* At two-day boot camp, organisers combine faith, character, leadership, AI, career development to prepare teenagers for tomorrow
For the Magodo Muslim community in Lagos State, preparing Muslim teenagers for the future goes beyond shielding them from the pressures of growing up. It means raising young people who understand their purpose, remain conscious of Allah, develop strong character, and acquire the confidence and skills to excel in a rapidly changing world.
That vision came to the fore at the two-day Teens and Deen Boot Camp organised by the Magodo Phase 2 Muslim Association, with the theme, “The Future-Ready Muslims.”
The programme, held from Saturday to Sunday, August 8–9, at the Public Service Staff Development Centre (PSSDC), Magodo GRA Phase 2, Lagos, brought together Muslim teenagers between the ages of 12 and 19 for Islamic lectures, leadership and public-speaking sessions, technology demonstrations, workshops, interactive discussions and peer engagement.
Muslim News gathered that the boot camp sought to equip the teenagers for success in both this world and the Hereafter by strengthening their Islamic foundation while developing the knowledge, skills and values needed to make meaningful contributions to society.
Preparing for goodness in both worlds
Engr. Ibrahim Bamgbopa, CCAO, Ardova Petroleum, who spoke on “Goodness in Both Worlds,” challenged the teenagers to understand their purpose in life and make Islam their compass for navigating both spiritual and worldly affairs.
He emphasised the need for Muslims to seek the pleasure of Allah while also pursuing legitimate opportunities and responsibilities in this world.
Engr. Bamgbopa encouraged them to understand that academic and professional ambition should not be separated from spiritual development, stressing the importance of striking a balance between devotion to Allah and responsible engagement with worldly affairs.
Building character before chasing success
The question of character and self-discipline was addressed by Imam Ridwanullah AbdulLateef, Imam of Igbarere Central Mosque, Magodo Phase 2, who delivered a lecture titled “Be Chaste! Paradise Will Be Yours.”
Imam AbdulLateef urged the teenagers to uphold chastity and purity as enduring Islamic values, challenging the perception that such values are outdated or incompatible with contemporary life.
He reminded them that Islam should remain their standard and that the ultimate goal of life is to attain the pleasure of Allah and Paradise.
The Imam encouraged the participants to appreciate the dignity Allah has bestowed on mankind and to understand chastity as part of protecting that dignity through self-control, discipline and responsible choices.
He urged the teenagers to be confident about living according to Islamic values even when those values differ from prevailing social expectations.
The lecture also addressed the responsibility of parents in raising morally upright children.
AbdulLateef urged parents to take an active interest in the moral and social development of their children, stressing the importance of communication and creating an environment where teenagers can discuss difficult issues and receive appropriate guidance.
He said young people should not be left to obtain answers about sensitive issues solely from peers, schools or digital platforms.
Igniting leadership potential, youth advocate says
While character formed one pillar of the programme, the organisers also challenged the teenagers to prepare themselves for positions of responsibility.
A technology consultant at KPMG, Mr Ammar Jubril, who facilitated a session on “Leadership and Public Speaking: The How?”, urged the participants to begin developing leadership qualities early.
Jubril encouraged them to see leadership as service and responsibility rather than merely occupying positions or titles.
He said young people should not wait until adulthood before acquiring the skills required to communicate effectively, take responsibility and influence others positively.
“The reason why we did it is just to ignite that passion in them and prepare them for the future,” he said.
Jubril said public speaking required more than confidence, noting that young speakers must be grounded in facts, understand their audience, communicate clearly and remain open to feedback.
He urged the teenagers not to be intimidated by criticism when expressing well-considered views, while stressing the importance of combining confidence with responsibility and good character.
He also advocated the integration of more practical public-speaking activities into schools, including debates and presentations, to help students develop communication and leadership skills.
Jubril appealed to the organisers to sustain the boot camp as a regular initiative rather than a one-off programme, arguing that continued mentorship would help participants develop and remain prepared for future responsibilities.
AI and the future of education, professions
Mr. AbdulMujeeb Adeposi Bamiduro, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Conclase Group, who spoke on “AI in the Future of Education and Professions,” introduced the teenagers to artificial intelligence and its growing influence on education and the workplace.
Bamiduro explained what AI is, why it matters and how the technology is already transforming learning and different professions.
He also demonstrated some AI applications in education and professional settings, giving the participants practical insight into how the technology could shape their future studies and careers.
Bamiduro stressed the importance of using AI responsibly, urging the teenagers to combine technological competence with ethics and excellence.
He encouraged them to understand emerging technologies and learn how to use them effectively, noting that AI would increasingly influence how people learn, work and solve problems.
Bashir, Aremu inspire teens to build circles, shape the future
The programme featured other scholars and professionals who addressed different aspects of the teenagers’ personal, spiritual and future development.
Mr Saheed Bashir, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Meristem Stockbrokers Limited, who spoke on “My Circle, My Future,” drew on Qur’anic guidance on righteousness, brotherhood and mutual responsibility to encourage the teenagers to be deliberate about the friendships they build.
He urged them to develop circles that are both Godly and ambitious, where friends can support one another in righteousness while challenging each other to pursue meaningful goals.
Bashir also admonished them to leverage positive relationships for learning, collaboration and future professional opportunities and to sustain such relationships beyond their teenage years.
In a related session, “Heirs to World-Shapers,” the Deputy Imam of IEFI Mosque, Imam Kamal Aremu, encouraged the teenagers to draw inspiration from the legacy of Muslim scholars, leaders and entrepreneurs who made significant contributions to human civilisation.
Presenting Prophet Muhammad (SAW) as the ultimate role model, he highlighted the achievements of earlier generations of Muslims and cited AbdurRahman ibn Awf, one of the Prophet’s companions, as an example of excellence in entrepreneurship.
Aremu urged the teenagers to become torch bearers for future generations by pursuing excellence in fields such as academia, scholarship, journalism, law, technology, entrepreneurship, business and leadership.
He stressed that Islam needs young Muslims to develop their potential fully and take their place at the frontiers of their chosen fields.
Participants share experiences
Participants also shared how the boot camp helped them navigate the realities of growing up as young Muslims.
Haamidah Sadiq spoke about the pressure created by social expectations and online beauty standards, particularly around modest dressing, urging young Muslim women to build confidence in their identity and values.
A 12-year-old participant, Sultan Lawal, said he enjoyed the combination of Islamic learning, prayers and other activities, while noting the challenge of maintaining his Muslim identity in a school where most students are not Muslims.
Another participant, Azmat Kolapo-Agarau, said he initially did not want to attend but later found the programme rewarding as it gave him an opportunity to meet other Muslims and learn about leadership.
He called for similar programmes to be organised regularly, while a Mechatronics Engineering student, Kaamila Karam, suggested grouping participants according to age at future editions to enable facilitators to better address their different developmental needs.
Community takes responsibility for the next generation
Chairman of the planning committee, AbdulSobur Musah, linked some of the challenges confronting young people to what he described as a weakening value system in society.
He said families remained the foundation of society and argued that the quality of future leadership would ultimately reflect the values cultivated among young people.
Musah urged Nigerians to rediscover positive aspects of their cultural identity while promoting peaceful coexistence among people of different religious backgrounds.
He stressed that identity should not become a basis for discrimination and that criminal behaviour should be attributed to individuals rather than entire religious, ethnic or political groups.
“We need to embrace our own identity,” he said, while urging Nigerians to appreciate their differences.
Musah also recalled periods when Muslims and Christians lived together peacefully in Nigeria and called for public messaging that would place greater emphasis on shared humanity and responsible citizenship.
He advocated policies and community initiatives capable of strengthening young people’s sense of belonging and encouraging them to contribute positively to society.
At the close of the programme, the teenagers were encouraged to take greater ownership of the initiative through self-coordinating leadership structures, with plans for continued engagement beyond the two-day gathering.
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