almost at stopping point?
“‎Ase ku ni ise Allah” but not necessarily to be under MSSN platform alone all the time.
‎
‎If you have the opportunity to serve again, what would you do differently?
‎‎When time comes Allah will guide us through.
‎‎But, my basic statutory believe in leadership role are :-
‎1. be sincere and do it to attain Allah’s pleasure alone.
‎2. you’re there to serve not to be served.
‎3. you will be held accountable for what you do
‎4. they trust you with that position so don’t disappoint them.
‎5. leadership is all about solving problems not for personal gain
‎6. don’t seek for it if you want Allah to help you.
‎7. don’t try to outshine your master
‎8. don’t let the position get into your head or make you to feel like you’re on top of the world.
‎‎If all these are duly noted and observed, you will always come out in flying colours and be successful at any position given ( Inshã Allah ).

‎‎Finally, what legacy do you hope people will remember from your time as a UI student, first-class graduate, and two-time Ameer?
‎Legacies! ‎The so-called legacies were all collective efforts.
‎‎Starting with, Rural Da’wah, I championed the renovation of the toilet in a rural area we went with Allah’s assistance and then my Ameer Obakemi, level up regime people and my CDC members; assisting many indigent students by paying their school fees through Alumni especially Allegiance Group People‎; part of the tutors preparing students for their pre-versity exams like SSCE, JAMB and Post-UTME by taking English and I.R.S for several years.
‎‎Just to mention a few and lastly, bringing the dream of MSSN Akinyele Area Council Mini CBT Center into reality.
‎‎All were achieved not with my power but with Allah’s mercy.
‎We ask Allah to accept the little we could do and overlook all our shortcomings.