MSSN @ 70 : STILL WAXING STRONGER
By: Prof. Olaiya Abideen Olaitan
9th Shawwal 1445H / 18th April, 2024.
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Muslim Students' Society of Nigeria (MSSN) was formed by fourteen secondary schools students led by Alh Aromasodun and Adegbite on 18th April 1954 at Ansarudeen, Alakoro Lagos in a bid to rise to the challenges of Muslim students seeking conventional education which was being provided then mainly by Christian missionaries and governments also dominated by early Christian educators in Nigeria.
Muslim students then in some cases had to change religion or at least pretend to do so, to be able to access conventional education.
After its formation, the society had another challenge of poor Islamic knowledge amongst its members to be able to find their feet in the larger society.
This led to the organization of Islamic Vacation Courses (IVC) )which started in 1967 by Alh Solaja regime and continued to date where Muslim students were been tutored in Islamic knowledge, vocational skills as well as advancement in conventional education.
The society has been actively participating in the formation of several International Islamic organizations worldwide and to date, it remains a functional member of all International dawah organizations around the world.
The society celebrated its 30th anniversary as a united front in 1984, 50th anniversary in 2004 and 60th in 2014 making far-reaching sustainable changes in its membership, programming and structure which was sustained to date.
Islamic resurgence worldwide between the late seventies and late eighties had both its positive and negative effects on the society. The positive side is the advancement of Islamic knowledge and practices amongst the elite Muslims who are products of western educational background while the negative is the internal crisis based on management of exponential growth and external factors.
Like Allah says in Suratul Al-Imran Verse 140;
"...وَتِلْكَ الْأَيَّامُ نُدَاوِلُهَا بَيْنَ النَّاسِ..."
" ... Such are the varying days of fortune destined for mankind or organizations.."
The society emerged gallantly stronger shedding some of its weights to several breakaway factions and offshoot organizations, some of which are doing well complementarily in the field of dawah.
MSSN today has millions of members scattered all through the nooks and crannies of Nigeria. The society unequivocally has visible existence in all states of the federation including FCT and over three thousand branches throughout the Country.
It currently coordinates its operation from the National Headquarters in Abuja, supplemented with two Zonal offices in Ibadan and Zaria.
It has over 100 mosques/Islamic centres being operational outposts apart from institutions based ushras and had invested heavily in Islamic development/resource centres, schools, cooperative societies, Zakat/Sadaqah foundation and welfare schemes to take care of Cooperate Social Responsibility for the larger society while its B Zone Ummah Equity Consults is at the advance stage of establishment of private University.
MSSN has produced statesmen of repute, seasoned administrators and captains of Industries that have made commendable impacts in their various fields or positions based on values imbibed from the societal training for the growth and development of the country.
The society is still committed to its focus on inculcating Islamic moral values and citizenship education that will sustain the present and coming generations to be an asset to the country rather than liabilities.
MSSN: The Hope of the Ummah. MSSN: Our Pride!
Prof. Abideen Olaiya joined MSSN in 1981 and had served in several capacities notable amongst which are :
Imam Polyibadan Saki Campus 1986 - 1987,
Foundation Ameer Akure Area Council 1987 - 1991
Imam/Ameer FUTA 1989 - 1992,
Assistant Secretary B Zone 1992 - 1994, National Islamic Affairs Officer/IVC Organiser (1994-1999),
B-Zonal Coordinator (1999-2005) and
Vice President International (2008-2011)
