How NASFAT can stimulate unity among Muslims globally

THE delegates at the recently held third biennial General Conference of Nasrul-Lahi-L-Fatih Society (NASFAT) which held between December 17 and 20, 2015 at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos have resolved to work assiduously to strengthen the unity among Muslims worldwide.

In his keynote address, the President, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar represented by the Secretary General of the apex Islamic body, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede undersscored the dereliction of duty by Muslims as well as deviation from the tenets of the Islamic faith as factors responsible for the challenges confronting the Ummah. He therefore charged NASFAT to embrace the responsibility of enhancing unity among Muslims, particularly in Nigeria, and globally.

The Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Society, Alhaji Abdul-Lateef `Wale Olasupo in his welcome address posited that the challenges facing Muslims about 20 years ago at the inception of NASFAT are not exactly the same challenges today. He concluded that if the society must remain relevant, “we must in all activities and conduct promote a platform that helps to find answers to challenges facing the Muslim world.”

He identified issue of ZAKAT as one major challenge that Muslims should embrace wholeheartedly. He urged the delegates to see the need to concentrate substantial efforts and resources to the needy and the less privileged through the platform of Zakat.

In his address, the President of the Society, Engr Kamil Bolarinwa requested the delegates to work hard in fostering greater understanding of what the religion stands for not only amongst the members but also among other Muslims alike. He canvassed the need for members to become “the true vanguards of the religion as well as decide whatever their contribution would be in an ever changing world.”

Well-researched papers presented by erudite scholars enriched the intellectual content of the three-day event. Among the presenters Prof. Lukman Akinbile of the University of Ibadan who spoke on the theme of the conference: Mapping Strategies to Reposition NASFAT; Prof. Fatimah AbdulKareem, a professor of medicine spoke on the sub-theme, Leadership Competence and Integrity: Tools for society development while the second sub-theme, Sustaining Quality membership through renewed Dawah activities was delivered by Dr. Taofeek AbdulAzeez of the University of Abuja. Former President of Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Barrister Nurudeen Asunogie anchored NASFAT: My View.

In all, the speakers commended NASFAT for its pioneering role in the propagation of Islam even outside the shores of Nigeria but were quick to remind its leadership that it would be suicidal for the society to be complacent. They were also unanimous in charging the society to frontally engage all the stakeholders both within and outside the society on all challenges confronting Muslims worldwide.

Dignitaries at the conference included the Ayangbunren of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Adewale Shotobi; representatives from all the organs of the society as well as 600 delegates drawn from branches in Nigeria, Ghana, UK, USA, Republic of Benin and others.
The next conference is scheduled to take place in Accra, Ghana in 2017.