By Maryam Abdurrasheed
* Outgoing Amirah returns as Sisters’ Circle unveils new executives
Human resources experts, Islamic scholars and Muslim women leaders have called for ethical leadership, mentorship, self development and value driven service among young Muslim women as the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State Area Unit, held its 2026 Sisters’ Electoral Conference in Lagos.
The conference, themed “The Future is Now: Muslimah Leading with Wisdom,” took place at Nawairudeen Central Mosque, Ewenla, Oshodi, and brought together female members of the society, outgoing and incoming executives, Muslim professionals and stakeholders from across Lagos State.
Speakers at the conference emphasised the need for young Muslim women to equip themselves with knowledge, leadership skills and strong Islamic values in order to navigate contemporary challenges and contribute meaningfully to society.
Speaking at the event, Assistant Director of Human Resource Management at the National Gallery of Art, Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hajia Shakeerah Salau, identified justice, equity and empathy as the pillars of effective leadership.
According to her, wisdom in leadership is reflected through fairness, compassion and the ability to make decisions that positively impact society.
“In summary, wisdom has three steps: justice, equity and empathy. This is what makes leadership more effective and impactful in society,” she said.
Responding to a question from Muslim News, Hajia Salau observed that societal pressures often make leadership more demanding for women, particularly in challenging environments. She urged Muslim women to embrace value based leadership and understand when to step up, step in and step down depending on prevailing circumstances.
She further encouraged young Muslim women to invest in education, capacity building, mentorship and collaboration, stressing that leadership requires preparation and resilience.
“Leadership is not a game. You need to equip yourself, build capacity, seek mentorship and collaborate with others. Most importantly, you must not give up, even when you fail,” she said.
She added that setbacks should be viewed as opportunities for growth rather than reasons to quit.
“Even if you fall, learn from it and become a better leader. Failure is a path to success,” she added.
The human resource expert also challenged participants not to see gender as a barrier to leadership.
“Being a woman does not mean you cannot lead. You must step up, take responsibility and keep building yourself,” she said.
In her presentation, former MSSN Lagos Amirah, Hajia Azizat Gidigbi, highlighted access to information as one of the greatest opportunities available to young people in today’s digital era.
She noted that the world has become a global village where knowledge, opportunities and connections are readily available to those willing to learn and explore.
“Before now, information was limited to books. Today, with just a click, you can access knowledge, connect with people across the world and explore opportunities,” she said.
The conference also featured a panel discussion with former Naibatul Amirah, (HI Affairs), Lagos State Area Unit, Hajia Safiyyah Akilo, and other resource persons who identified procrastination and excessive use of mobile phones as major obstacles to academic excellence, productivity and personal growth among students.
They urged participants to cultivate discipline, manage their time effectively and remain focused on their educational and leadership aspirations.
A media personality and brand ambassador for Phytoscience Plant Stem Cell Regenerative Therapy, Hajia Sakinah Lawal, was among the notable guests at the event, which also featured interactive sessions on leadership, academic success, and personal development.
Another panellist and former Amirah of MSSN Agbado Oke-Odo Area Council, Alhaja Kareemah Missa, stressed the importance of human relations in effective leadership, describing it as a critical skill every leader must consciously develop.
Speaking during the panel session, she noted that leaders must understand and appreciate individual differences among team members rather than expecting everyone to think or act the same way.
According to her, successful leadership involves helping people understand and embrace a shared vision while inspiring them to develop passion and commitment towards collective goals.
“Human relations is something every leader needs to work on. You need to understand that everyone cannot be like you. As a leader, you should be able to help people see things the way you see them and motivate them to develop passion for the activities and responsibilities entrusted to them,” she said.
Alhaja Missa further advised leaders to support team members in identifying and overcoming their weaknesses, noting that leadership is not merely about assigning tasks but also about nurturing and developing people.
“You should assist people to work on their weaknesses so they can become better individuals. Leadership is about building people and helping them grow,” she added.
Earlier in her welcome address, the outgoing Amirah, Hajiah Rofiah Tijani, described the conference as a significant turning point in the organisation’s history, marking the end of a three year administrative tenure and the commencement of a new leadership cycle.
She said the conference theme was timely, noting that Muslim women could no longer regard leadership as a future responsibility but must rise to address contemporary realities with wisdom, competence and strong Islamic character.
Hajia Tijani stressed that leadership in Islam is an amanah entrusted by Allah and should be viewed as an opportunity for service and sacrifice rather than prestige or personal recognition.
“As we prepare to elect new leaders today, we must remember that these positions are opportunities for service and sacrifice rather than prestige and recognition,” she said.
Reflecting on the achievements of her administration, the outgoing Amirah highlighted strengthened collaborations with stakeholders, improved communication structures, enhanced welfare support, consistent executive council meetings and the successful organisation of key programmes including camping activities, Usrah sessions, Sisters’ Seminars, MUSAF and Tadrib programmes.
She also noted that the administration increased the national and international visibility of MSSN Lagos Sisters’ Circle through initiatives such as World Hijab Day campaigns and participation in the First Lady’s Sisters’ Seminar, which she described as a landmark achievement.
The outgoing Amirah commended members of the executive council, Area Councils, Central Branches, Higher Institutions, committees and volunteers for their sacrifices and contributions to the successes recorded during the tenure.
She further urged delegates to approach the electoral process with sincerity, fairness and fear of Allah, while selecting leaders based on competence, integrity and commitment to service.
The conference climaxed with the announcement and unveiling of newly elected female executives who will steer the affairs of the MSSN Lagos Sisters’ Circle for the new administrative term.
The outgoing Amirah, Hajia Tijani was returned as the female head of the Sisters’ Circle, securing a fresh mandate to continue leading the female arm of the Society alongside other elected officers.
The newly elected executive team includes Sis Mardiyyah Munabah of Orile Agege Area Council as Naibatul Amirah, Sis Balqis Owolewa of Coker Aguda Area Council as Naibatul Amirah Ummahaat, Hajia Khadijah Ismail Badmus of Surulere Area Council as Naibatul Amirah Grama, Sis Nusaybah Bankole of Olorunda Area Council as Naibatul Amirah COHI, and Sis Rahimah Laraba Ahmad of Agege Area Council as Secretary.
Others are Sis Hafsah Abdurrahman of Badagry Area Council as Assistant Secretary, Sis Ruqayyah Shijuade Shittu of Igando Ikotun Area Council as Welfare Officer, and Sis Nafeesah Akegbeyale of Oshodi Area Council as Treasurer.
The election and unveiling of the female executives took place during the Sisters’ Electoral Conference held at Nawairudeen Central Mosque, Ewenla, Oshodi.
The male executives of MSSN Lagos State Area Unit were subsequently announced and unveiled at the Society’s main conference held on Sunday, a day after the sisters’ electoral conference. READ IT HERE
Participants at the Sisters’ Conference expressed confidence in the ability of the new leadership team to consolidate on existing achievements and advance the objectives of the Sisters’ Circle through wisdom, service and commitment to Islamic values.
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