Moral rebirth, youth education key to Nigeria’s renewal – Imam, TMC

Islamic leaders and scholars have identified personal soul reformation and sound youth education as twin pillars for Nigeria’s moral rebirth, social stability and long-term national development.

The Chief Imam of Oyo State, Sheikh AbdulGaniyy Abubakry Agbotomokekere, made this known at the closing ceremony of the 32nd National Islamic Training Programme (NITP) organised by The Muslim Congress (TMC), urging Muslims to prioritise inner reform as the starting point for meaningful societal change.

The cleric said end-of-year Islamic camps such as the NITP provide critical platforms for self-assessment, character refinement and the strengthening of relationships with Allah and humanity, describing the four-day programme as a vital avenue for spiritual renewal, moral discipline and responsible social conduct, stressing that no society could truly transform without individuals first reforming their souls.

Sheikh Agbotomokekere commended TMC for its sustained commitment to nurturing spiritually conscious and morally upright Muslims through sound knowledge and practical guidance, encouraging the organisation to continue promoting ethical and socially responsible lifestyles.

Reinforcing this message, the guest speaker and Wali of TMC in Shaki, Oyo State, Ustadh Abdulrasheed Arogundade, charged participants to translate lessons learnt into daily practice, noting that knowledge without action cannot reform the soul, and urged Muslims to apply Islamic values in everyday life, including family relations, business dealings, health management and community engagement.

In a related lecture at the Abuja session of the programme, guest lecturer, Engineer Abdus-Sabur Oliyide, emphasised that youth reawakening through balanced education remained critical to Nigeria’s future.

Speaking on “Youth and Education: The Path to National Development”, he called on parents, teachers and government to work together to provide youths with both intellectual and spiritual education.

Oliyide noted that while education fostered critical thinking, spiritual education formed the foundation of character, adding that a nation’s true wealth lay in its educated and skilled youths, not its natural resources.

He warned that neglecting youth education fueled insecurity and undermineed national progress, appealing to the government to prevent disruptions such as prolonged lecturers’ strikes.

Earlier, the Deputy Director of Programme, Mallam Muyideen AbdulRaheem, said NITP was designed to set the agenda for societal reformation by promoting balanced personalities who understood their duties to God and to fellow human beings regardless of religious differences.

The programme, themed: “Guidance and Direction for Today’s Muslims”, attracted over 800 participants from Oyo, Osun, Kwara and the FCT, featuring lectures, health talks, sporting activities, entrepreneurship sessions and Quranic competitions.

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