Kampala, Uganda: The Senior Presidential Advisor and Head of the Office of the NRM National Chairman (ONC), Hajjat Uzeiye Hadijah Namyalo, has urged graduates of Nabisunsa Girls’ School to remain grounded in Islamic values and focused on their dreams as they step into the next chapter of their academic and personal journeys.
Addressing the Class of 2024 at Nabisunsa’s 4th Idaad Graduation on Friday, April 25, Hajjat Namyalo, who graced the function as the Special Guest, praised the school as a “holy place” that shaped her into the leader she is today.
Hajjat offered heartfelt gratitude to her former teachers and peers, describing the graduation as a significant milestone in the lives of the young theologians.
“I congratulate the theologians upon this great milestone. You have received a permanent blessing that will guide your lives with wisdom and light. Outside there, life is not easy, but your faith and knowledge will be your anchor,” she remarked.
Recalling her days at Nabisunsa, Namyalo shared a vivid memory of a basketball final against Namagunga, which she helped win with the backing of her teachers and teammates. She urged the graduates, especially the young women, to resist societal pressures that might derail their dreams.
“The world outside is tough and often unforgiving. Men may take advantage of you, but remember, your education and faith are your shield. Value your books more than the temptations of fleeting pleasures,” she cautioned. “Yes, marriage is a necessity and compulsory, but it shouldn’t rush you into abandoning your dreams. Your education is your crown.”
The Deputy Headteacher of Nabisunsa, Hajj Kimera Badru, commended the students for their endurance and discipline during their four-year theological journey. “You are now graduates. Thank you for agreeing to be taught during your precious time. But remember, after acquiring this knowledge, you must not sit on it. Go and teach, discipline, and lead by example,” he remarked.
Hajj Kimera further encouraged the graduates to aim higher. “The sky is the limit,” he said, noting that the Idaad Theology program, introduced in 2019, had weathered disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic to produce resilient scholars.
Nazma Aisha Muhammad, the best overall candidate in Idaad 2024 at Nabisunsa, was awarded a full bursary for her second term worth UGX 1,908,000, handed over by the Headteacher, Hajjat Zulaika Nabukeera Kabuye.
Adding to the Headteacher’s reward, Hajjat Namyalo awarded $200 to Nazma, while the Office Administrator at ONC, Dr. Mariam Nakimuli, presented a Shs500,000 cash reward to the second-best performer, Namaganda Joweria Lukwago.
Uganda’s Ambassador to Sudan and Special Envoy to Qatar, Dr. Rashid Yahya Ssemuddu, who presided over the graduation as the Chief Guest, congratulated the 20 graduates for balancing secular and theological studies, describing the top student, Nazma, as a “golden girl.”
“Let your education guide your actions, shape your values, and uplift others,” he said, quoting the Qur’an as he emphasized the spiritual importance of seeking knowledge.
Dr Ssemuddu also handed over UGX 2.9 million, with UGX 1 million going to the top student and UGX 100,000 to each of the 19 others.
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About Idaad
The Idaad Exams, equivalent to UNEB’s Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE), are administered by the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) under the Idaad and Thanawi Examinations Board (ITEB-U) and mark the completion of lower secondary Islamic education. The set of exams precedes the Thanawi level, the equivalent of upper secondary certification.
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