Jane Salihu
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has urged Muslims across the country to translate their faith into good character, professional excellence and active participation in nation-building.
The Council made the call at its General Assembly held at the Abuja National Mosque on Thursday, October 1, 2026, where it challenged Muslims to contribute more effectively to the development of Nigeria by making faith “a source of character, not just a tag of identity.”
The Assembly, presided over by the President-General of the NSCIA and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, was held under the theme, “Nigerian Muslims and the Imperative of Nation-building.”
In its resolutions, the Council also urged Muslims to obtain their National Identification Numbers (NINs) and Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), stressing the importance of participating fully in the process of selecting leaders at all levels.
It encouraged Muslim societies and organisations to pursue economic independence through lawful investments, cooperation and more effective administration of Zakat and Waqf as tools for sustainable poverty reduction.
On national security, the NSCIA said insecurity affects Nigerians regardless of faith and rejected claims of genocide against Christians or any other religious community in Nigeria.
It called for an urgent and comprehensive reform of the country’s security architecture, including support for decentralised policing, provided it is backed by professionalism, constitutional safeguards, accountability, sustainable funding, respect for fundamental rights and effective coordination between federal and state security institutions.
The Council also urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts to reduce the cost of transportation and food, saying this would help ease the hardship being experienced by ordinary Nigerians.
On religious harmony, the NSCIA reaffirmed that Islam prohibits compulsion in religion and called on Muslim scholars to stop attacking one another publicly, urging them to resolve differences through internal mechanisms.
It further cautioned Muslims against manipulating Islam to promote hatred, violence or attacks against people who hold different views, while urging members of the Ummah to embrace verification of information before sharing messages, claims and accusations capable of damaging the reputation of individuals and leaders.
The Council also raised concerns over the treatment of Muslims in some institutions, calling for the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment concerning the construction of a mosque for Muslim students at Rivers State University.
It demanded respect for the right of Muslim female students, NYSC members, security personnel and other Muslim women to wear the hijab, describing it as a fundamental human right.
The NSCIA also criticised the University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University and University of Lagos over what it described as their hostile dispositions to Supreme Court judgments favouring the use of hijab in their international schools.
On education, the Council urged Muslim leaders to prioritise quality education combining sound Islamic knowledge with Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM), while calling on parents and community leaders to strengthen moral guidance for young people.
The Assembly recognised Maryam Ibrahim Dan-Azumi for making history by winning the female category of the King Abdulaziz International Qur’anic Competition in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, and recommended her for national recognition.
The Council also adopted the 2026 report of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and endorsed its recommendations for repositioning the Hajj industry for greater excellence.
It commended NAHCON and the Abuja National Mosque Management Board for their initiatives in advancing their respective mandates and honoured its Secretary-General, Prof. Is-haq O. Oloyede, for his contributions to education and nation-building during his tenure as JAMB Registrar.
The General Assembly also approved the renewal and expansion of the Council’s National Executive Committee, including the appointment of Prof. Mahfouz A. Adedimeji as Deputy Secretary-General (National Affairs), Prof. Salisu Shehu as Deputy Secretary-General (International Affairs), and Abeni Obomeileh Mohammed, SAN, as Deputy Secretary-General (Corporate Affairs).
Other newly approved officers include Dr Bala Muhammad, Deputy Secretary-General (Administration); Dr Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, Public Relations Officer; Hajia Sekinah T. Lawal, Deputy Public Relations Officer; Dr Mairo Mandara, Development Officer; Arc. Abdullah Musa Abdul (PenAbdul), Deputy Development Officer (Technical); and Prof. Fatimah Abdulkareem, Family Affairs Officer.
The Council expressed appreciation to individuals and organisations whose contributions supported its financial sustainability drive and the successful hosting of the 2026 General Assembly.
