2023 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) OF AT-TANZEEL SCHOOLS HELD AT THE SCHOOL PREMISES.
OPENING REMARKS/SALUTATION
Dear Respected Shareholders
Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu (May the peace, mercy, and
blessings of Allah be upon you).
I begin by praising Allah (SWT) and seeking His guidance, forgiveness, and
protection from the wrongs we may commit. I bear witness that there is no deity
worthy of worship except Allah alone, without any partners, and I bear witness
that Muhammad (SAW) is His servant and final messenger.
INTRODUCTION
I am delighted to welcome you to the 13th Annual General Meeting and the
presentation of our Annual Accounts. This gathering marks a significant milestone
for me, as it is the final Annual Reports & Accounts that I will present as the
Chairman of the Board of Directors. This responsibility was entrusted to me and
my fellow board members in 2015, following the distinguished leadership of our
pioneer Chairman, Alhaji Fatai Salami, who had successfully completed his fiveyear term.
OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENT
Let us begin by examining the global and national economic and political landscape
within which we operated during the past year.
The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, which escalated to a full-scale war in 2022,
has had far-reaching consequences on the world stage. The conflict resulted in heavy casualties and deepened divisions among major world powers, ultimately
affecting the economies of numerous countries. For Nigeria, despite being a major
oil-producing nation, the benefits were mitigated due to our dependence on
imported refined oil.
On the domestic front, we witnessed general elections and an unexpected currency
redesign approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria, resulting in a short compliance
window of just two months. This redesign caused an unprecedented scarcity of
local currency, leading to significant disruptions in the lives and livelihoods of our
citizens. The election itself was fiercely contested, leading to a three-horse race at
the federal executive level, a departure from the usual two-horse contest
FUTURE OUTLOOK
We are optimistic about our prospects and the brighter future that awaits our
enterprise. We have made substantial preparations to maximize opportunities in
the Complete Quran Course (CQC) program and our Sixth Form initiative, which
will provide our students with access to international examinations, facilitating
their pursuit of degrees in advanced countries.
Additionally, we are investing in state-of-the-art sports facilities while maintaining our strong focus on Quranic memorization and understanding, thereby ensuring the holistic development of our
students.
RECAP OF ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE LAST EIGHT YEARS (2015-2023)
Allow me to reflect on some of the noteworthy accomplishments of this Board over
the past eight years:
I. Human Capital Development: We have attracted and retained high caliber teachers who received world-class training and continuous development.
II. Academic Excellence: Our students consistently excelled in external exams, and we have nurtured them to be well-versed in their faith, leadership, and driven by self-motivation to strive for excellence. Our
commitment to this mission resulted in the production of twenty-seven Huffaz, and all our graduates reached significant milestones in Quranic memorization before leaving the school.
III. Brand Respectability: The At-tanzeel brand is now highly respected both locally and internationally. The trust placed in us by parents, even amidst challenging economic circumstances, is a testament to our reputation.
IV. Enrolment and Staff Growth: We have witnessed exponential growth in student enrolment, increasing from 81 in 2015 to over 200 in 2023, representing over 170% growth. Our direct staff has more than doubled, increasing from 32 to 65, not to mention additional indirect and contract staff.
APPRECIATION
Our deep appreciation goes out to our partners, including shareholders such as
Alhaji Ishaq Folorunsho and Alhaji Abdul Hakeem Alimi, who have made selfless
contributions to provide critical infrastructure for the school. We extend our gratitude to our staff, the At-Tanzeel Stakeholders Forum (ASF), our generous hosts and donors who support our leadership events and other life-changing activities. We also thank our students for their dedication, and our esteemed shareholders for their unwavering faith in our mission.
CONCLUSION
In closing, I have every confidence that the newly inaugurated 3rd Board of At-Tanzeel Schools will carry the torch of our vision forward. These individuals have demonstrated their capacity and dedication to the At-Tanzeel mission, and I am confident that they will lead our enterprise to even greater heights, insha Allah.
We offer our sincere prayers to Allah to pardon our mistakes, forgive our sins, purify our intentions, and accept our sacrifices as acts of worship for His sake.
Wa alaykum as-salam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuhu.
Abdul-Hameed Oladimeji Olona
Board Chairman
2015-2023.
Al-hamdu Lillaahi nahmaduhu wa nasta’eenahu wa nastaghfiruhu, wa na’oodhu billaahi min shuroori anfusinaa wa min sayi’aati a’maalinaa. Man yahdih Illaahu falaa mudilla lahu wa man yudlil falaa haadiya lahu. Wa ashhadu an laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wahdahu la sharika lahu wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasooluhu.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,
All praise is due to Allah. We seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomever Allah guides will never be led astray, and whomever Allah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, the One, having no partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
I stand before you today with profound gratitude and humility as I accept the honorable position of Chairman of At-Tanzeel Schools. I am deeply honored to be entrusted with this significant responsibility and am fully committed to guiding our institution to new heights of academic and moral excellence.
Firstly, I extend my heartfelt appreciation to the outgoing chairman, Alh. Abdul Hameed Oladimeji Olana, and the entire board members for their unwavering dedication and hard work in establishing a robust foundation for our beloved At-Tanzeel Schools over the past 13 years!
As we embark on this collective journey, I am eager to share our vision for the future—a vision centered around the transformation of education delivery to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Our pledge is to cultivate an environment that fosters holistic development, where academic achievement harmoniously coexists with moral values and a profound sense of responsibility.
Our primary focus will be on investing in 21st-century teaching and learning infrastructure and methodologies. The world is evolving at an unprecedented pace, and it is imperative that our educational approach evolves in tandem. We will integrate more cutting-edge technologies into our curriculum, creating an atmosphere that stimulates innovation, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
Information technology will assume a central role in our learning and teaching delivery. We aspire to craft an immersive and interactive educational experience that transcends traditional methods. By harnessing the power of technology, we aim to empower our students as well as teachers to become adept digital citizens capable of navigating the challenges of the modern world.
While academic excellence remains non-negotiable, we recognize that true success lies in the character of our students. Hence, we will place a strong emphasis on instilling moral values and ethics. Our goal is for our graduates not only to excel academically but also to emerge as compassionate, ethical leaders who contribute positively to society.
Also important is the focus on staff quality and welfare. As the saying goes, you cannot give what you don’t have; we shall invest more in teachers’ development to improve their capacity in teaching, impacting knowledge, and managing the school. Our staff welfare shall continue to remain critical in all our decisions.
Stakeholder engagement is paramount for the success of any educational institution. We will actively involve parents, teachers, students, and the broader community in the decision-making process. Collaboration will be the cornerstone of our success, and together, we will create an environment that nurtures the holistic development of each student.
In conclusion, I am enthusiastic about the journey that lies ahead for At-Tanzeel Schools. With your support, dedication, and collaboration, we will transform our institution into a beacon of 21st-century education—where academic excellence, moral values, and innovation converge to shape the leaders of tomorrow.
Thank you for your trust, and let us embark on this exciting adventure together.
Sincerely,
Saheed Bashir
Chairman, At-Tanzeel Schools
November 19, 2023
