It All Started With Food: The Unexpected Journey of Hassan Fadwa From Egypt to IIUM

By, Sabrina Mohd Noor

GOMBAK, 10 December 2025: Hassan Fadwa Ramadan Ali from Egypt took center stage at the eighth session of 41st IIUM Convocation Ceremony 2025 at the Main Hall of IIUM Cultural Center (ICC), IIUM Gombak Campus. As the valedictorian of the Kuliyyah of Information and Communication Technology (KICT), she captivated the audience with a speech about her journey and the lessons that shaped her experience at IIUM.

Hassan began her speech by recalling a small moment that changed her life. “Seven years ago, my family visited a Malaysian restaurant in our hometown and we all like it, and that meal lead us to visit and fell in love with the people, the culture, and the food again,” she said, immediately capturing the attention of the hall.

The visit sparked her love for Malaysia’s people, culture and the food which eventually guided her journey to IIUM.

Hassan described the surreal feelings of achieving a dream that once felt distant.

“I imagined myself studying at the prestigious university in Malaysia, singing the IIUM anthem and Alhamdulillah, that dream became a reality,” she expressed with gratitude, acknowledging the journey that had brought her to this moment.

A significant part of her speech centered around Surah Al-Talaq verse 2 and 3, which taught her that no matter how uncertain life may feel, Allah always provides a way out for those who trust Him, offering sustenance and solutions from sources they could never predict. This reminded graduates that faith and perseverance can guide one to overcome life’s challenges and hardships.

She also reflected on what she learned at IIUM. Knowledge is not just about memorizing facts but also how it transform one’s character, instills humility, and motivates a lifelong commitment to growth and improvement.

Before finishing her speech, Hassan reminded everyone to think of people suffering around the world, such as in Sudan and Palestine, calling for greater awareness, solidarity, and compassion for those who continue to face hardship and injustice.***