President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday urged the Muslim faithful to continually be ambassadors of justice, compassion, and peaceful co-existence wherever they found themselves to foster harmony and national development.
Tinubu also restated his administration’s commitment to inclusiveness, security, and a prosperous Nigeria, adding that efforts at restoring the economy are also gradually yielding positive outcomes.
The president spoke in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, while declaring open the 11th Triennial National Conference of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria.
Tinubu, who was represented at the occasion by the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, an engineer, charged the leadership of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria (ASN) to come out with practicable recommendations that will strengthen the relevance of Islam in tackling the challenges currently plaguing the nation.
The president also hailed the sect for championing dynamism and intellectual growth through education and community development of Nigeria, even as he described Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria as a “critical pillar of national fabric.”
He noted that the society had been deeply involved in the area of youths’ development, moral leadership, educational reform, and economic empowerment.
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Tinubu reckoned that the deliberations at the Society’s Triennial Conference, which ended today, Thursday, should be able to point Nigeria’s leadership towards the path of unity and collective progress.
“Let me begin by saluting the leadership of this great society, particularly the president, Alhaji (Dr) Abdul-Rafiu Ademola Sanni, and all members of the National Executive Council for their steadfast stewardship and remarkable work they continue to do in sustaining the founding ideals of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria.
“I also recall with pride the enduring relationship between my forebears and this organization, a bond which I continue to hold dear. For over a century, the society has championed the cause of Islamic education and community development in Nigeria, from the establishment of schools and health centers to supporting the spiritual and social needs of its members.
“The society has become a critical pillar of our national fabric. Your impact is visible across generations, particularly in your ability to nurture God-fearing, intellectually sound, and socially responsible individuals,” Tinubu said.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the President of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Abdul-Rafiu Sanni, said the “gathering is a testament to our collective commitment to the principles of unity, faith, and service to humanity”.
He pointed out that the Triennial Conference served as a platform to reflect the society’s achievements, assess its challenges, and strategize for the future, stressing that “we aim to reinforce our commitment to educational advancement, moral upbringing, and national unity”.
In his goodwill message, the Secretary-General of the National Council of Islamic Affairs (NCIA) and Registrar, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Ishiaq Oloyede, urged the society not to deviate from its methodology, education, and dynamism, attributes which have made Ansar-Ud-Deen stand out over the years.
“Even when we see anyone that is not knowledgeable as we are, we should endeavour to put them on the right track rather than condemning such outrightly”.