The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos Information Chapel, recently held its 2023 Ramadan Lecture, the 17th edition in the series, at the Adeyemi-Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja.
In his welcome address, the Chairman, NUJ Lagos Information Chapel, Comrade Adebowale Adeniji said this year’s theme: “Home As the Bedrock of A Better Society”, is apt and carefully chosen because of the generally acknowledged role of the family as the bedrock of a better society.
“You will all agree with me that for us to have a better society, which is free of all sorts of social vices, our families have crucial roles to play in social development, as well as effecting positive change in a nation confronted with a myriad of social and political maladies”, Adeniji said.
According to the Chairman, the Annual Ramadan Lecture is one of the ways through which members come together as a Union to learn and understand noble practices that will help us in living a life of service to the Almighty Allah and to humanity in general.
He urged every journalist to extend acts of benevolence to each other by showing love to one another, especially the less privileged members, particularly in this holy month of Ramadan.
Adeniji admonished members to listen attentively to the two erudite scholars Dr. Isa Abdul-Mujeeb, the Medical Director of Our Friend Hospital, Ogba and Dr. Ganiu Bamgbose of the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, as they will be delivering a lecture on the topics: “Islamic Perspectives As A Panacea To Insecurity In The Nation” and “Inordinate Greed For Wealth: Expected Role of Parents In Modelling Children Towards An Effective Nation Building”, respectively.
The Chairman acknowledged the role of the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso; the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olumide Sogunle; the Executive Members of the Chapel, the 2023 Ramadan Planning Committee, the Management and the Entire Staff in the Ministry for their support and encouragement at all times.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr. Olumide Sogunle, represented by Mr. Tunde Olalere, a Deputy Director in the Ministry, congratulated the executive and members of NUJ, Lagos Information for hosting the 17th edition of the annual Ramadan Lecture.
According to him, Ramadan is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating or drinking from dawn until sunset. In the Quran, it is said that fasting has been written down (as obligatory) upon you, as it was prescribed for those before you. Fasting is meant to teach Muslim patience, modesty and spirituality.
“Ramadan is a time for Muslims to fast for the sake of God and to offer more prayer than usual. During Ramadan, Muslims ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance and help in refraining from everyday evils, and try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds. It is a time for Muslims to reflect on their faith and requires significant sacrifices”, Sogunle said.
He promised that the Ministry of Information and Strategy would continue to render unwavering support to NUJ Information Chapel for the seamless discharge of its mandate.
In his lecture titled: “Inordinate Greed for Wealth: Expected Role of Parents in Modelling Children Towards an Effective Nation Building”, Dr. Ganiu Bamgbose said that inordinate greed for wealth is a common vice among the younger generation. Their level of impatience to acquire material possessions and the readiness to go to any length to gather wealth should be a national concern.
He outlined various consequences of inordinate greed for wealth among young people to include the inability to stay focused, desperation, disregard for social, religious and moral values and joining bad gangs among others.
Bamgbose said, “Islam as a religion is guided by the Quran and Hadith which serve as a manual to all Muslims. The Quran made mention of children in terms of their duties and their rights 297 times. This implies that Islam is clear on the roles of parents to their children and the roles of children to their parents”.
Parents, he declared, can make their children useful for nation-building by ensuring that their education is guided by their natural ability, while constantly reminding them of their virtues during developmental stages.
Dr. Muhammed-Isa Abdulmujeeb, in his lecture on “Islamic Perspectives as a Panacea to Insecurity in Nigeria”, said Nigeria has been grappling with all forms of insecurity such as terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, and farmers/herders conflicts which have threatened the unity, stability, economy and social fabric of the nation for several decades.
According to him, “The Quran teaches Muslims to live in peace with one another and with non-muslims. It also emphasised the importance of justice, fairness and respect for human life. Islam provides a framework for conflict resolution that prioritises dialogue, negotiation, and compromise; encourages Muslims to seek peaceful resolutions to conflict whenever possible”.
To prevent insecurity, he said, Islam promotes social justice, education, community development and encourages the elimination of poverty and inequality, adding that Islamic organisations and leaders have equally been actively involved in efforts to address the security challenges facing the country.
