Muhammad Rafly Sanjani, a 2024 cohort student from the Faculty of Law, Universitas Islam Riau (UIR), has successfully been crowned Bujang Riau 2025. This achievement came after he represented his hometown, the Regency of Kepulauan Meranti, competing against several finalists from other regencies and cities.
The Bujang Dara Riau pageant is an annual event organized by the Riau Provincial Tourism Office. Rafly was motivated to join the competition because he wanted to become a generation that understands tourism and to assist the tourism office in promoting local attractions.
Speaking to the UIR Public Relations team, Rafly shared, “The experience was exciting because during preparations I was supported by the Bakul Meranti Team, and during the quarantine period I learned many new things and built connections. The biggest challenge came from within myself — my own lack of confidence.”
For Rafly, the Bujang 2025 title is an honor and a mark of trust from others. He sees it as the starting point for becoming a better person and a role model who can inspire others. As Bujang Riau, he carries the responsibility to introduce and promote the culture and tourism of Riau Province, as well as to inspire the younger generation to be creative, active, and ethical.
Rafly offered a message to other students aspiring to follow in his footsteps: “Never hesitate to try. Being Bujang or Dara is not about perfection, but about the willingness to learn, grow, and contribute. Prepare yourself well, understand your local culture, boost your confidence, and be a person of character.”
Academically, Rafly is committed to completing his studies with the best results, while continuing to hone relevant skills such as public speaking, leadership, and socio-cultural research. He believes education is a vital foundation for fulfilling his role as an agent of change.
As Bujang Riau, Rafly also aims to be more active in cultural and tourism promotion programs through social media, participation in local events, and collaboration with government agencies and communities. He hopes to inspire more young people in Riau to love their own culture through educational activities, creative content, and training programs. (hms/smh)
