Frontline Islamic organisation, The Muslim Congress (TMC) Lagos State chapter has kicked off its all-week civic engagement campaign to raise awareness about the multitude of challenges besetting Nigeria and proffering solutions.
The 7-day event loaded with series of informative and educative programmes tagged, The Annual State Week (TASW) commenced on Monday at the TMC Lagos State Secretariat with a world press conference.
The acting Waali of Lagos State, Alhaji Abdul Waheed Omotunde disclosed that the week is filled with activities evolving round the basic objectives and goals of the organisation, adding that it will feature public sensitisation, humanitarian visit, medical service, and annual state lecture among others.
Other States activities
Muslim News findings revealed that the annual lecture, which is considered the climax of the all-week programme will be held simultaneously in eight other States across Nigeria on Sunday, October 3, 2021 with the same theme; Insecurity and National Unity; The Nation on Trial.
The remaining States include Ogun, Oyo, Kwara, Osun, Ondo, Edo, Niger, and Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.
The details of their activities including lecturers, special guests of honours and other necessary information will be published in the Muslim News special print edition, expected to be sold at all the venues of the Annual State Lecture on Sunday, October 3.
Lined-up activities for Lagos
But for Lagos, Alhaji Omotunde said, “On Sunday October 3, the 7-Day events would come to a close, first with a special prayer for the nation @ 61, before the week’s headlining event, Annual State Lecture (ASL) takes centre stage same day at the Open Field of Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Isolo Campus.
“The Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his Deputy, Dr Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat, are expected to join the fray as Special Guest of Honour and Keynote Speaker respectively, at the occasion billed to be chaired by the former APC National Legal Adviser, Dr Muiz Banire (SAN),” he said.
Unveiling the special guests for Lagos, the State’s Waali said two renowned University dons have been invited to do justice to the topics, adding that, “While Prof. Abdul Lateef Adeyemo from University of Benin (UNIBEN) will be speaking on Dangers of Disunity and Tribalism: Religious Leaders on Call; his counterpart, Dr Abdul Kabir Paramole from Lagos State University (LASU) will be addressing National Security and Economic Stability: Imperative for good governance.”
The choice of theme
Speaking on the choice of the theme, Alhaji Omotunde said, “As you all know, our dear nation is on the cusp of history, as we bask in the euphoria of the Independence celebrations to mark, in few days time, 61 years of self-rule.
“Without any iota of doubt, the country has suffered major setbacks in almost every facet; economy, security, leadership, infrastructure and many more. These setbacks can, of course be traced to a myriad of debilitating factors, chief among which is the abject lack of focus on and sustenance of the country’s strategic development plan.
“It is therefore, important for us, at this stage of our nationhood, to reflect, in retrospection, at how we got to where we are at this critical time, in order that we may work together to get to where we aspire to be as a strong, indivisible nation, united in hope and equal opportunity.
“It is against this background that The Muslim Congress, Lagos State, is embarking on an all-week civic engagement programme to raise awareness about the multitude of challenges besetting our nation at this very delicate time in the hope that we can, through public dialogue, find the pathway to ending the deep quagmire of political and economic turbulence the country has sunk into.”
Speaking on, he said “To this end, The Muslim Congress, Lagos State, being a frontline Islamic organisation that is committed to the goal of nation building with far-ranging programs and activities designed to address socio-political matters of national interest, would like to seize this opportunity to invite Nigerians, home and abroad to be part of this year’s annual public sensitization week, tagged, The Annual State Week (TASW 2021), which officially flags off today, Monday, September 27.
Further unveiling other activities, he noted the programmes are lined up to publicly advocate for civic responsibility towards building blocks of development and national cohesion
“As a member of the civil society, we have put all of the aforementioned programs together as part of our public advocacy and civic responsibility towards building blocks of development and national cohesion. And in the light of this, I would like to enjoin you, members of the press to support this campaign that is geared towards activating a sincere process of national healing.
“For any political system, especially democracy to thrive, the people must be active participants in the political and national discourse, and for this to happen, the press itself must be an active agent that brings this about, by keeping the public informed and rightly so, whilst also promoting conversation and debate around issues of national interests”, he emphasised.
Other engagements
Giving details of other activities lined up for the week, the Chairman, Planning Committee for the event, Alhaji AbdulYakeen Kofoworola said there will be scheduled courtesy visits to government establishments, public office holders, including opinion leaders across the State from today, Tuesday, September 28 through Thursday, September, 30.
According to him, The aim is to address the country’s many ills with government functionaries while hoping to leverage their good offices to amplify the call for a better Nigeria.
“As part of our public welfare campaign, we shall be paying humanitarian visit to the Lagos State Correctional Home, Oregun, Ikeja, on Wednesday, September 29 and would on Saturday, Octobe 2, be offering free medical services to residents of Lagos Island at the popular Jakande Mosque, Lagos Island, with medical personnel and health workers on hand to provide medical attention to hundreds of people.
“There will also be special Jum’ah prayers at Lagos Central Mosque and major Central Mosques across the State,” he added.
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