By Bukola Hameed
The Muslim Congress (TMC) successfully organised its 31st Annual National Islamic Training Programme (NITP) across Nigeria, bringing together participants from diverse backgrounds, including professionals and artisans.
In the South-West region II, attendees from Oyo, Osun, Kwara, and Ondo States converged on SPED International Secondary School in Oyo, Oyo State, between December 20th and 23rd for the four-day training programme.
Themed “Sound Creed,” the programme aimed to deepen faith and promote unity within the Muslim community by emphasising the principles of pristine Islamic creed. Speaking on the significance of the event, the Amir of the Congress, Alhaji Abdulwasiu Taiwo Bamgbala, described the NITP as a vital platform for comprehensive Islamic education. He stressed the importance of prioritising faith in Allah and encouraged participants to practise Islam with sincerity and dedication.
At the formal closing ceremony, the guest speaker, Dr Sirajudeen Bakrin, Chief Imam of Fountain University, Osogbo, underscored the necessity of a sound creed for every Muslim committed to practising pristine Islam. Dr Bakrin highlighted that adherence to Islamic creed fosters humility, submissiveness, and peaceful relations within society, countering misconceptions that it promotes rudeness or intolerance.
During the Fiqh session, Sheikh Dhikrullah Shafii, the Mufti of the Conference of Islamic Organisations (CIO), delivered a lecture on “The Forbidden Trade.” He strongly condemned the glorification of internet fraudsters and warned that illicit trade undermines a nation’s economic stability.
In his Tafseer of Quran 2:177, Sheikh Qamarudeen Ballo explained that true Islamic faith must serve as the foundation for attaining righteousness, whether on an individual or national level.
The Personality Profile session featured retired Justice M.A. Abass, a former President of the Customary Court in Oyo State. Justice Abass advocated for nurturing healthy relationships between parents and children, emphasising its critical role in fostering personal and national development.
The South-West II venue of the NITP recorded an impressive turnout, with no fewer than 733 delegates participating in the annual programme. The event further solidified its reputation as a cornerstone of spiritual and educational development within the Muslim community in Nigeria.