When on Saturday, November 11, 2023, the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, MSSN, Lagos State Area Unit began its 40-day countdown to the 113th Islamic Vacation Course, IVC, an annual religious gathering held at its Human Capital Development Centre (HCDC) permanent site at Noforija, Epe, many regular participants were excited and began anticipating the days.
But for Muslimah, it was a mixed feeling! It’s not because she is new to the IVC and its enormous spiritual, moral and social benefits but because the mother of one was afraid of exposing her 5-year-old daughter to the dusty and harsh weather conditions at the yet-to-be-completed facilities at the campsite of the HCDC.
Like Muslimah, several other Muslim families, particularly mothers, nursed similar fears, but as the much-awaited training programme got closer, some made up their minds and decided to take their children to other sister organisations’ camps, while the rest, with their children and wards, embarked on a 10-day camp, albeit divided into two phases, secondary school category (December 22 to 27, 2023); as well as undergraduates and others (December 27, 2023, to January 1, 2024)
In Nigeria and in many other parts of the world, Muslim News gathered that there are various religious programmes including camps, conventions, and seminars organised to engage Muslim youths intellectually and spiritually, to primarily keep them busy during the Christmas and New Year holidays as well as the celebrations, which many consider unwholesome for Muslim students.
Delegates of this year’s IVC with the theme, #TheBenchmark, we’re, however, stunned to see the level of development that the HCDC had witnessed since the 2022 IVC. Those who spoke with Muslim News commended the Kamoldeen Abiona-led administration for upgrading the camp facilities for the benefit of the delegates.
Building 5000-capacity mosque
The Chairman of the Planning Committee of the HCDC project, Arch. Yuunus Abdulwahab attributed the development and the progress to the generous contributions of members of the students’ body and the philanthropic gestures of the general public, even as he noted that much still needs to be done.
Muslim News gathered that the master plan of the centre comprises a mosque, a functional library, classrooms, dormitories, a multipurpose hall, an administrative building, vocational training centres, recreational facilities and clinics, which will serve not only the members but also the entire community of Epe and environs, once completed.
Arch. Yunus said, “Starting from where we are having the formal closing, is the Mosque structure. As you can see, we are done with the foundation. We have started with the roofing. We have done 45 per cent of the roof carcass, which gulped 20 million naira as of 2022.
“Going to 2024 now, we want to do more. The plan is to do a total of nine grids. This is four grids, which cost 5 million naira each. But for 2024, with the estimate we did, we are looking at about 7 million naira. So, to complete the grids, we are looking at 35 million naira.
He stated that the mosque – a 5,000-capacity masjid, will be the biggest square meter in Lagos State, adding that it will have other features apart from a praying arena, such as halls and a library for lectures and research.
“By the time it’s completed, it will be a massive project. When we finish this carcass, we will also do the roofing sheet, then the windows and doors. As soon as we get the funds, in eight months at the maximum, we should conclude the Mosque project.
“The Mosque will be fit for use. But now, we are just managing it, combining it with tents and other makeshift facilities.”
Upgraded toilet facilities
The chairman expressed delight over constructing additional toilet facilities, from 10 to 36 in five years to meet delegates’ needs at the yearly camping programme.
He said, “As of 2018, we had just 10 squatting pan toilets in one row. We used to have eight rows of bathrooms without taps. Delegates had to go in with buckets. But now, we have improved the facility. In the male toilet, we have added eight more rows with WCs. Each toilet now has a WC and a tap.
“For the initial (uncompleted) rows, we have added squatting pans and taps. Our objective was that for every toilet, a delegate could defecate and still have his bathe. We don’t want our delegates to be taking turns using toilets. We realised the need to prioritise the satisfaction of our delegates and we went all out to do just that.
“We now have 36 toilets and 36 bathrooms in total at the male side. So, 36 delegates could go in at a time which was not so before now. Similarly, we have 42 toilets and 42 bathrooms for the females.
“We no longer have a case of delegates waiting on each other to use the toilet. So now, there are always vacant or unused toilets except at peak periods. In addition, the toilets have been tiled. We also have urinals separated from the main toilets, since some people might only want to urinate.”
Arch. Yunus said the next plan is to have another wing of toilet facility at the ablution centre, saying, “Most of our facilities have toilets attached to them. We have an extension that will serve as the main ablution area. From next year, we want to improve that as well.
The chairman remarked that about N15 million has been expended on the toilet upgrade project, adding that an additional N20 million will be needed to complete the toilets and ablution centers, considering the current inflation rate.
Improvement in the water system
Muslim News noted a significant improvement in the water system on campsite following the installation of a major industrial pumping machine which can generate about 25,000 litres of water in 8 hours.
The Chairman, however, said the 25,000 litres of water could be consumed by delegates in one to two hours, thereby saying there is a need for another industrial pump to strengthen the existing one in subsequent camping programmes.
“You know we (males and females) use water differently, but we need to manage its usage. That’s why there are protocol officers around to ensure delegates do not waste water. Though we can manage ourselves, we still have some challenges with water. We need an additional reliable industrial pump, so we could have a separate one at the sisters’ side”, he noted.
Over 4,000 delegates attended IVC
No fewer than 4,124 delegates graced the 10-day programme which saw Muslim scholars speak on different topics on seerah, hadith, Qur’an, health and contemporary issues.
There were a series of educational, moral and spiritual awareness programmes including sports (football and volleyball), public lectures and medical outreach, among others.
Muslim News correspondent attended the formal closing ceremony held on Sunday, December 31 held at the HCDC.
The event was graced by important personalities including the Rector of YABATECH, Dr. Ibrahim Abdul; current and past leaders of the society in charge of affairs of Muslim students in Lagos.
Call for collective support
In his welcome address, the Amir, Mal. Abiona called for collective support among members and the public towards the successful completion of the project.
“Today, as we mark the closing of this programme, we also have the opportunity to come together for a noble cause. Our organization is dedicated to serving the needs of our community, and we have identified an important project that requires our collective support.
“We aim to raise funds to build and complete essential structures at the HCDC, to ensure future generations of students have access to a conducive environment for spiritual and personal growth,” he said.
Abiona, a post-graduate student who cited Qur’an 2: 261 emphasised the importance of charity and giving back to the society.
“As we come together today, let us embody the spirit of generosity and selflessness. Let us open our hearts and contribute to this noble cause, knowing that our efforts will multiply and benefit our community for years to come. Your support, whether through financial contributions, volunteering, or spreading awareness, will make a significant difference in the lives of our members and the broader community,” he added.
Emulate Prophet’s Companions in generosity
Corroboratingly, the guest lecturer, Deputy Rector (Academics), YABATECH, Dr. Ismail Badmus, while speaking on the theme, charged Muslims, especially the wealthy ones to emulate the notable companions of the Prophet (SAW) who earned paradise while they were still alive because of their exceptional generosity.
According to him, “Many of us are striving daily on righteous paths to get Allah’s pleasure and for Him to admit us to paradise after death. But I want to tell you that the paradise we are aiming at, which is our goal, was secured by some companions, about ten of them got it before they left this world, for spending generously for the sake of Allah.
“Among them were Abubakr, AbdurRahman Bn Awf, Uthman Bn Affan, who refused to sell the well he bought from a wealthy Jew for the use and benefit of the people of Madinah. Despite the mouthwatering offers, he refused to sell the well, saying ‘Allah has offered ten times the reward for charity.’
The well, Muslim News gathered, was kept for the use of the people in the name of Uthman Bn Affan for more than 14 centuries until recently when the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia decided to upgrade it into a modern investment, sharing the money into two parts – half for charity, mainly for widows and orphans, the other half to be reinvested into purchasing land around the Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah and later developed into hotels and accommodations for visitors that perform pilgrimage.
“The project established by Uthman Bn Affan, the third Caliph, 1400 years ago, is still running in Madinah to date. A bank account was opened in Uthman’s name in Madinah and half of the savings goes into Sadaqah Jaariyah and the other half, for reinvestment,” Dr. Badmus noted,
SAF acquisition of HCDC as Sadaqat Jariyah
Like the story of Uthman Bn Affan in the city of Medina as already narrated above, the 10 acres of land for the Human Capital Development Center, HCDC, Noforija, Epe was initially acquired by the Students Aid Foundation (SAF), a Non-Governmental Organisation, after which it was entrusted to the leadership of the MSSN Lagos in 2008 under the leadership of Alhaji Abdul Hameed Bankole.
And just two years after the transition, by 2010, during the tenure of Amir Qasim Badrudeen, a bold step was taken as camping activities of males moved to the site.
“It was a critical decision we had to take back then because of Lagos State government policy that made it difficult for us to get venues for our yearly camping programmes.
“At that time, our females were still using some small venues in the cities for their camps because we felt they may not be able to cope with the strenuous conditions of the HCDC since it was yet to be developed”, said, Alhaji Qasim Badrudeen.
“We started sourcing financial support from members and the general public towards upgrading and building of the HCDC. Whatever the assistance (money and materials) contributed to the building structures and the development of the HCDC remains a flowing charity (sadaqatu jariyah) for the donors, even if they are no more. And just like the story of Uthman Ibn Affan, people will die, but their good deeds will remain.
“Consequently, all the structures and facilities that have been built at the HCDC will remain forever. As long as people keep benefitting from the center, Almighty Allah will keep rewarding those who contributed to its development.”
Badrudeen, while extolling the commitment of members towards the actualisation of the dreams of the HCDC, expressed his appreciation and delight with the level of development at the camp site.
He consequently called on individuals, government and corporate organisations to support the project, stressing that whoever pays into HCDC dedicated account and the money is used to buy even a single building block, such person would not only have contributed to the good of humanity, the act itself would be considered as Sadaqat Jaariyah.
He concluded that as long as the HCDC continues to serve its purpose by benefitting the ummah and humanity at large, as the name suggests, no contribution will go unrewarded by the Almighty, the Creator of mankind.
It’s a trans-generational asset: Real estate boss
A member of MSSN Lagos, Hajia Ruqayyah Abdulkareem Temitope, the Lagos Branch Manager of Zenith Real Estate and Properties Limited Lagos BM, who also attended the camp which ended on Monday, January 1, 2024, lauded the foresight of the leadership of MSSN Lagos to have invested in the real estate over a decade ago.
Temitope noted that MSSN acquired what she termed a trans-generational asset which has over the years appreciated due to massive development in Epe, but regrettably said “the collective efforts of members towards realising the envisioned goal of the centre have been lacklustre”.
“It’s time to invest in real estate now because today’s bush is tomorrow’s mega city”, the Zenith Real Estate boss said, calling on devoted members of the society home and abroad to individually and collectively contribute generously towards realizing the envisioned goal of the centre.
According to her, “As a devout member of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria, Lagos, it’s imperative for each of us—individuals, entrepreneurs, CEOs, civil servants, business owners, and artisans, both at home and abroad—to actively contribute financially, spiritually and physically to the development of the Human Capital Development Center (HCDC).
“The HCDC fundraisers call upon us to generously contribute, emphasizing that our collective support plays a crucial role in realizing the envisioned goals for HCDC. Though we are currently behind schedule, I believe our benevolent contributions during this period will bring comfort and tranquillity to the prospective delegates of the December Islamic Vacation Course 2024, by God’s grace. Our consistent financial contributions on a daily, weekly and monthly basis significantly contribute to this cause.
“Let’s bear in mind that HCDC is the only trans-generational asset we’ll pass on to our children and grandchildren. However, its current state does not reflect what we envision for future generations. Together, let’s collaborate to transform HCDC into a reality,” she added.
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