They are mothers and were concerned about helping children roaming the streets with no motherly care and direction. So, as members of Truth Bearer Platform, a group of Muslim sisters, they began yearly visitations to orphanages during the month of Ramadan.

But over time, they felt they could do more. It was, therefore, not surprising when in 2021, they formed the ‘Sisters In The Deen Foundation Orphanage’, which established Baytu Sakeenah Home to cater for orphans and vulnerable children.

However, to galvanise support for their activities, especially as their dreams and hope of making more impact grew bigger, the Foundation, led by its President, Dr. Nurat Akinlabi-Babalola, and its Board of Trustees members, organised the third yearly Ramadan Lecture/ Fundraising, themed, “Expansion for Greater Positive Impact” with topic of the lecture being, “Establishing a Peaceful Society: A Compelling Duty of All Muslims.”

In his speech, chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Ismail Adebola Akindele, who is Group Managing Director of Courteville Business Solution Plc, Lagos, expressed delight in the programmes and activities of the organization, promising his support.

Represented by the Chief Strategist and Head of Risk Management of Courteville Business Solution Plc, Alhaji AbulAzeez Adewale Abdullahi, the chairman commended the ‘Sisters in the Deen’ Foundation and its efforts at making the society a better place, which he said, should be supported by all.

He suggested that the official bottlenecks around child adoption should be x-rayed to allow for easier adoption process, as many who are genuinely concerned about adopting to support vulnerable children are shying away because of the bureaucracy involved.

He further said: “Currently we do not have much of Islamic bodies that are into orphanage home, adoption of children, taking care of the less privileged apart from the Bab-Salam at Ikeja GRA.  So, I commend the organisers for what they are doing and they should engage more to let people know them. There are lots of Muslims that really want to be part of a success like this. They should reach out more; align with some organisations that could be of help.”

President of the Sisters in the Deen Foundation, Dr. Nurat Akinlabi-Babalola, in her address, described the project being raised money for as one that is divine.

Providing insight into how they started, she said: “When a group of pragmatic women from this group started providing protein-rich foods for orphan, we could have never known Allah’s plan. When these noble women started organising Eid events for the orphans, we could have never known Allah’s plan. We call it Merry Eid for Orphans. Another one is Dress them for Eid, this is involved making bespoke Eid clothes for orphans, alleviating their spirit to have a fulfillment of happy Eid.

“Even when Allah guided us to start this project we had no idea what it entailed. Through the struggles of planning, obtaining of all required approvals, it still felt like a dream. But here we are, two years plus, after that little idea finally flourished, raising fund for its expansion. An idea that has been heavily supported by so many.

“We thank Allah SWT for this great favour bestowed us. For all the support you’ve given our foundation and our beautiful children, May Allah SWT replenish your pockets and reward all your efforts in this world and the next.”

Akinlabi-Babalola stated that for every child they clothed, fed or uplifted, they have witnessed the transformative power of compassion in action.

“Our journey, fraught with trials and triumphs, resonates deeply within each of us. We carry the stories of resilience, the echoes of laughter, and the silent call for help. Yet, amid the darkness, we find flickers of light, the hope kindled in a child’s eyes, the warmth of a community united in love.

“Let us remember that the future of these children, our future, lies in your hands as you grace us with your generosity today.
“For in your benevolence, we sow the seeds of hope and promise, shaping not only individual destinies but the very future of Nigeria as a nation.”

According to her, every establishment has short-term, medium and long-term goal, adding that one of their medium-term goal is to separate the teenage boys and girls in its home.

“Our medium-term goal is to have an accommodation, a facility within the estate where we are domicile now in Ogba. Our long-term goal is to move out to our permanent site in Epe,” she said.

Akinlabi-Babalola stated that every pledge made and every contribution given, the donors become architects of dreams, builders of tomorrows yet unseen.

“You hold within your hands the power to transform lives, to ignite hope, and to sculpt a future where every child’s potential blossoms like a garden in full bloom.

“Our journey thus far has been marked by significant strides, yet we stand at the cusp of a new horizon, a horizon that beckons us to broaden our reach, to enhance the depth of our programs, and to amplify the positive outcomes we can foster. 

“Our vision of expansion transcends the mere augmentation of physical space; it embodies the extension of our compassion, the enrichment of our offerings, and the empowerment of our children to soar to new heights and to contribute their unique gifts to society.

“The tapestry of our achievements is rich and varied. We have sown seeds of education, mentorship, and a nurturing environment that have blossomed into countless success stories. 

“We have fortified families, emboldened the youth, and rekindled hope in the hearts of those who once despaired. Our unwavering resolve has illuminated the path for those we serve, guiding them towards a future replete with possibilities,” Akinlabi-Babalola stated.

On her part, the foundation’s Secretary, Hajia Fatimah Monguno, said: “We established the orphanage because there was a need that was lacking in the society.”

According to her, at the time, there was only a Muslim orphanage. “So, we saw it as a compelling need to, at least, have another Muslim orphanage. That was while we established Baytu Sakeenah.

“It was about 11 ladies from different walks of life who came together and it was put together by our monthly contributions. Then we registered the foundation and we went through all the rigours of getting all the documentations from Alausa. Now, we are in Ogba (Ikeja) and we run the foundation with our own personal funds. Now we need support and it will go a long way.”

Also commenting, the Welfare Secretary of the Sisters, Hajia Basirat Oladosu, said the fund raising became important because they are looking at expanding.

“The children in Baytu Sakeenah are doing well but we intend to expand because we see the need for us to do so. There are other vulnerable children, orphans outside that need our assistance and from time to time, we get calls from the Ministry that they need to bring in more children. As it is now, the space will not allow us.”

For Abisola Aminat Dina, the treasurer of the Foundation, the need was much more than what they could be financing from their individual pockets reason they are looking at.

She said it takes a lot of money taking care of the personal needs of the children, feeding education, staff salaries, as well as security. The guest lecturer, Sheikh Taofeek Akeugbagold, underscored the need for Muslim Ummah to unite and stop finding faults or make enmity against one another.

Speaking on the topic, “Establishing a Peaceful Society: A Compulsory Duty of All Muslims”, at the lecture themed, “Expansion for Greater Positive Impact” towards improving on care, medicals and educational development of the orphans and vulnerable children captured by the programmes and activities of the Sisters’ NGO, Akeugbagold said the essence of man is to use his brain for the control of the earth while that of animal is to spoil and spread evils.

He, therefore, called on human occupants of the earth, Muslims in particular, to live a life that distinguishes them from animal and evildoing folks by ensuring application of brain and sense in all that they do, adding that helping the orphans and the vulnerable children, which the ‘Sisters in the Deen Foundation’ does with its ‘Baytu Sakeenah Orphanage Home’ is a compulsory responsibility that well-to-do Muslim elite should invest in as, doing so, will help shape the society from one occupied by hoodlums and hooligans.

Akeugbagold said Muslims have no reason to allow enmity between them and fellow citizens who are Christians or non-Muslim. He regretted that Muslim clerics in Yoruba Land failed in their duty of taking care of Islamic affairs hence the problem the religion has in the land.

Akeugbagold added that good character was the best tool used by Prophet Muhammad to relate with people and which many that reverted to Islam saw to make their decisions.

He listed four ways to achieve peace in the society to include love, spirit of forgiveness, justice and respect for human dignity. He particularly warned Muslims of Nigeria against intra-community division, imploring them to pull themselves together and work collectively towards achieving peace and greatness that they have been promised by Allah.

Appreciating the orphanage home effort of ‘Sisters in the Deen Foundation’ as one of the duties that Muslims of Nigeria had reneged from carrying out but which the NGO has now taken up to do, the Sheikh urged the rich among the faithful to invest in uplifting the orphans and the less privileged being done by the organisation, as, according to him, “they will be leaders of tomorrow”.

As a group, it stated the expansion is crucial to maintaining its mission and the support will be instrumental in shaping a brighter future for these children and foster a more peaceful and prosperous society.

Dignitaries and members of the initiative, who were present at the event, included the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT), Prof. Fatima AbdulKareem; President, Dr. Nurat Akinlabi-Babalola; Vice President, Hajia Binta Adisa; Secretary, Hajia Fatimah Monguno; Welfare Secretary, Hajia Basirat Oladosu; Treasurer, Hajia Abisola Aminat Dina; Guest Lecturer, Sheikh Muhammadu Taofik Akeugbagold; Alhaji Kamorudeen Oladesu; Alhaji Olori Aje and Hajia Yinka Kareem, among others.