On Saturday, 1st March, the Lagos Island Muslim Community (IMC) launched a N5 billion appeal fund to establish essential social facilities. These facilities will include cemeteries, orphanages, a women and children’s hospital, and a vocational training center.
The fundraising ceremony held at the Oriental Hotel in Lekki, Lagos State attracted Muslim dignitaries from various backgrounds who contributed significantly and made generous donations towards the realisation of the mega-project.
The IMC, a not-for-profit organisation and the umbrella body for Muslims and Muslim groups in Lagos Island, expressed gratitude to the donors for their commitment.
They also urged other generous individuals and organizations to contribute to the development of these vital social infrastructure projects.
Presenting his keynote address at the event, Lead Consultant, AS and Associates, Imam Abdullahi Shuaib, said the projects lined up by IMC for execution are not just infrastructural projects, but they are lifelines, symbols of dignity, and essential social services that will serve generations to come.
He added that all the projects represent sadaqah jariyah (perpetual charities) whose rewards will continue beyond the lifetimes of the donors.
“Every naira invested in these initiatives will benefit the donors, current and future generations of Muslims and humanity in the country,” Imam Shuaib said.
He, therefore, urged the Muslim faithful to contribute to the execution of the projects, noting also that the imperative of philanthropy in Islam is underscored by many verses of the Qur’an.
Dignified burial, obligation for Muslims: Dr Shuaib
He said, “Listen to what Allah (SWT) says in the Glorious Qur’an: ‘The likeness of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah, is as the likeness of a grain (of corn); it grows seven ears, and each ear has a hundred grains. Allah gives manifold increase to whom He pleases. And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures’ needs, All-Knower.’ (Surah Al-Baqarah; Chapter 2 Verse 261)
“Throughout history, the greatest Muslim civilization thrived on the spirit of waqf (endowment) and community-driven philanthropy. Today, we stand at a juncture where our collective efforts can transform the landscape of social welfare for Muslims in Lagos State in particular and Nigeria generally.”
The former Director of the Jaiz Charity and Development Foundation said Muslims must ensure that their brothers and sisters are given a dignified burial by the Shari’ah.
Essence of orphanages, hospitals
He also said Muslims are enjoined to establish a modern orphanage in line with the five major focal areas of maqasid al-shari’ah (lofty objectives of Islamic law).
“In Nigeria, thousands of Muslim children are orphaned or abandoned due to conflicts, poverty, and social challenges (Salihu, 2024). A well-structured care home will provide them with education, shelter, and a nurturing Islamic environment—giving them hope and a future they truly deserve,” he added.
He also noted that quality healthcare remains a major challenge for many communities in the country.
According to him, “Establishing a state-of-the-art Muslim hospital will not only provide medical services but will also integrate Islamic ethics in healthcare delivery, ensuring that Shari’ah principles and medical excellence go hand in hand.”
Imam Shuaib invited all Muslims to participate in the actualisation of the projects spiritually, morally, intellectually, socially and financially.
“Let us be the pioneers of these transformative efforts. Let us not sit on the fence or wait for others to act. As successful individuals in finance and business, you understand the importance of strategic investments—this is an investment in your dunya and aakhirah. A good deed done during the month of Ramadan is believed to bring seventy-five times the rewards compared to ten times outside of it,” he stated.
Imam Ahmad calls for change in fundraising model for projects
Also speaking, the National Missioner of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Imam AbdurRahman Ahmad, called for a change in the model of fundraising for projects by Muslims in southwest Nigeria.
He observed that there is usually a lot of book and organisational finesse around fundraising by southwest Muslims with less success and results.
According to him, “I have done a study of fundraising activities within the Islamic community in the last 15 years. I have also done a comparative analysis of fundraising in this part of the country and the northern part of the country. I see similarities and sharp differences.”
The respected Muslim scholar lamented that after their fund raising events, some Muslim organisations in the southwest hardly give the public progress reports.
“A few years ago, I attended a fund raising event here (the same venue). I have not heard what has happened to the fund and what progress the project has made.
“I am not sure that we have gotten the kind of feedback that will encourage people to want to see to the completion of the project.
“Why is it that the An-Nur Mosque wanted to raise N2 billion for the expansion of its masjid, and within one hour, it raised more than N2.5 billion? What are the differences and the similarities? The people in An-Nur Mosque are our brothers; some of them are our colleagues. How did they do it? A lot of our brothers have built hospitals in the name of Islam and the Muslim community, what is the difference? And I’m not aware there were elaborate launching or fundraising ceremonies.”
Imam Ahmad said there are enough principles to achieve sustainable funding in Islam.
“Everything that we need to succeed, Allah has told us, the Prophet (SAW) has demonstrated it, and his community in Madinah has not only experimented with it but also practicalised it.
“I challenge us to change our model. Most of the enduring structures in Islam — whether they are schools, hospitals, universities, whatever — have been funded over the years by the awqaaf. This is an institution that is least understood and least utilised today.
“The waqf built Azhar (Egypt). It was the waqf that built the Qarawiyyin University (in Morocco). So many of the structures that have endured till today were not only initially built by waqf, but are still being maintained by the various awqaaf instituted.”
The prominent scholar called on Muslim stakeholders to raise awareness of waqf so that people could sign into it.
He also lamented that Muslims have divided themselves so much that every Islamic organisation wants to build hospitals, cemeteries, orphanages, and Islamic centres.
“There are no concerted efforts at the community level. Islam as a deen calls to unity. Islam also calls for cooperation.
“Let me commend the Island Muslim Community. It is an effort in cooperation. At least, on the Island, we are seeing a ray of hope. I pray and believe that on the Mainland, we will be able to copy that,” Imam Ahmad said.
We are making history through fundraising: Chairman Ebiti
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, IMC, Alhaji Rafiu Ebiti, said they are making history by attempting to raise funds to accomplish major projects that will serve the Muslim Ummah in Lagos and Nigeria.
He underscored the enthusiasm with which Muslims have received the projects.
“One of our members has donated a sizeable portion of land that we have taken possession of and are currently fencing at Ikorodu to enhance the cemetery project. We are also in discussion with two other institutions in the Lekki area to crystallise this project,” he said.
“We have an existing orphanage awaiting approval by the Lagos State Government to commence operations.
“Our hospital project is designed to specialise in paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology for Muslim women and children, with an advanced training programme for Muslim female doctors and specialists.”
…urges Muslims to donate generously
The BoT chair urged Muslim brothers and sisters to donate generously for the actualisation of the social infrastructure projects.
“We all build houses without paying attention to our final house that will accommodate us. If we are there, we will hear the adhan when it is being called. We will have the sakeenah (tranquility) that prayers will get to us. We will have the certainty that we will be raised amongst our pious brothers and sisters.
“This is something that touches on every one of us, and we should give it a serious thought. We should build the house. In fact, it is very cheap, not like the bedroom, suite that we live in,” he said.
Muslims must unite to bridge infrastructure gaps: Chief Imam Lekki
In his remarks, the Chief Imam of Lekki Central Mosque, Dr. Ridwan Jamiu, said it is important for Muslims to come together as a community to bridge the infrastructural gaps since Nigeria does not operate an Islamic government that will make Muslim-tailored social facilities available.
“Helping one another is not only by the money or handouts given to the poor and the needy. The Muslim community needs projects. We need a lot of facilities to live a good life as human beings, and especially as Muslims because there are certain things required by our faith,” he said.
He said IMC brought many Muslim communities and organisations, including the Lekki Muslim Ummah (LEMU), on the Lagos Island axis together, which has enabled them to achieve so many things that cannot ordinarily be achieved with lone efforts.
“I appeal to Muslim organisations that instead of trying to achieve things for their organisations alone, they should work in synergy with Muslim organisations doing similar things. We can enter Jannah in partnership,” the Chief Imam said.
VC Borodo appreciates people’s commitment
For his part, Vice Chairman of IMC, Alhaji Tijani Borodo, said they have been working on the projects for several months.
He appreciated the commitment demonstrated so far by people on the projects.
“It is not about the amount we have been able to get or the pledges, but the commitment of people, which we have seen towards actualising the cause of IMC for the projects we have in terms of the cemetery, orphanage, and hospital, he added.
Other guests at the event in pictures
Sponsored
