The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ramadan

  • Unilever launches Lipton campaign for Ramadan season

    Unilever Nigeria Plc. has launched a new campaign for the Ramadan season for its flagship Lipton Yellow Label tea brand.

    Speaking about the rationale behind the campaign, the Category Manager Tea and Spreads, Vivian Ihaza explained that the Ramadan period which is a very important one for Muslim Lipton consumers across Nigeria is not only a time of reflection and prayers but also a time to reach out to someone in need.

    She added that “It is a fundamental human truth that we all have good intentions and thoughts that are related to social goodness but most times, our busy lives get in the way of turning these thoughts into actions”.

    The Lipton Ramadan campaign, accordingly, is about encouraging muslims to #ThinkLessDoMore by taking actual, concrete actions this season without expecting anything in return’.

    She further noted that Lipton Yellow Label tea as the uncontested market leader in Nigeria is well placed to deliver this message of encouragement.

    The campaign which kicked off last week with some popular social media celebrities using the hashtag #ThinkLessDoMore on their twitter and Instagram handles will continue through the Ramadan period on television, radio and other communication channels.

    The Lipton mobile Ramadan lounge will also be stationed at select mosques across Nigeria to provide refreshment after IFTAR prayers to Muslim Faithful’s. As the Lipton Brand Manager, TayoAdesokan also pointed out, “It’s not just about Lipton preaching but also taking concrete actions too.This is Lipton’s way of also “Doing” in line with the campaign idea”.

  • Maximize Ramadan blessings, commissioner urges Muslims

    Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs and Chief- Imam of the Lagos State House of Assembly Mosque, Dr AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef, has enjoined the Muslim Ummah to maximize the blessings of Ramadan by engaging in righteous deeds and desist totally from their odd ways during and after the season.

    At a Ramadan lecture organised by the Lagos State Secretariat Mosque, Alausa, Ikeja held at the Mosque Multipurpose Hall on Friday, AbdulLateef said Ramadan is not about equipping the home with food stuffs and fruits, rather engage in worshipping Allah to the fullest.

    “Many long to see this Ramadan but did not witness it. Therefore, it is pertinent for all Muslims to prepare his mind that this Ramadan might be his last as we are not the owner of our souls,” he said.

    He warned that the month of Ramadan should not be taken with levity as Prophet Muhammad said that anyone who witness it from the beginning to the end and was not part of the forgiven ones is the most unfavoured Muslim on earth.

    “The month of Ramadan is solely for worship. Therefore, Muslims are meant to do the Ibadah tirelessly by performing all the obligatory and Nawafil salat, reading and mastering the Quran, engaging in supplications to remember Allah, attending and listening to Tafsirs, having the fear of Allah, looking out for the Night of Majesty, go for I’tikaf and at the end of Ramadan, pay Zakatul Fitr.”

    Also speaking Dr Abdulah Awelenje implored the elderly Muslims not to fast if their health can’t withstand it as they are parts of the exempted group.

  • Starwood offers Ramadan packages

    Starwood hospitality management group in Nigeria with hotels such as  Sheraton Lagos and Abuja, Four Point by Sheraton, Le Meridien     have put together an enriching package which includes Suhur and Iftar Buffet offers, with discounts.

    According to the Area General Manager for the Starwood Hotels in Nigeria-Barry Curran, “We have carefully planned our offerings in consideration of the particular needs of our guests during this Holy month.

    “ Our room rates start from a low price  with complimentary Buffet Breakfast (Suhur), Complimentary Buffet Dinner (Iftar), a chance to Earn starpoints with free enrolment for new SPG members, 4pm late check-out based on availability, in-room internet all-inclusive of taxes. These offers are valid from June 6 till early July”.

    Barry further said: “At Sheraton Abuja Hotel, a special Ramadan themed venue with tents and praying areas are available for our Iftar Guests. Chef Gambo and his team will prepare a selection of exotic meals for Suhur and Iftar favourites to break your fast such as tabbouleh, Hummus, fatoush salad, Moutabel as well as other Nigerian and Arabic dishes.

    “The hotel is ready to welcome you to a transformative Ramadan special with friends and family. You will be amazed at the original middle eastern meals which will be tastefully prepared by our Chef Konstantinos and his team for your Suhur and Iftar everyday at the crockpot restaurant. Our restaurant will be decorated to reflect the mood of the Ramadan season”.

    Barry said: “ At our Four Points by Sheraton Lagos at Oniru which is close to the beaches, corporations and culture of the Lekki Peninsula. You are encouraged to make the most of the season’s blessings and gifts yourself, friends and family with the Special Iftar buffet ticket  and stand the chance of winning a free weekend stay at Sheraton Abuja Hotel. This offer includes: Buy 10 Iftar buffet tickets at the cost of 8 at the Brazzerie Restaurant.

    “We also have planned a feasty Eid Celebration Brunch Buffet so you may come along with your family, friends and well-wishers to Celebrate Eid”.

  • Carpenter stabbed for not observing Ramadan fasting in Kaduna

    Barely 10 days after a mob killed an Igbo Woman for alleged blasphemy in Kano, a 41- year old carpenter, Francis Emmanuel, was on Tuesday afternoon stabbed by unknown youths for eating during Ramadan fasting.

    Governor Nasir El-Rufai on Wednesday morning visited the victim of the assault at St. Gerard Catholic Hospital, with a directive that police must fish out the perpetrators for prosecution.

    The Nation gathered that the incident occurred at 2:30pm on Tuesday when Emmanuel was eating in his workshop and the youths who suddenly appeared from nowhere started attacking him for eating on the afternoon of Ramadan.

    Speaking with journalists on his hospital bed, the carpenter said, “It happened around 2:30pm at Sokoto Road, Kakuri, on Tuesday, when I went to the market to buy wood to do some work.

    “So, when I came back, I bought food to eat. As I was eating, about six Hausa boys came to ask me if I am a Muslim or a Christian, but I did not answer them. They asked why I was not fasting, then, I told them that I am not a Muslim. Before I know it, one of them slapped me. As I stood up, the rest came and surrounded me and started attacking me with knives.”

    Asked if he can identify them or not, Emmanuel said, “I don’t know them.

    “Nobody could come to my aid because of the type of knives the boys were carrying. They used cutlasses scissors and knives, I became unconscious, I don’t even know who brought me to the hospital,” he added.

     

     

  • Ambode enjoins Muslims to promote culture of tolerance, peaceful co-existence

    Ambode enjoins Muslims to promote culture of tolerance, peaceful co-existence

    As Muslims in Nigeria join their counterparts across the world to commence the annual Ramadan, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode sent his heartfelt greetings to all Muslim faithfuls in the State just as he called on them to see the period as a time to promote culture of tolerance and peaceful co-existence.

    In a statement issued on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, the Governor said the commencement of Ramadan as a Holy month should be seen as an opportunity to learn self restraint, sacrifice, piety and love.

    He said this was in line with the admonition of the Holy Quran, Chapter 2 Verse 183, which says, “Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you so that you can learn self restraint (Piety)”.

    The Governor therefore urged Muslims in the State to take the opportunity of this Holy month to promote a culture of religious tolerance and peaceful co-existence among people of diverse ethnicity.

    “At this critical period of rebuilding our nation and ensuring that the Change we promised is delivered, the lessons of the Holy month of Ramadan must permeate all of our actions and deeds in such a way that each person must act as his brother’s keeper at all times”, the Governor said.

    He also wished all adherents of the Islamic faith a most spiritually rewarding Ramadan.

  • Ramadan: Peak offers nutritional support

    Ramadan: Peak offers nutritional support

    As Muslim faithfuls all around the world begin the journey into the Holy month of Ramadan, Peak Milk has commenced a campaign to support the Nigerian Muslims and educate them with nutritional tips that will help them make the most of the fasting season.

    The campaign, which is captioned Nourish Your Body With Peak, has commenced in parts of Northern and South Western Nigeria with an enlightenment programme that runs on major radio stations to prepare the Muslim community in Nigeria for the fasting and to enlighten them on the nutritional requirements needed to stay fit throughout the holy month, and achieve a spiritually robust and successful fast.

    Feelers emanating from the dairy sector revealed that one of the purposes of the media campaign was to reinforce and remind Nigerians on the need for regular milk consumption as it facilitates healthy and strong body growth/maintenance during the Holy month of Ramadan.

    Meanwhile, nutritionists have stressed that regular milk consumption, especially during fasting period is imperative, because milk contains nature’s essential nutrients that is required for everyday activity.

    It is advised that between 500 – 750ml milk be taken during the month of Ramadan, according to nutrition experts, as this will provide the body with energy required to undertake daily activity notwithstanding the disruption in regular diet schedule.

    Muslim faithfuls are therefore admonished to consume drinks based on milk and fruit such as milk shakes and smoothies which provide some natural sugars for energy, provide minerals like potassium, copper and manganese and are nutrients- these are good to break your fast.

    The holy month of Ramadan is the ninth of the Islamic calendar and a time when many Muslims across the world fast during daylight hours for 29-30days.

    Taking part in this spiritual activity means no food or drink during the daylight hours, eating one meal just before dawn and another after sunset.

  • Nigeria joins Muslim world as Ramadan begins

    Nigeria joins Muslim world as Ramadan begins

    Nigeria will today join the rest of the world to begin  the Ramadan fast.

    Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar last night directed the Muslim Ummah to commence the Ramadan fast on June 6.

    The Sultan gave the directive in Sokoto sequel to the sighting of the new moon of Ramadan, 1437 AH.

    He said the new moon was sighted in various states of the federation.

    Alhaji Abubakar noted that the sighting of the new Moon had been duly verified by the National Moon Sighting Committew.

    “Today (yesterday), Shaaban 29, equivalent to June, 5, 2016, therefore marks the end of Shaaban. Therefore, tomorrow (today), June 6, is equivalent to the 1st of Ramadan, 1437 AH,” he added.

    The Sultan appealed to Nigerians to intensify their acts of worship during the month-long fasting.

    Alhaji Abubakar further called on the Muslim Ummah to fervently pray for the nation’s leaders to succeed, at all levels.

    He also urged the Muslim Ummah to pray for sustained peace, unity of Nigeria and the world, as well as inter- religious harmony.

    Millions of Muslims around the world will also start of the holy month of Ramadan on today, a time marked by intense prayer, dawn-to-dusk fasting and nightly feasts.

    Saudi Arabia’s state TV announced the new moon of Ramadan was spotted Sunday evening.

    Local media in Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim country, also said Muslims there would begin fasting Monday, as will Muslims in Singapore, Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan and the Palestinian territories, among others.

  • Ramadan: Sultan urges Muslims look out for new moon

    Ramadan: Sultan urges Muslims look out for new moon

    Muslims across the country have been advised to look out for the new moon of Ramadan today.

    Ramadan is the sacred month in the Islamic calendar in which Muslims across the world observe a month-long fasting as one of the fundamental pillars of the faith.

    It is also a month in which they strive to uphold the virtues and teachings of the prophet (SAW) through increased moral acts, sacrifice and dedication as well as charity to the poor and needy.

    A statement yesterday from the Sultanate Council, Sokoto by the Chairman, Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Professor Sambo Wali Junaidu, said: “This is to inform‎ the Muslim Ummah that Sunday 5th June, 2016 which is equivalent to 29th day of Sha’aban 1437AH shall be the day to look for the new moon of Ramadan of 1437AH.

    “Muslims are therefore requested to start looking for the new moon of Ramadan 1437AH on Sunday and report‎ it’s sighting to the nearest District or Village Head for onward communication to His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III.”

  • Ramadan: Muslims asked to look for new moon

    Ramadan: Muslims asked to look for new moon

    The month of Ramadan is a sacred period which Muslims across the world observe the fundamentals of fasting as one of the pillars of Islam with a view to worshipping Allah and uphold the virtues and teachings of the prophet (SAW) through increased moral acts, sacrifice and dedication as well charity to the poor and the needy”.

    This is contained in a statement yesterday from the Sultanate Council, Sokoto signed by the Chairman, Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Professor Sambo Wali Junaidu.

    The statement said, “This is to inform the Muslim Ummah that Sunday 5th June, 2016 which is equivalent to 29th day of Sha’aban 1437AH shall be the day to look for the new moon of Ramadan 1437AH.

    ” Muslims are therefore, requested to start looking for the new moon of Ramadan 1437AH on Sunday and report its sighting to the nearest District or Village Head of onward communication to His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III.”

    Junaidu in the statement prayed Allah to help Muslims in the country discharge the religious obligation in peace.

     

  • Terrorists plan bombings during Ramadan

    Terrorists plan bombings during Ramadan

    The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday alerted Nigerians on the possibility of terrorists using the opportunity of the Ramadan period to bomb crowded places across the country.

    The month long Ramadan fasting is expected to commence tomorrow, subject to the sighting of the moon.

    The DHQ said yesterday that intelligence reports at its disposal suggested that desperate terrorists were planning to bomb crowded places during the Ramadan.

    “Information available to this headquarters indicated plans by terrorists to use the Ramadan periods which usually attracts gathering of large number of persons during morning and evening worships and prayers to carry out large scale bombings,” the Director of Defence, Brigadier- General Rabe Abubakar said in a statement.

    He asked all Nigerians to be cautious and observant during the period.

    “Against this background, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) wishes to once again advice the general public to be watchful of strange persons and objects in their localities particularly, around places of worships and to promptly report same to security agencies.

    “It is further advised that adequate security and surveillance be evolved by respective places of worship to forestall any unwholesome acts by some unscrupulous elements.”

    Abubakar reassured law abiding citizens to go about their normal businesses while efforts “are being made to eliminate the remnants of the terrorists from their hideouts as well as addressing other security challenges in the country.”