ABU Student Wins Campus Ambassador of the Year at Islamic Finance Summit

Zainab Abdulrazak Adegbola, a 400-level Economics student of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has emerged as the Campus Ambassador of the Year at the maiden Islamic Finance Youth Summit 2026. The summit was held on Thursday, November 5, at the Ilorin Innovation Hub, Kwara State. Adegbola was announced as the winner and presented with a dummy cheque at the event.

The Islamic Finance Youth Summit 2026 attracted more than 300 participants, including students, entrepreneurs, technology enthusiasts, and professionals in the financial sector. Adegbola received the award and a cash prize in recognition of her contributions to promoting awareness and understanding of Islamic finance among students at ABU.

The award was presented by NextIF, a youth-focused platform committed to promoting Islamic finance and encouraging young people to explore ethical and Shariah-compliant financial alternatives. NextIF's Campus Ambassador Programme engages students from universities across Nigeria to serve as representatives of the platform and promote Islamic finance within their institutions.

The programme has established a network of student ambassadors across several universities, including the University of Ilorin, Kwara State University, University of Lagos, Lagos State University, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, University of Ibadan, and Obafemi Awolowo University. Through the initiative, participating students are encouraged to organise and participate in activities that introduce their colleagues to the principles, applications, and relevance of Islamic finance.

At the end of the programme cycle, Adegbola emerged as the overall outstanding ambassador, having demonstrated commitment and excellence in advancing Islamic finance awareness within her university community. Her contributions were commended by NextIF, which described them as an example of the role young people can play in expanding knowledge of ethical and Shariah-compliant financial systems.

NextIF reaffirmed its commitment to building a generation of young people equipped with the knowledge and skills to contribute to the growth and development of Islamic finance. The organisation also announced that the Campus Ambassador Programme would open another application cycle soon, urging interested students to seize the opportunity to represent NextIF and promote Islamic finance on their campuses.

Adegbola's achievement is a testament to the impact that young people can have in promoting Islamic finance and ethical financial systems. Her recognition as Campus Ambassador of the Year highlights the importance of initiatives like the NextIF Campus Ambassador Programme in fostering a new generation of leaders in Islamic finance.

Key points

• Adegbola was recognised for her contributions to promoting awareness and understanding of Islamic finance among students at ABU.
• The NextIF Campus Ambassador Programme engages students from universities across Nigeria to promote Islamic finance within their institutions.
• NextIF reaffirmed its commitment to building a generation of young people equipped with the knowledge and skills to contribute to the growth and development of Islamic finance.