The Acting Executive Secretary, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Mr. Louis Eriomala was among other dignitaries who attended this year’s Ramadan Lecture presented by the Honorable Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Thursday, 7th June, 2018, at his country home, Oro, Kwara State. The Annual event aimed at bringing about unity, religious tolerance and peaceful co-existence among the residents of Oro and Nigeria as a whole irrespective of their religious beliefs. This year had Professor Raheemson Misbahud-Din Olawale of Lagos State University as the Guest Lecturer.
In his lecture which focused on the need for acquiring knowledge, good leadership and the peaceful conduct for the forthcoming 2019 polls, Prof. Olawale reminded the gathering that Islam is not just a religion but a way of life. Thus, Muslims irrespective of status, should endeavor to acquire not just knowledge in other fields but also knowledge of politics in Islam, as Islam is politics and politics is Islam. This, he said, would help in the emergence of credible and corrupt-free leaders that will ensure justice, good governance and sustainable development.
In his goodwill message, the Special Guest of Honour at the lecture and the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Mal. Nasir El-Rufai, said he was elated with the warm reception accorded him and his entourage by the people of Oro, as well as the prayers offered to Mr. President and his cabinet. He assured the gathering of their dedication and unreserved commitment to do more in order to bring the dividends of democracy to the common man.
In his vote of thanks, the host and the Honourable Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, could not conceal his joy as he appreciated the gathering for the honour accorded him and his family. This, he said, has been a recurring decimal over the years as people from far and wide, especially Oro residents, irrespective of faith always come in their numbers to attend the Ramadan Lecture. Stressing that as Nigerians, religion should never be a dividing factor but rather a unifying factor, in order to achieve our developmental goals as individuals and as a nation.
This year’s Lai Mohammed Ramadan Lecture which is the 11th in the series had in attendance dignitaries in and outside Kwara State, heads of government agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth organizations, women organizations, student unions etc. Among the dignitaries present were: The Director General National Broadcasting Corporation, Mal. Modibbo Kawu; Representative of the Director General Voice of Nigeria, Alh. Danladi Abdulkareem; Representative of the Inspector General of Police and Chief Imam of Nigeria Police Force Headquarters Abuja, Dr. Yakub Alhassan; The Director Public Relations & Protocol in the Ministry of Information, Mr. Timothy Oyedeji; The Acting Chief Medical Director, University Of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Professor Mikhail Olayinka Buhari; The Curator, National Council for Museum and Monuments, Mrs. Oladele Bimpe; Representative of the Kwara State Director, National Orientation Agency, Mr. Sharafa Atoyebi etc.
High points of the event were a special prayer offered by the Chief Imam of Oro Alh. Mikhail Onisan for President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Governor Nasir El-Rufai and others in leadership positions across the country. Recitation from the holy Qur’an and the presentation of an Award of Excellence to the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Malla Nasir El-Rufai, by a political association known as the Buhari/Osinbajo Project 2019.
Ahmed Mohammed
North Central Zone