We Give Priority To Education – NASFAT

We Give Priority To Education – NASFAT

Zainab Tanimu

Kaduna, Northwest, Nigeria

Nastrul Lahil-L-Fatih Society (NASFAT) is one Islamic Society whose activities  have spread far and near.

Suffices to say that with its Vision and Mission statements tailored towards the betterment of mankind, many lives will be touched.

An example is that of a student of NASFAT Fountain University who recently bagged a commonwealth scholarship award to pursue her studies.

Young Nigerian, intelligent and determined Kawthar Olawunmi an Economist student from the Fountain University Oshogbo, capital of Osun state, Southwestern Nigeria has bagged the United Kingdom’s  (UK) Commonwealth shared scholarship award.

This award avails her the opportunity to study at the University of London, UK.

Sharing her success story through her LinkedIn profile, Kawthar Olawunmi who had earlier been awarded a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Foundation University Nigeria was pleased to have been awarded the opportunity to study for her Masters Degree in Development Economics at University of London.

According to her,

“I am glad to announce that l have been awarded the prestigious Commonwealth Shared Scholarship to study Msc. Development Economics at SOAS University of London, UK plus a full residential scholarship at International Student House, London,” she wrote on her Linkedin.

She shared photos from the pre-departure briefing held in Lagos, Nigeria alongside some of the other beneficiaries before they took off to the United Kingdom.

Some other benefits she was awarded include a full residential scholarship at

International Student House, London.

The Commonwealth Shared Scholarships also award scholars with a monthly stipend of £1,390 (N571,000) throughout the study in United Kingdom.

NASFAT Kaduna immediate Past Zonal Education Secretary, Alhaji Waheed Amusa gives a brief on NASFAT educational stride and how it has impacted on the lives of many Nigerians.

“NASFAT itself was started by educated people. Not only that, NASFAT Mission Statement clearly states the importance of education to mankind.

It reads: “To develop an enlightened Muslim Society nurtured by a true understanding of Islam for the spiritual upliftment and Welfare of mankind.”

This Mission Statement he said covers both Western and Islamic education

and that NASFAT focuses on four key programmes called ‘HELD’. That is, Health, Education, Livelihood, and Dawah programme. In all these areas of focus, education plays a vital role.

“For you to have an enlightened society, for you to have true understanding of  what Islam stands for, you need to be educated in both Western and Islamic education.

“If you look at the programme put together by NASFAT called ‘HELD’. H > Health, E >Education, L>Livelihood, and D> Dawa’h, you will agree with me that  education plays vital role in all.

“For people to be  healthy, they must be taught how to  keep safe from diseases. People must be enlightened in term of the society, in terms of how they go about their livelihood. People have to be  trained on how to earn a living and so also you need education to be able to impact your knowledge that can bring positive change.

“So you see, there is virtually no aspect of human life that you don’t need education and it is in realization of all these that NASFAT has packaged a lot of educational Programme.

“Infact education is the ‘in thing’ in NASFAT because we want to create an enlightened society. And we want to ensure that every member of NASFAT is well enlightened and can say something about the society.

“NASFAT’s schools have helped in bringing development in communities where they are sited.

Oshogbo alone has over 25 primary schools, 6 secondary schools and that is where we have our NASFAT Fountain University.

We also have schools in other places including Kaduna state.

Parents even withdraw their kids to our schools because we inculcate in them morals. As a result of these, we are helping to minimize moral decadence in the society.

We also have the NASFAT Fountain University which is meant for building up generation for the future. This university has excelled in all the areas of specialization that she is engaged in.

The Fountain University student, Kawthar Olawunmi is a glaring example of NASFAT’S educational pursuits.

As to whether the schools are meant for  only Muslims?, He has this to say.

‘No, the schools that we have is for mankind not for Muslims alone because when you say you want to create an enlightened society, for the society to be enlightened, you don’t discriminate. People need to know what Islam stands for because there are some misconceptions about the religion Islam and it is only when you carry the non Muslims along in your educational programmes that people will have a clear understanding of what Islam stands for and then be able to disabuse people’s mind on the misconceptions about Islam.

“I am bold to say that NASFAT has impacted on the lives of many Nigerians irrespective of tribe or religious affiliations. Our Fountain University not an exception. He emphasized.