* Lack of counselling fuels moral decline, rising crime: Imam Lekki
Islamic scholars and corporate leaders on Sunday urged Muslim youths to embrace mentorship, uphold Islamic values and take active roles in national development, warning that rising cases of moral decline, drug abuse and unemployment pose serious threats to the future of the community.
The speakers made the call at a Ramadan Da’wah Workshop organised by Lekki Muslim Ummah (LEMU) at the Vice Admiral Jubrila Ayinla Multipurpose Hall of Lekki Central Mosque, Lekki, Lagos, with the theme, “Islam, Youth and Societal Development.”
Muslim News gathered the programme brought together Islamic scholars, mentors and corporate executives under the chairmanship of Alhaji Tunde Quamdeen Kilaso, Group Chief Executive Officer of Berkeley Payment Solution Limited, as part of efforts to address youth-related challenges through structured guidance and community engagement.
Chief imam tasks imams, parents on youth mentorship
Chief Imam of Lekki Central Mosque, Dr Ridwan Jamiu, opened the discussion with a strong call for structured guidance for youths.
Speaking on Roles of Muslim Youth in Islamic Propagation and Societal Development, the respected Muslim scholar blamed rising social vices on the failure to properly mentor young people.
“We see moral decadence and different social vices among youths today,” he said, adding, “This happens when they abandon their responsibilities, and that becomes inevitable if they are not well raised and well mentored.”
Dr Jamiu said LEMU organised the workshop to fill that gap by bringing scholars and professionals to guide young Muslims.
“Many youths are educated but not guided. It is one thing to have education. It is another thing to have guidance. It is one thing to have information. It is another thing to have the wisdom to apply it,” he stated.
He urged Imams to focus their sermons on issues affecting young people and offer practical guidance, while also calling on parents to take active responsibility in mentoring their children, citing the Qur’anic example of Luqman, whom Allah praised for guiding his son despite not being a prophet.
“Parents must create time for their children. It is not enough to give them the best schools. You must be present to guide them with your experience,” he said.
Lists four key stakeholders in youth development
Dr Jamiu identified parents, youths, scholars and government as the four major stakeholders responsible for youth development.
He called on government to take decisive action against drug abuse and unemployment. “Scholars can advise youths not to take drugs, but government must enforce drug laws. Our borders are porous. Where are these hard drugs coming from?” he asked.
Imam Lekki Central Mosque added that government must create employment opportunities to reduce crime.
“Bandits, terrorists and armed robbers are mostly youths. Many of them have no jobs. Many lack proper education. Government must ensure youths become instruments of reformation, security and peace,” he said.
Mentor urges youths to seek direction early
The Coordinator of the NGM mentorship platform, Alhaji Nasir Giwa, reinforced the importance of structured mentoring while speaking on Harnessing Youth Potentials through Mentorship.
“Mentoring is not a luxury. It is urgent,” he declared. “For a youth to grow in his career, he needs appropriate mentoring from day one.”
Alhaji Giwa said his platform has operated for more than ten years and currently supports over 5,000 mentees through more than 20 mentors and senior mentors.
“We bring experienced professionals together to guide youths so they do not have to pass through the same constraints we faced,” he said.
He advised young people to define their goals clearly before choosing mentors. “You must decide what you want to become. Study the career path of potential mentors. If their journey aligns with your aspiration, then you can follow them,” he explained.
He added that determination remains key. “The real challenge is not finding a mentor. The challenge is the individual’s commitment to follow the mentoring path,” he said.
Corporate lawyer tasks youths on workplace ethics
Corporate lawyer and Partner at Templars, Hajia Sesan Sulaiman, urged young professionals to apply Islamic ethics in the workplace while delivering a lecture titled Youth and Corporate Challenges: The Islamic Solutions.
She reminded participants that Allah describes the servants of the Most Merciful as disciplined in worship, balanced, trustworthy, family oriented and accountable. “These attributes define successful Muslim professionals,” she said.
Hajia Sulaiman acknowledged the realities of corporate life, including setbacks and disappointments.
“Sometimes you strive to excel and it does not work. These are tests. Allah has already informed us that we will be tested,” she said, while challenging Nigerian youths to prioritise obedience to Allah over personal interest.
“When Allah commands compliance without reference to your personal interest, what will you do?” she asked.
LEMU president urges deliberate presentation of faith
Earlier in his welcome address, the President of Lekki Muslim Ummah, Dr. Abdulganiy Labinjo, raised concerns about the reluctance of some Muslims in the corporate world to publicly identify with Islam.
He noted that some accomplished Muslims prefer to serve quietly, fearing that public association with Islamic organizations could affect their professional advancement.
The President of LEMU urged Muslims to be deliberate in presenting their faith in ways that make biases difficult to sustain and encouraged believers to recognize that talent and faith should not prevent public expression of Islam.
Dr. Labinjo observed that underrepresentation in corporate leadership can make some Muslims feel intimidated, but emphasized the responsibility to train the next generation to excel in ways that cannot be ignored.
Chairman calls for active participation in Islamic affairs
In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion acknowledged Dr. Labinjo’s observations, urging Muslims to participate more actively in Islamic affairs.
He emphasized that Ramadan is more than abstaining from food and drink. “It is the month in which the Qur’an was revealed, a period to develop taqwa or God-consciousness, when the gates of heaven are open and those of hell are closed,” he said.
Alhaji Kilaso called on Muslims to be generous, especially to the needy, and to support their mosques, which carry out numerous activities requiring community backing.
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