* Community demands greater participation in governance
The Muslim Community of Lagos State (MCLS) has called for greater inclusion of Muslims in governance, the establishment of a Sharia Court of Appeal in the state and increased opportunities for youth empowerment and skills development.
The demands were made on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, when MCLS, an umbrella body representing Muslims in Lagos, hosted the Lagos State Deputy Governor and All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, for a courtesy call and consultation ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The engagement was held at the Anwar Ul Islam Movement of Nigeria National Executive Council Chamber, Jibril Martin Memorial Grammar School, Iponri, Surulere, Lagos.
Muslim News gathered that the engagement coincided with the public holiday marking the birth of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). In recognition of the significance of the day, the gathering commenced with praises and salutations to the Prophet, led by Professor AbdulKabir Paramole of Lagos State University (LASU).
Hamzat, who was accompanied by senior members of his political team, sought the support and cooperation of the Muslim community while assuring its representatives that his administration would prioritise skills development, youth empowerment, business growth and inclusive governance if elected.
It also began with the recitation of Surah Al Ahzab, verse 72, by the National Missioner and leader of the Ikhwan Muslimin Foundation of Nigeria, Sheikh Dr Abdul Hakeem Al Awwal, highlighting the weighty trust, or Amanah, entrusted to humanity and the responsibility that comes with it.
The gathering brought together representatives of various Muslim organisations and constituencies, who used the occasion to present their expectations and concerns to the governorship candidate.
Danmole pledges support for Hamzat
The President of the Muslim Community of Lagos State, Hon. Muhammad Oyinlomo Danmole, welcomed Hamzat and his team to the meeting.
Danmole assured the Deputy Governor that the Muslim community was ready to work with him beyond the 2027 general elections.
He said the organisation’s mission included establishing a centre in Lagos where young people could acquire various skills, become productive and avoid social vices.
He emphasised the importance of cooperation between government and religious communities in addressing social and economic challenges affecting young people.
Muslim youth seek inclusion and empowerment
Speaking on behalf of the Muslim youth constituency, the Lagos State Coordinator of the National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations, Alhaji Isiaka Salami, a trained engineer and coordinator of the Muslim Youth Society of Nigeria, welcomed Hamzat and his delegation.
Salami called for greater recognition of the competence and abilities of Muslim youths, stressing that many young people needed support and opportunities to develop their potential.
He said the Muslim youth constituency wanted inclusion in the governance process, arguing that young people were better positioned to contribute to policies addressing the challenges confronting their generation when they were part of decision making.
According to him, youth empowerment should remain a priority because not all young people, including Muslim youths, were idle or unwilling to work.
He urged the government to create opportunities for young people to acquire skills, establish businesses and contribute meaningfully to the development of Lagos State.
Salami also called for greater participation of Muslim youths as stakeholders in governance and development, saying their competence and abilities should be recognised and harnessed.
Women seek fairness and peaceful election
Also speaking, Alhaja Dr Shareefat Yusuf, a former Tutor General and Permanent Secretary of Education District VI in Lagos State, who represented the Amira of the Criterion, called for a peaceful and violence free electoral process.
She urged Hamzat, as a governorship candidate and prospective governor, to govern with the values of fairness, justice and inclusivity.
Yusuf also called for greater attention to women, widows, orphans and vulnerable members of society, stressing the need for policies that would protect and support them.
She expressed confidence in Hamzat’s understanding of Islamic values and urged him to reflect those principles in governance.
Muslim community demands Sharia Court
Another prominent Muslim leader, Alhaji Abdulfatah AbdulMajeed, said the Muslim community was not asking the government to grant Muslims undue favours but was seeking recognition of legitimate needs.
He specifically called for the establishment of a Sharia Court in Lagos State to handle matters relating to inheritance and other personal affairs of Muslims.
According to him, such a court would deal with personal matters affecting Muslims and would not interfere with the rights of people of other faiths.
AbdulMajeed also rejected arguments that Muslims in Lagos lacked qualified professionals who could contribute to governance.
He said the state had produced many professionals through the free education policies introduced during the administration of the late Governor Lateef Jakande.
“They have intimidating credentials,” he said, stressing that the Muslim community had competent professionals capable of contributing to the development of Lagos State.
Hamzat promises skills development
Responding to the various concerns raised at the meeting, Hamzat said his administration would place greater emphasis on skills acquisition alongside formal education.
According to him, parents had increasingly focused on academic qualifications while paying insufficient attention to vocational and technical skills.
“Parents have neglected skills in exchange for education. Education and acquisition of skills must go hand in hand. That is part of our plans,” he said.
The APC governorship candidate said the growing concern over unemployment should be addressed by examining the mismatch between the skills possessed by job seekers and those required by employers.
“We are complaining of a lack of jobs while some companies are saying people lack the required skills for available jobs. We should look into this,” he stated.
Hamzat emphasised the importance of placing youths at the centre of development efforts, saying government must create an environment where young people could acquire relevant skills and become productive members of society.
He also called for greater parental responsibility, saying parents must take responsibility for the welfare and development of the children they bring into the world.
Hamzat said legislation to strengthen parental responsibility would be pursued vigorously if he was elected governor.
Target of 500,000 MSMEs
The governorship candidate promised to create an enabling environment for young people to become more enterprising.
He said his administration would seek to increase the number of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Lagos State from the current 122,000 to 500,000.
Hamzat also pledged to remove unnecessary barriers, levies and taxes capable of frustrating the growth and survival of businesses in the state.
He said the expansion of MSMEs would create more opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship, particularly among young people.
Women and youths for greater inclusion
On inclusion, Hamzat stressed the need to give women and young people greater opportunities to participate in governance and decision making.
He said the government could not effectively address the challenges facing these groups without involving them in the process of developing policies and programmes designed to improve their lives.
Hamzat also spoke about the enormous population of Lagos State, saying the state’s population was now close to 30 million.
He noted that the scale of Lagos’ population could be better appreciated by comparing it with the number of registered voters in Alimosho, which he said was comparable to the total votes recorded in the recent Osun State governorship election.
The Deputy Governor assured the gathering that efforts would be made to govern effectively, while soliciting the support and cooperation of the Muslim community.
“We’ll do everything to govern well, but need your support,” he said.
The gathering ended with prayers led by the Chief Imam of Muhammad Rasulullah Mosque, Surulere, Lagos, Sheikh Sulaiman Abdurrahman Adangba, and renewed calls for cooperation, peaceful coexistence, inclusive governance and development in Lagos State.
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