UMSU Rector Prof. Dr. Agussani, MAP accompanied the President of the Republic of Indonesia Ir. H. Joko Widodo, and Chairman of PP Muhammadiyah Prof. Dr. Haedar Nashir, M.Si opened the XXIII Muhammadiyah Student Association (IPM) Congress.
The opening was held, on Saturday (19/8) at the Diaspora Sports Building, Jalan Williem Iskandar, Kenangan Baru, Deli Serdang.
The congress was officially opened by the President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo, General Chairperson of PP Muhammadiyah Prof. Dr. Haedar Nashir, M.Si, TNI Commander Admiral Yudo Margono, Minister of Youth and Sports Dito Ariotedjo, General Chairperson of PP IPM Nashir Efendi and Mayor of Medan, M. Bobby Nasution, as well as UMSU Rector Prof. Agussani together went up to the stage. Furthermore, the President marked the opening of the congress by hitting the Toba Batak traditional musical instrument, Taganing, from the stage.
In his speech, the President admitted that he missed and was happy to meet again with the Muhammadiyah Student Association, so much so that he canceled his schedule to Africa.
“Honestly, I say I’m happy,” he said.
The President of the Republic of Indonesia also emphasized that Muhammadiyah students can be role models and Muslim students can progress with their great mastery of science and technology as well as having great morals, character, and mentality.
After the opening, President Joko Widodo shook hands and chatted with UMSU Rector Prof. Dr. Agussani, MAP together with Chairman of PP Muhammadiyah, Minister of Youth and Sports, and Mayor of Medan.
General Chairperson of PP Muhammadiyah Prof. Dr. Haedar Nashir expressed his thanks to the president who took the time to attend and open the congress during his busy state schedule. Prof. Haedar said that President Jokowi is the only one who often visits Muhammadiyah. Then, Prof. Haedar conveyed four messages to the IPM which concluded among them that Muhammadiyah students must become religious students and become people of noble civility, of primary character, and always be close to Allah SWT to give birth to self-pity and social piety.
Meanwhile, the General Chairperson of the PP Muhammadiyah Student Association, Nashir Efendi, said that IPM had created a change program to respond to the era of technological disruption. For this reason, the president’s presence in opening the Congress in Medan provided positive energy for Muhammadiyah students in Indonesia.
UMSU as one of the Muhammadiyah Higher Education Institutions (PTM) as well as a charitable business association was appointed by PP Muhammadiyah to support and facilitate the 23rd IPM Congress in Medan. This is the result of decisions from marathon meetings with PP Muhammadiyah and IPM. PTM together with the Persyarikatan are at the forefront of making this strategic congress a success.
The opening of the IPM Congress was also attended by elements of central, regional, and regional leadership of Muhammadiyah, Aisyiah, UMSU academics, Muhammadiyah Youth, Ortom as well as 2,000 students who are members of IPM throughout Indonesia and students from Muhammadiyah schools.
