The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has urged Nigerians not to lose hope despite the prevailing economic hardship, saying the nation can overcome its current challenges through resilience, justice and compassion.
The monarch, however, noted that resilience in the face of adversity must be anchored on justice, compassion and education if the country is to achieve lasting peace.
The sultan stated this in Abuja on Wednesday at the launch of the history book of Nasrul-Lahi-l-Fatih Society of Nigeria titled ‘NASFAT: The First 25 Years,’ authored by Prof. Siyan Oyeweso.
According to him, justice remains the foundation for stability in any society, adding that without fairness and equity, efforts to address Nigeria’s challenges would be futile.
He said, “Let’s all pray for our leaders. Every time I have an opportunity like this, I say, please pray for our leaders, for good health, for direction, and for that steadfastness of knowing that you, as a leader, you will account for whatever you have done on earth to the almighty Allah. People say times are tough, yes.
“But when times are tough, tough people overcome such tough times. Let’s believe that Almighty Allah blesses us of his own will, his wish, and we will overcome this. And I believe 100 per cent that Almighty will bring ease to all of us in this great country and beyond.”
While urging leaders at all levels to govern with empathy, Abubakar, who wrote the foreword of the book, described leadership as a form of fatherhood that requires patience, sincerity and selflessness.
He stated that those in positions of authority must see themselves as servants of the people and act in their best interest.
He also called on citizens to remain prayerful, law-abiding and united, adding that Nigerians must work together irrespective of ethnic or religious differences.
Sultan added, “Justice is the foundation of any society. As Sheikh Uthman Dan Fodio said, a nation can endure with unbelief, but it cannot endure with injustice. So let’s face justice in whatever we do.
“Both leaders and followers need to be just in whatever we do. And I believe that conscience is an open wound, only truth can heal it. Let’s tell ourselves the whole truth in whatever we do, how we do things.”
Commending NASFAT for its investment in education and youth empowerment, the Sultan urged other religious and community groups to prioritise human capital development.
He noted that education is a powerful tool for breaking the cycle of poverty and curbing social unrest.
“We know the importance of education. Our forefathers knew what education was all about, and they had their own focus on educating people. When you educate somebody and he becomes an educated person, he becomes an asset to you and to the community. But somebody who is not educated is a very big problem.
“And that’s what we are facing in this country and in this world. Lack of education is pushing people to do things that they are not supposed to do because Almighty Allah abhors those things they are doing, and that’s why we don’t have peace of mind, we don’t have peace in our places of worship.
“That’s why we have crises all over the world. This is because we have put aside our creator, our sustainer, as the Almighty who does everything at all the time he wants,” he said.
Reviewing the book, the Vice-Chancellor of the African School of Economics, Pan-African University of Excellence, Abuja, Prof. Mahfouz Adedimeji, noted that the book is a compelling historical record that safeguards the organisation’s legacy against collective amnesia.
He described the work as richly documented, spiritually inspiring, and a model of how history can serve as a compass for posterity.
The don said the book is more than a retelling of events, but a testimony to divine favour, human commitment, and what can be achieved when Islam is pursued with intellectual depth, spiritual dedication, and organisational excellence.
According to him, the narrative captures NASFAT’s transformation from a small prayer group in Lagos in 1995 into a transnational Islamic movement with branches in Nigeria, Africa, Europe, and North America.
President of NASFAT, Alhaji Ayodeji Abdulrauf, stated that the book is not only a record of NASFAT’s past but also a guide for the future.
He reminded members of the society’s core values, including prayer, education, youth development, women’s empowerment, dawah, and humanitarian service.
He encouraged them to let the book inspire greater service, deeper commitment, and the preservation of the ideals of NASFAT’s founding fathers.
The NASFAT president called on all faith-based organisations to take a greater role in delivering social services, while respecting the separation of faiths and beliefs.
