31 Islamic organisations form coalition against virus

No fewer than 31 Islamic organizations have formed Muslim Coalition Against COVID-19, and mobilized extensively to mitigate the impact of the virus in the country and provide relief for the victims.

The groups are pulling resources together to make impactful contributions to the nation’s efforts in the fight against the pandemic.

The Executive Chairman of Muslim Public Affairs Centre, (MPAC), Disu Kamor, said MPAC initiated the idea of a nationwide coalition as a common front for Nigerian Muslims to organize and focus their efforts in a coordinated and integrated form.

The following organizations that agreed to work together and collaborate with other stakeholders in the mission to rid our country off the scourge of COVID-19 were: Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC), The Muslim Congress (TMC), Al-Usrah Inc. Port Harcourt, Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria Lagos State Area Unit, Islamic Forum of Nigeria, Kano, Sakinah Medical Outreach, Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria (IMAN), ClearPath Islamic Foundation, Islamic Education and Faith Initiative, Magodo Magodo, Lagos, The Companion, Federation of Muslim Women Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN), Hijab Rights Advocacy Initiative, UNILAG Muslim Alumni (UMA), Nigeria Aid Group of Islam, Movement For Islamic Culture and Awareness (MICA).

Others are; Muslim Welfare Fund, Zakat and Sadaqah Foundation,Network for Democracy and Development (NDD), Islamic Impact Centre, Association of Muslim Professionals, (AMP), Nasrul-Lahi-L-Fatih Society (NASFAT), Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates’ Association, NASFAT Zakat and Sadaqah, NASFAT Relief Initiative, among others.

The Criterion, Forum For Islamic Education And Welfare, Guild of Muslim Professionals (GMP), Zakat and Awqaaf Amana Foundation, The National Council Of Muslim Youth Organization (NACOMYO), Islamic Education Trust, Minna, Niger State and Islamic Mission For Africa (IMA)

Kamor explained the motivation for the coalition: “As individuals, communities, as a nation and even globally, we face an unprecedented level of threat to our lives, safety and well-being. This threat is certainly at a level never seen in our lifetimes, at least.

“It is therefore important, as Muslim Nigerians, that we lean on one another, and learn from each other’s experience and expertise as we join and further the nation’s efforts to halt the spread of the virus and rid our nation of the ruinous affliction.

“Rather than work as individual organizations alone, we feel our efforts as individual organizations will be better felt, better aligned and amplified simply by working within a coalition.

“In the light of this, we propose the formation of a national coalition to be called Muslim Coalition Against Covid 19 to work together with other stakeholders and form a common front to support and assist the nationwide intervention and relief efforts.”

“We pray that God Almighty will aid the works, lighten the burden and guide our thoughts and actions, amin”, he prayed.