* As Sultan leads traditional rulers, Islamic scholars to the high-profile event
* Let’s promote peace, religious harmony: Adeleke
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to implementing far-reaching economic reforms and support initiatives aimed at easing the burden on Nigerians.
The President conveyed this message via his representative, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, during the 10th General Assembly of the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN), held at the Bola Babalakin Auditorium in Gbongan, Osun State.
Themed “Nigeria’s Economy: Any Hope for the Masses?” the confab brought together Muslim leaders, scholars, and policymakers from across the South West region.
Highlighting measures introduced by his administration, the President noted efforts such as consumer credit schemes, vocational training programs, and greater institutional support for youth-driven enterprises.
He further emphasized the need for economic diversification, particularly through accessible, technology‑driven education aligned with the demands of a modern global economy.
Tinubu called on Nigerians to rise above current economic frustrations and embrace the “vast oasis of opportunities” available in the country, urging citizens to become active agents of transformation rather than succumb to despair.
Speaking through the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, the President rolled out some of the key initiatives embarked upon by his administration, including the National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), restructured N-Power and skill acquisition programmes, NANO grants, Conditional Cash Transfers (₦50,000–₦1,000,000), increased NYSC allowance (₦33,000 to ₦77,000), new minimum wage, food security drives, and the transition to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as examples of targeted relief and growth strategies.
“There is a need to open economic frontiers, and we have decided to prioritise functional and qualitative education,” he noted.
The President commended MUSWEN for creating platforms that help Muslims engage with government reforms and explore how to benefit from them.
He further emphasised that national security must be viewed as a shared responsibility. “Improved safety is essential for attracting foreign investment and delivering good governance,” he said.
Nasarawa Gov hails Tinubu’s strategic approach to economic reforms
The Governor of Nasarawa State, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, who delivered the keynote address, praised President Tinubu’s strategic response to Nigeria’s economic challenges.
He described him as a “courageous” reformer who has implemented bold decisions, including the removal of fuel subsidy, in pursuit of long-term national growth.
Gov Sule likened President Tinubu’s courageous leadership and bold economic reforms to the second Caliph of Islam, Sayyidina Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (RA), known for his bravery, transformation, and steadfast leadership.
According to him, “Sayyidina Umar (RA) was a multifaceted leader whose life journey, from being a fierce opponent of Islam to becoming one of its greatest defenders, exemplifies courage rooted in faith.
“He was the first to bear the title ‘Amirul Mumineen’ (Commander of the Faithful). The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) even said that if Umar walked a path, Shaytan would take another.”
“Drawing from such examples, President Tinubu has demonstrated similar bravery in leadership. It takes such courage to achieve real, positive change,” Gov Sule added.
Sultan of Sokoto urges unity, firm action against criminals
The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, led a delegation of traditional rulers and Islamic scholars to the high-profile event, which brought together key stakeholders in the Muslim community.
Alhaji Abubakar III called on Nigerians to remain united and resist attempts by external forces to divide them along religious or ethnic lines.
The respected monarch condemned the spate of killings by terrorists and bandits across the country, insisting that criminality must not be tied to any religion or tribe.
“Those killing people are not Muslims; they are criminals,” he declared. “Security agencies must apprehend and deal decisively with such individuals, regardless of their faith or ethnicity.”
The Sultan also addressed rising concerns about religious bias, saying: “There have been talks about genocide, but I’ve never seen or heard of any Christian denied the right to worship. We are living in harmony and will not allow anyone to break that bond.”
He urged Nigerians not to judge others but strive to be the best versions of themselves, while calling for prayers for President Bola Tinubu and other leaders to fulfil their duties with wisdom and fairness.
Commending MUSWEN for fostering unity and dialogue among Muslims in the region, the Sultan encouraged other zones to adopt similar initiatives for the advancement of Islam and national cohesion.
Osun State Gov encourages Nigerians to promote peace
Governor of Osun State and host of the programme, Senator Ademola Adeleke, represented by the Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Kolapo Alimi, encouraged Nigerians to promote peace and religious harmony.
He appealed to religious leaders to avoid preaching violence or extremism and instead pray for political leaders to succeed.
The host Governor also called on security agencies to be proactive, saying activities of terrorists in Kwara State was a source of worry to his government.
Alimi also announced that all religious marriages conducted in Osun state have now been given the backing of the law.
Chairman of the MUSWEN Board of Trustees, Dr. Wale Babalakin, urged Muslims to uphold integrity and invest in education. According to Babalakin, the government would need to invest about 50 per cent of its annual budget in education over the next 20 years for it to raise youth who are able to meet 21st-century job market needs.
The President of MUSWEN, Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo, said President Tinubu’s administration should be commended for its efforts at poverty reduction and improvement in primary healthcare delivery.
He, however, urged the federal government to spend more on roads, railways and housing.
He said, “Tinubu Administration has stabilized the Nigerian economy with the implementation of his bold but painful economic reforms which have attracted global investors. These include the removal of fuel subsidies, merging of the multiple exchange rates windows into a single market rate and implementation of new measures by the Monetary Authorities to strengthen corporate governance and stabilize the Naira.
“On a good note the Federal Government should be commended for its efforts at poverty reduction and improvement in primary healthcare delivery. Pensions for direct benefit recipients have been increased while the number on the National Health Insurance Program has increased dramatically to 60 million people. However, the government still needs to spend more on roads, railways and housing.”
Oladejo also named Professor Wole Abass as the new Executive Secretary of MUSWEN, following the completion of Professor Muslih Yahya’s six-year tenure.
“The 11th General Assembly will be organized by MUSWEN headquarters and held in Ibadan next year,” Alhaji Oladejo said.
During the event, 12 medical students across the six Southwest states were awarded scholarships under the Sultan Abubakar Female Medical Students Scholarship Scheme.
The MUSWEN president said the organisation plans to increase the Bursary Awards to 120 deserving students from the region in 2016, adding that the goal is to increase the figure to 600 annually.
Cheques for this year’s scholarship awards and the laptops were distributed by the Sultan, who was Special Guest of Honour at the event. He was assisted by Alhaji Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola; Chairman Board of Trustees of MUSWEN, Dr. Abdul-Rauf ‘Wale Babalakin, and Deputy President I of MUSWEN, Alhaji Rafiu Adisa Ebiti, FCA.
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