The 2022 Annual National Reunion Conference of Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates’ Association (UNIFEMGA) held at Ile-Ife, Osun State between Friday May 27 and Sunday May 29, 2022. (26-28 Shawwal, 1443 A.H), has come to an end.
The Conference whose theme is `Involvement of Nigerian Muslims Towards A Successful Outcome of the 2023 General Elections’’ commenced with a special Jumat service at the OAU Central Mosque, Ile-Ife, Osun State.
A Networking Dinner held at the Awovarsity Hall of the University on Friday 27th May, 2022 which was sponsored by Alhaji Rafiu Ebiti, UNIFEMGA B.O.T Chairman centred on ” Politics, Governance and the Muslim Elite” with a panel of discussants, facilitator, Prof Fola Lasisi, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede and other top university functionaries in attendance.
The reunion lecture was delivered by Prof. Ishaq Lakin Akintola, Professor of Islamic Eschatology and Director General, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), with retired CP Yinka Balogun PhD as the Chairman of the occasion while Gov. Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State represented by his S.A on Education, Alhaji Jamiu Olawunmi as Special Guest of Honour.
The Conference also witnessed the presentation of 105 scholarships and grants to OAU undergraduate and postgraduate students totaling N8.075 million by the Association as part of its welfare gesture to the students on campus. To date, the Association has disbursed the total of over N50million to over 850 students of the Institution.
The association also had its Annual General Meeting (AGM) where its activities in the past one year were reviewed and ratified the continuation in office of the current National Executive Committee.
Allah says in Qur’an 3 verse 110: “You are the best community created for mankind. You enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong and you believe in Allah” .
At the end of the conference, the following resolutions were passed:
- The Failure of leadership in Nigeria has caused us a lot of challenges. We have witnessed civil strife, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, corruption, economic comatose, political rascality and social disorder.
- The series of security crises, we are witnessing in the country is due largely to insensitivity on the part of our leaders, ineptitude of intelligence gathering on the part of the security agencies which constitutes a great challenge to good governance and a threat to democracy in the country.
- That the South West Muslims have continued to be politically marginalized as they were denied access to political offices, appointment to government establishments and university appointments using various weapons of oppression and intimidation.
- Involvement of Nigerian Muslims especially the Muslim Elite in politics and participation in the electoral process is necessary and should be seen as an act of Worship.
5.In order to forestall uprising in Nigeria, all elected and appointed leaders should be responsive to the needs and aspirations of the citizenry and embrace good governance, fairness and justice to all as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic Nigeria and make the fear of Allah their watchword. - The Federal Government of Nigeria should show serious commitment in fighting corruption, which has eaten deep into the fabric of the citizenry in the country by being accountable and transparent in the business of the government while those found culpable should be made to face the wrath of the law.
7.Since Nigeria is a multi-religious and multi-ethnic society, efforts should be geared towards upholding the letter and spirit of the principle of Federal Character in all governmental affairs and appointments.
- All the three tiers of governments in Nigeria should ensure that the lives and property of all the citizens of the country are secured. This is important, as it is only when there is national security that development can take place.
- The private sector should as a matter of urgency partner with the government for the education of Nigerians especially to address all the Infrastructural deficit
- That employment opportunities should be given to teeming unemployed Nigerian youths who are being used as instruments of violence by some selfish and unpatriotic individuals.
- We condemn in strong terms the terrorist acts in some parts of the country, mob, jungle and selective killings of innocent Nigerians but advise the Federal Government to avoid the present stereotype of pigeon-holing it as a religious issue. It is more of political, ethnic and economic issue.
- The Conference recommends the Islamic concept of leadership which is rooted in the institutionalization of principles of integrity, honesty and competency rather than patronages.
- Above all, we advise all Nigerian leaders as well as all Nigerians to live in peace and learn to tolerate one another, be fair to all and remember that injustice breeds uprising and violent acts.
We commend the National and Local Organizing Committees for giving the Association a befitting conference and providing the enabling environment.
Signed .
Engr. AbdulFattah Olanlege
National President
Mr Shamsudeen Adenopo
National P.R.O.
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