• Intensify efforts on Muslim youths, Engr. Salako-Oyedele charges body
Al-Mu’minaat (The Believing Women) Organisation during the week paid a courtesy visit to the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Engr. (Mrs) Noimot Salako-Oyedele, at her office in Abeokuta, the state capital.
The visit followed a graduation ceremony organised by the faith-based organisation in the state for 39 women trained in the vocation of bag and shoe-making with Adire and Ankara fabrics, the cultural and entrepreneurial heritage known with the people of Abeokuta in Ogun State.
The deputy governor, represented at the ceremony held at the Women Development Centre Oke Ilewo, Abeokuta, charged the beneficiaries to leverage social media in driving patronage for their newly acquired skills.
During the visit on Wednesday, 2nd October, the National Amirah of Al-Mu’minaat, Hajia Jelilat Abdul Hamid, appreciated Engr. Salako-Oyedele for her representation at the event.
She noted that the mission of Al-Mu’minaat is to empower Muslim women to build a strong ummah for sustainable development through education, welfare and self-actualisation.
According to her, the recent skills acquisition programme in Ogun State which was held at two different centres (Abeokuta and Ijebu-Ode) was in line with the organisation’s vision.
She intimidated the host, “The programme started with sensitisation, then selection and recruitment of candidates using set criteria.
“The registration forms were scrutinized and eligible candidates were separated,” the Amirah said.
“The eligible candidates were informed of their selection through a letter. They were also told to come in person for the oral interviews. The successful candidates were again contacted and informed of the date for the start of the training.
“We had a total of eighteen (18) participants with one trainer in Ijebu/Remo zone; while we had twenty-one (21) participants with one trainer in Egba/Yewa zone. The trainees all completed the training within two weeks.”
The Amirah further explained to the Deputy Governor that Al-Mu’minaat has presence in Ogun State, and is registered with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
“Ogun State Al-Mu’minaat, for easy administration, operates as Egba/Yewa and Ijebu/Remo zones. Ado Odo/Ota is also being operated as a local government.
“There are five (5) local government areas under Egba/Yewa zone with twenty-seven branches. In Ijebu/Remo zone, we have six (6) local government areas with sixty-seven (67) branches. Ado-Odo has sixteen branches,” she said.
Hajia Abdul Hamid listed some of the activities of Al-Mu’minaat both at national and state levels to include establishment of orphanage and homes for widows, emergency relief, medical caravan, grants and scholarship, convention, workshop, unity programme, exhibition and award for academic excellence.
However, the faith-based organisation sought the Deputy Governor’s support and partnership for its activities, which it said are aimed at empowering the women.
In her response, Engr. Noimat Salako-Oyedele commended Al-Mu’minaat for organising the skills acquisition programme for women in Ogun State, and emphasised the need for effective online strategies as a prerequisite for marketing of the skills acquired.
She talked about professionalism and proficiency, while urging the organisation to use social media to market their products and project the image of Islam.
The Deputy Governor charged the organisation to involve the Muslim elites in their programmes, noting most of them need enlightenment on the practice of Islam.
Engr. Noimat Salako-Oyedele urged Al-Mu’minaat to intensify efforts on young Muslims in the country, especially in the area of capacity building programmes to boost their confidence and employability.
In attendance during the visit were National Communication Officer, Hajia Faoziyyah Abdul Ghafar; National Project Officer, Hajia Khadijah Sulaiman; National Treasurer, Hajia Aisha Mikail-Anifowoshe; National Entrepreneur Officer, Amirah Egba/Yewa, Hajia Sekinah Yusuf; Immediate past National Naibatul Amirah, Hajia Sherifah Ajibade and Secretary General, Pharm.(Dr.) Hafsah Adesina.
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