By Haroon Balogun

It was the state-of-the-art facilities in Mueenat International Academy, Abeokuta that spurred this interview.  The e-Library, Standard and Certified ICT centre with internet, Laptops available for students and pupils, fully air-conditioned classrooms and laboratories, CCTV monitors in the administrative, academic and hostel blocks, among others were classy. The question is who is the man behind this massive investment  in a faith based academy? Alhaji Chief (Dr.) Sakirudeen Tunji Labode, the President, Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), a Fellow Certified National Accountant with more than 40 years of Professional Practice experience, a renowned philanthropist is the proprietor of the school. He shares his vision.

What is your vision for setting up a school like this in this environment?

Alhaji (Dr.) Sakirudeen Tunji Labode

As  a Muslim parent, I found it necessary to make Islamic schools available for our children. Between the year 1986 and 1987, I tried to set up one called Crescent Nursery and Primary school because my children were still young then.  The Muslims around me did not really see the necessity for it, so I  had to drop it. The passion and dream remained in me. My mother also shared the same dream with me. So, I established an Arabic school at my mosque at  Idi-aba where I engaged the services of some clerics to teach children for free.

The mosque later took over the Arabic school. Eventually, one of my children studied Education . So, we acquired two acres of land (where we are sitting now) and I married my mother’s dream of an Arabic school with my own dream of building a school. My mother loved and appreciated people who speak Arabic. I really thank Almighty Allah because we were always having reasons to construct more building till we got to this height. Most of what you see here today wasn’t part of the original plan like the laboratory, e-library among others.

Apart from the Arabic language, what other aqeeda do you intend to inculcate in your pupils and students?

Here, we study Quran recitation and memorisation and also  Arabic language as a subject. We wanted a school that the average Muslim can be proud of. We are breeding a complete Muslim armed with full Islamic and Western education. Our school intends to serve as a  model and benchmark for others. That is our goal.

How many years will it take a child in your school to memorise the Qur’an?

We have our methods of teaching our pupils and I can assure you that a child without fore knowledge of the Quran will be able to recite it before the end of the first session. This is because we don’t only teach our pupils in class but will allow them to recite and practice what they have learned on daily basis. We encourage them. Qur’an recitation is part of our activities every morning both in the primary and secondary schools. Our concern is building a child to become a complete Muslim. Apart from being an Islamic school, our school is an international one in every sense considered round the world. Our teachers are also selected from the best. Our teachers are well qualified with nothing less than five years experience. Since it has pleased Allah to choose me for this task, we will not compromise standard for anything, not even for money.

What security measures have you also put in place?

You will agree with me that it is only Allah that provides security. But as creatures of Allah, we can also do something to put some measures in place like considering the location of the school. I could have built the school at a different environment. I felt this location is more serene  and conducive for learning. Apart from our security men, we have our CCTV at strategic places covering the whole perimeter of the school.

Do you intend to run the school as charity or strictly business?

I have a foundation, Dabira Help foundation which has nothing to do with education but economic empowerment for Muslims. We encourage Muslims to establish interest-free cooperative system in that foundation. And all thanks to Almighty Allah, we have achieved huge success especially at As-salatu groups. Originally, the school was incorporated and as such runs on a sustainable level. I have another foundation that cares for the school which is known as Shakiru Olabode Foundation. This serve as the Board of Trustees for the school.

Based on the massive facilities you have already put in place, do you subsidise the fees?

I won’t say the fee is subsidised but our fees are below the expected range compared to what is obtainable in similar or even less quality schools. Our school is affordable. We give free transport to pupils and students who are within the metropolis. And as time goes on, we will leave the transport system to Parents Teachers Association, PTA, to manage. We have students who have enrolled for the 2016/2017 session. It takes a substantial amount of money to manage this place but Allah is providing it with ease. I started as a trainee clerk and I rose to the peak of becoming a Fellow Certified National Accountant with more than 40 years of Professional Practice experience.  I am a fulfilled person.