Senegal Branch Celebrates Graduation of Its Fourth Class of 2025
The capital city of Dakar, Senegal, witnessed a joyful and dignified celebration on Saturday, September 13, 2025, as the Islamic University of Minnesota - Senegal Branch held its fourth graduation ceremony, under the esteemed patronage of His Excellency Prof. Sheikh Waleed bin Idris Al-Maneese, President of the main campus of the Islamic University of Minnesota in the United States.
This year, a total of 70 male and female students graduated from the bachelor’s and master’s programs, along with several researchers who successfully defended their doctoral dissertations during the 2024–2025 academic year.
The ceremony was held at the university’s main campus within the Islamic Institute in Dakar, with the attendance of prominent religious, academic, and community leaders. Among them were Sheikh Mamour Mbacké Murtada, President of Cheikh Ahmad Bamba University (UCAB); Dr. Bab Mukhtar Kebe, representative of the Tijaniyyah-Maliki order in Tivaouane; Imam Ismail Dème, Director of the Muslim World League in Senegal; and Mr. Fathi Eid, Director of the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY) in Dakar, in addition to representatives from the Ministry of Education and numerous academic and religious figures from Senegal, The Gambia, and Mauritania.
The ceremony began with a recitation from the Holy Qur’an, followed by a welcoming address from Dr. Mohammed Al-Mukhtar Gaye, President of the university’s Senegal branch. He warmly welcomed the distinguished guests from across Senegal and neighboring countries and expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Prof. Waleed bin Idris Al-Maneese for his visionary initiative to establish the Senegal branch in 2018, as well as to the university’s faculty members for their dedication to teaching and academic guidance.
Dr. Gaye congratulated the graduates of the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs, commending their perseverance and hard work, and noted that this year’s graduation of 70 students marks a promising sign for the future of higher education in Senegal.
Members of the university’s administrative staff also delivered motivational speeches, encouraging students to pursue academic excellence and calling on Senegalese youth to discover this distinguished institution, which has, over the past four years, produced a growing number of competent researchers and scholars.
The ceremony also featured beautiful poetic performances presented by the graduates, expressing their happiness and gratitude to the university’s faculty and administration for their efforts and support throughout their studies.
The event concluded with the presentation of graduation certificates to students from the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs in a festive atmosphere filled with pride and celebration.
