The President of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has urged Nigerians, especially the youths not to be carried away with the economic reality of the country tobbe lured into unpatriotic disposition.

The Sultan of Sokoto, yesterday in Ilorin, urged tertiary institutions to prioritise character molding of youths with particular focus on nation building.

He also called for good and improved basic foundation for youths to be committed to nation’s building.

According to him, while the nation expect students to graduate with good character and sound learning, it must ponder whether the youths, today truly possess the character that should form the foundation of a progressive society.

“This is why we must challenge our youth to uphold good values. They must not allow themselves to be used as thugs, bandits or terrorists by anyone for political or financial gains.

He gave the charge at the grand finale of the 100 years Az-Zumratul Adabiyatul Kamaliyyah School of Arabic and Islamic Studies, where he disclosed that the federal and state governments are fully aware of the plight of Nigerians, but called for patience and perseverance.

According to him: “we are aware of our problems and are genuinely concerned, but remember that there’s no problem without solutions: there’s no padlock without a key.

“We shall talk with our leaders. Whatever position and; wherever we have found ourselves is not by our design, it is a design by Almighty Allah.

“We are not here to claim that we are greater or better than others. We are Muslims, and we love everybody. We do not discriminate against people because of who they are. Rather, we believe in what we can do for one another and how we can contribute positively to society.

“As leaders in Islam, we are always conscious of the issues people raise in the public domain. We will continue to do our best to draw the attention of our leaders to the needs and concerns of ordinary Nigerians.

“We know the problems confronting this country, but we also believe that there is no problem without a solution. Just as there is no padlock without a key, there is no problem that Almighty Allah cannot provide a solution to,” he encouraged.

He enjoined Muslims to be in peace with their neighbours irrespective of their religions and beliefs because: “no one is pious, Allah is the only and most pious,” he said.

He added that it is only through peaceful coexistence with neighbours that a true Muslim, by extension, a good citizen is identified.

“We must all strive to become better Muslims. You cannot be a good Muslim if you do not love your neighbour. Whoever Almighty Allah places next to you is your neighbour, and you must treat that person well, irrespective of their religion. A neighbour is a neighbour, regardless of religious differences.

“We must conduct ourselves as good Muslims and do the best we can for one another. We must also continually pray for our leaders, whether they are the President, governors, local government chairmen, members of the National Assembly or other public office holders,” he stressed.

He, however, promised to contribute his quota to the progress of the first Islamic and Arabic school in the country.

The chairman of the event, Dr. Awa Ibraheem, said the event was not only to celebrate the institution that has survived a century, “we are also celebrating a vision that has transcended generations,” he said.

He said the school, established in 1926, emerged at a crucial period in the development of modern islamic and Arabic education in Nigeria.

In his welcome address, the Khaleefahut Adabiyyeen, Shaykh Mustapha Muhammad Kamaludeen, said a century is not merely a measure of time, “but a testimony of endurance, a record of sacrifice, and a trust handed from one generation to another.