Serang – The 13th Vice President of Indonesia, Prof. KH. Ma’ruf Amin, attended the first graduation ceremony of Universitas Syekh Nawawi Banten (USNB) held at Hotel Horison Serang on Saturday, January 25, 2025.
During his speech, Prof. KH. Ma’ruf Amin highlighted that USNB is the result of the academic community’s persistent efforts to evolve from a college into a full-fledged university.

“Alhamdulillah, today Universitas Syekh Nawawi is holding its first graduation. This university is a continuation of the Syekh Nawawi Islamic boarding school, then the College of Islamic Jurisprudence, and now it has transformed into a university with the theme of producing globally competitive and excellent generations,” he said.

He emphasized that in facing today’s challenges, it is essential to prepare superior human resources. According to him, there are two key aspects to achieving this:

“First, in guiding and enlightening the people from darkness and uncertainty to light — from ignorance to the light of faith. For this, we need individuals who understand religion and are aware of the current challenges,” he continued.

“Second, in building prosperity, we must prepare individuals capable of developing the earth, as commanded by Allah SWT — He created you from the earth and entrusted you to prosper it. This responsibility includes engaging in activities that drive growth in sectors such as the economy and industry,” he added.

At the same event, USNB Rector Hj. Siti Haniatunnisa, LLB., M.H., stated that Universitas Syekh Nawawi Banten is an Islamic Religious Higher Education Institution under the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Indonesia. It was originally established as the College of Islamic Jurisprudence Syekh Nawawi Tanara in 2016 and transformed into a university in 2023.
She explained that USNB’s foundation is based on a conceptual paradigm of knowledge and classical Islamic texts (kitab kuning), which are integrated into the curriculum.

“This integration aims to produce scholars with innovative and solution-oriented ideas, aligned with the fiqh principle of preserving the good from the past and embracing better innovations,” she said.

She also noted that the university is named after the renowned Banten scholar, Syekh Nawawi al-Bantani, who was born in Tanara, Serang, Banten. He was a prolific scholar known for his vast knowledge and contributions.

“He authored hundreds of works across various disciplines, including theology, jurisprudence, mysticism, and Quranic interpretation. His writings remain influential in Islamic boarding schools today, earning him the title ‘Father of the Kitab Kuning’,” she added.

Also present was Prof. Dr. Sururin, M.Ag., Deputy Coordinator of Kopertais Region I DKI Jakarta and Banten, who congratulated the first batch of USNB graduates. He praised their dedication to learning.

“The students at USNB truly have a strong determination to study. They devote their time to learning and reciting religious texts. InshaAllah, they will excel in their respective fields and fulfill their aspirations,” he said.