* Association demands Islamic values in healthcare
The Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria has elected Pharm. (Dr) Muhammad Audi Kongila as its new National President, succeeding Prof. Ibrahim Adekunle Oreagba, who completed two consecutive three-year terms.
Pharm. (Dr) Kongila emerged at the 27th National Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the association held in Ilorin, Kwara State, where delegates also elected a new National Executive Council for the 2026–2029 tenure.
The conference, which ended on Saturday, August 29, was themed, “Compassion, Competence and Conscience: Integrating Islamic Values in Modern Medical Practice.”
The gathering brought together medical professionals, academics, Islamic scholars, government officials, traditional rulers and other stakeholders, with the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III; Emeritus Professor Is-haq Oloyede, who chaired the opening ceremony; Chairman of the National Health Insurance Authority, Senator (Dr) Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe; Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari; and Emir of Shonga, Alhaji (Dr) Haliru Yahaya, among the prominent personalities who attended.
The conference featured scientific sessions, symposia, professional development programmes, community medical outreaches and the association’s AGM, with participants examining how Islamic values could be translated into practical improvements in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Demands Islamic values in Nigerian healthcare
In its communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, IMAN called for the integration of Islamic values, compassion, professional competence and ethical responsibility into healthcare education, clinical practice, leadership and continuing professional development.
The association said compassion, competence and conscience were inseparable elements of good healthcare, warning that technical proficiency without compassion could depersonalise care, while compassion without competence could compromise patient safety.
IMAN urged healthcare professionals to regard their work as an amanah, or trust, and said the higher objectives of the Shari’ah, particularly the preservation of life, faith, intellect, family and human dignity, should provide an ethical framework where applicable.
Seeks faith-sensitive counselling…
The association called for the development of healthcare chaplaincy and faith-sensitive counselling services in Nigerian hospitals, with defined competencies, ethical standards and referral pathways involving healthcare professionals, trained counsellors and qualified Islamic scholars.
It also urged the expansion and institutionalisation of its Ibaadah-Friendly Healthcare initiative to enable patients to observe their religious obligations while receiving evidence-based care.
IMAN identified the newly established Ultramodern ASAD Multi-specialist Hospital in Kaduna State, designed and managed by the association, as a model for the initiative.
The association also called for stronger patient safety measures, clinical governance, professional accountability, multidisciplinary teamwork and continuing professional development.
Provides free medical care to 1,811 Kwara residents
The association said 1,811 people benefited from its free medico-surgical and reproductive-health outreach organised in Kwara State ahead of the conference.
The services included general and specialist consultations, laboratory investigations, surgeries, ophthalmic services, vision screening, spectacles, cataract surgery, cervical cancer screening using Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid and family-planning services.
The communiqué said 1,057 beneficiaries were medical cases, while the interventions included 102 general surgeries, 67 ophthalmic surgeries, 353 general ophthalmic services and 232 reproductive-health services.
IMAN also trained 48 healthcare providers in psychotrauma care and 267 students in healthcare professions through its Leadership Training Programme and Youth Camp, organised in collaboration with the Association of Muslim Health Students.
Other programmes included an addiction-prevention workshop for 43 professionals, a business and Islamic cooperative workshop for 95 healthcare and business professionals and an Ibaadah-Friendly Healthcare Workshop for 34 healthcare providers.
Tackles insecurity, ageing, women’s health, AI in healthcare
The conference identified insecurity as both a national development and public-health challenge, citing violence, displacement, banditry, kidnapping, insurgency, substance abuse, psychosocial distress, poverty and social disruption.
It called for coordinated action involving healthcare professionals, mental-health practitioners, Islamic scholars, peace and conflict experts, community leaders and relevant government agencies.
On geriatric healthcare, IMAN expressed concern over the limited attention given to the needs of older persons and called for stronger policies covering healthy ageing, chronic disease management, rehabilitation, cognitive health, caregiver support, palliative care, spirituality and dignity.
The association also called for greater shared responsibility among spouses, families and society in promoting women’s physical, reproductive, psychological and social wellbeing, while encouraging informed decision-making and evidence-based preventive, reproductive and maternal healthcare.
IMAN further urged the responsible deployment of artificial intelligence, telemedicine and other digital-health technologies, with safeguards for confidentiality, informed consent, human oversight, clinical accountability, fairness and equitable access.
Kongila succeeds Oreagba after six years
Pharm. (Dr) Kongila’s election marked the end of Prof. Oreagba’s six-year tenure as National President.
Ptof. Oreagba was first elected National President for the 2020–2023 tenure at IMAN’s 21st National AGM in Jigawa State and was re-elected for a second three-year term, 2023–2026, at the association’s 24th National Conference in Gombe.
During his tenure, IMAN advanced several professional, humanitarian and faith-sensitive healthcare initiatives, including the Ibaadah-Friendly Healthcare concept, collaboration with ASAD Group on the Kaduna multispecialist hospital, the IMAN-FIMA Lifesavers Programme and digitalisation of membership.
The association also sustained medical outreaches, humanitarian interventions, zakat-based healthcare support for indigent patients and advocacy for voluntary blood donation.
IMAN unveils new leadership
Other members elected alongside Kongila are Prof Abdulrasheed Nasir, National Vice-President I; Prof Modu Mustapha Gufarma, National Vice-President II; Dr Ibrahim Salisu, National Secretary; Bilal Arayo, Assistant National Secretary I; Adamu Usman Galadima, Assistant National Secretary II; Hajia Khadijat Abdullah Manga, National Ameera; and Dr Maryam Jemila Aliyu, Secretary, Sisters’ Forum.
Others are Dr Tijani Oseni, National PRO I; Usman Musa, National PRO II; Sadiq Ahmad Abubakar, National Financial Secretary; Prof Hadijat Olaide Raji, National Treasurer; Prof Hajara Umar Suleiman, National Editor-in-Chief; Dr Adeleke Ibrahim, National Assistant Editor-in-Chief; Barr. Dr Abdullateef Abubakar Sadiq, National Legal Adviser; Dr Muhammad Mustapha Yakub, National Internal Auditor; and Prof Ibrahim Adekunle Oreagba, Ex-Officio.
IMAN said the new leadership would build on its existing programmes while translating the principles of compassion, competence and conscience into measurable improvements in healthcare practice, professional development, advocacy and community service across Nigeria.
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