Nigerian Student Tops Al-Azhar University in Cairo

Muhammadul-Awwal Babatunde, a 27-year-old alumnus of Darul-Kitab Wa Sunnah College of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Ilorin, Kwara State, has emerged as the overall best graduating student at the world-renowned Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.

In 2020, Darul-Kitab Wa Sunnah College — founded nearly three decades ago by Sheikh Dr. Abdulkadir As-Salman Oba Sholagberu, Ubandoma of Ilorin Emirate and Imam of the National Mosque, Abuja — awarded Muhammadul-Awwal a full scholarship to study at Al-Azhar.

He completed the Arabic program at the Language Development Centre, Faculty of Islamic and Arabic Studies, where he distinguished himself academically.

He graduated with the elite recognition of “Excellent First Class With Highest Honors”, becoming the best student across all faculties of the university.

Born on July 2, 1998, Muhammadul-Awwal hails from Ikirun, Osun State.

He spent his childhood in Kaduna before his family relocated to Ilorin, famously known as the City of Knowledge.

From primary through secondary school, he consistently ranked as the best graduating student.

He later studied Food Science at the University of Ilorin for over two years before earning the Al-Azhar scholarship.

Muhammadul-Awwal revealed, “many people advised me against choosing this faculty because of its difficulty, but the challenge only deepened my passion. I entered without expecting to excel; I just wanted to learn. My professor later congratulated me for my top performance — that moment changed everything.”

He dedicated his achievement to his late mother (who passed away a week before his departure to Egypt), his father, and his teachers at Darul-Kitab Wa Sunnah, describing them as models of sincerity, discipline, and scholarship.

The honor is one of the highest academic distinctions at Al-Azhar, a university with tens of thousands of students from over 40 countries.

Muhammadul-Awwal not only outperformed Egyptian students but also international peers, placing Nigeria at the forefront of global Islamic scholarship.

He emphasized that the achievement reflects Nigeria’s intellectual strength and the global impact of Darul-Kitab Wa Sunnah College.

“This honor carries a heavy responsibility. I intend to use this achievement to serve my community, elevate Nigerian scholarship, and contribute meaningfully to Islamic knowledge worldwide.”