The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has commended the Nawar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria (NUD) for its efforts fostered at sustaining religious peace through the provision of education across the States while calling for more supports from well-meaning Nigerians to improve the sector.
The governor gave the commendation at the 80th Anniversary Celebration and presentation of merit and post humous awards to deserving individuals in the Society by Nawar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria held at the National Central Mosque, Oke -Ijeun,Abeokuta.
Abiodun, who was represented by his Deputy, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele noted that education forms an important aspect of his administration, hence the need to commend the efforts of the Society over the past 80 years for its various laudable contributions in the education sector.
"Since we assumed office, our government had worked tirelessly to bring Ogun State back to its pride of place in the educational sector. We have gone round schools and one of the schools visited was Nawar-Ud-Deen Primary School, we are working on all these schools to make sure that we can improve on the physical structures in the school, welfare of teachers, conditions of service and the curriculum of the schools as well".
"In the last six months, all these efforts were no small tasks, so we commend the vision of NUD at providing education to the Muslims adherents" he noted.
He therefore beckoned on the Society, non- governmental organizations, Alma Maters and well wishers to join hands with the government to make Ogun State the number one in education sector in Nigeria.
In his goodwill message, the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo said NUD had blazed the trail in educational development in Nigeria today through the provision of qualitative education to Muslims, adding that a lot of dignitaries in the country were beneficiaries of such gesture.
He however charged the organization to complement government efforts by putting in place Universities and Teaching Hospitals.
Also speaking, His Eminence, Sultan of Sokoto & President-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA),Dr.Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar called on influential Muslims to support NUD in establishing tertiary institutions across the Country, noting that the Society should also be mindful of its creation and live up to its objectives.
He said, “I will like to ask this organization that in the last 80 years of your existence, what you have really achieved”.
“The society was founded for the education of Muslim children. Have you achieved educating Muslim children across the country, not only in the South West? If we have achieved that, can we really say it is a worthwhile venture; the education we had given to our children”.
“It is good we ask our children to go to school, but it is better they go to good school, learn and become good children”.
He added that “there is need for the organization to establish University. If you look at the number of Universities founded by Muslim organization, you will see that they are not many. Therefore, we really need more Universities to educate our children. At 80, you have seen it all and you have very committed leaders. I want to challenge you to come together, form a team and see the possibility of establishing a University for this distinguish organization. I will give you all the needed support”.
“When our children go to school, they are denied opportunity of using hijab. Why is this so? Have you speak out against this discriminatory tendencies or not. If we want our children to go to school, we have to give them the best education according to Islamic tradition. It is a big challenge to us”.
I want to challenge the rich ummahs to bring their zakat to organizations like Nawar-Ud Deen society so that we will maintain and strengthen our education throughout the country.
Earlier in his welcome address, the National President of Nawir-un-Deen Society of Nigeria( NUDS), Alhaji Rasheed Yussuff pointed out that NUDS came into existence in November, 1939 with the intention to create a beaming light of knowledge and deity for Muslims who had been discriminated against in terms of enrollment by the early Christian Schools.
He however called on Muslims to brace up for the new challenges and opportunities ahead, as well as be weary of providing old answers to new problems, charging them to be socially and economically transformed in the Society.
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