By: Mwanamvua Abdallah
Technical University of Mombasa (TUM) campus buzzed with vibrant energy today as it played host to over 500 eager high school students hailing from 14 institutions across Mombasa County. The occasion was the highly anticipated TUM-AWAKE Career Extravaganza, an inspiring initiative organized by the Arab Welfare Association of Kenya (AWAKE) in partnership with exhibitors like Imperial Education Consultants and Nurturing Stars Organization.
The event centered on a powerful, transformative theme: Balancing 'Deen and Dunya'—harmonizing spiritual anchoring with secular ambitions to cultivate the holistic, well-rounded professionals of tomorrow.
The event was graced by TUM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Laila Abubakar, who delivered a stirring address on the critical importance of maintaining religious values when transitioning into higher education. She emphasized that deep-rooted discipline remains the ultimate linchpin of any successful academic journey. Moving beyond inspiration to practical mentorship, Prof. Abubakar also demystified the often-complex world of higher education financing, guiding the attentive audience through the latest KUCCPS placement protocols, HELB loan applications, and available scholarship pathways.
The spiritual and motivational heartbeat of the day was driven by keynote speakers Sheikh Mohammed Mukhtar and Sheikh Abdulrahman Said, who poured timeless wisdom into the receptive crowd. Taking the stage with infectious energy, Prof. Othman Mujahid delivered a captivating motivational talk on sustaining academic stamina, challenging the students to anchor their efforts by always remembering their core “why.”
As the event transitioned into technical mentorship, a stellar plenary session spotlighted cutting-edge fields like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and software engineering. TUM Director of Career Services Dr. Juliana Asser, alongside Prof. Anwar Hood, Dr. Amina Saleh (Software Developer), and Dr. Abdulrahman Mutwafy, took the stage to map out clear, actionable career blueprints for the tech-driven future.
Reflecting on the day, Prof. Anwar—a TUM lecturer and key AWAKE organizer—hailed the extravaganza as an unprecedented triumph.
"This is our very first career fair as AWAKE and it has achieved a 100 percent turnout from our invitees," Prof. Anwar noted proudly. “We have surpassed our targets by far. This massive turnout and the unwavering attentiveness of these students pave the way for us to roll out similar impactful events across the wider region.”
He closed the forum by expressing profound gratitude to the Almighty, the host university, the facilitators, and the brilliant young minds who made the day a resounding success.
Key Takeaways for the Youth:
1.Knowledge as Worship: Seek education as a divine commandment and spiritual devotion, not merely as a cultural routine.
2. Purpose Over Profit: Strive for education to evolve into the finest version of yourself, rather than chasing a paycheck.
3. Embrace the Journey: True success is a patient, step-by-step process—not a one-time event.
4. Uncompromising Discipline: Guard your focus and maintain strict personal discipline.
5. Divine Connection: Never lose sight of your relationship with the Almighty Creator.
