Kunle Adelabu & Mariam Akinloye
-Other Muslim societies also organizing Ramadan lectures, prayers in his honour
Hon. Babajimi Benson, the representative of Ikorodu Federal Constituency has successfully hosted the 2nd Nasrul – Lahi – Il – Faith Society (NASFAT), Ikorodu chapter’s public lecture.
The lecture which was held at its constituency office at the weekend was attended by NASFAT and other Muslim dignitaries.
The lecture is themed, “Charity and Zakat: Providing Relief and Support During Challenging Times”.
Rep. Benson was presented with an award of appreciation by NASFAT.
The Ansar – ul – Deen Islamic Society, Ikorodu, had on Friday organized a Ramadan Public Lecture in honour of the three – term federal lawmaker at its central mosque at Munirat Aleje in Ikorodu.
Alhaji Abdulraman Afolabi Adedeji, NASFAT Ramadan Committee Chairman, while reflecting on the achievements made so far by the organization, added that the Holy month of Ramadan required generosity and compassion among others from Muslims.
“I am honoured to stand before you today as the chairman of the Ramadan committee 2024/2025. As we gather in this blessed month of Ramadan, I am filled with gratitude and humility, reflecting on the tremendous efforts and achievements of our committee.
“Ramadan, the month of mercy forgiveness, and self -reflection, is a time when we come together to strengthen our bond with Allah and with each other. It is a time for selflessness, generosity, and compassion.
“I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt appreciation to all our members who contributed hugely to the success of our last Ramadan programme. Your support and collaboration were instrumental in making it a memorable and impactful event,” he said.
He said that NASFAT’s focus this year is to raise fund for construction of the Muslim cemetery which he put at N75,000,000 (seventy-five million naira), torward which he solicited for the financial assistance of the lawmaker and the members of the public.
Mr Oladunjoye Shakirudeen, NASFAT Ikorodu branch chairman speaking at the annual Ramadan lecture said that goodness shall always follow Rep. Benson for his good works and quality representation which had made governance felt in every nook and cranny of Ikorodu.
“We are appreciative of his good gestures that are even extended to individuals that come to him for assistance.
“The entire Nasrul – Lahi – Il – Faith Society (NASFAT), Ikorodu is really appreciative of you sir. He welcomed us and graciously accepted all our requests one of which was our desire to have a hospital. Today, the hospital is in place and we would have loved to tour the facility with him.
“Today, Ikorodu branch is number one and it’s the same hospital that the National President of NASFAT referenced in an interview he conducted a few days ago.
“If you go the NASFAT headquarters website, our hospital is usually referenced first which shows that the contributions of Rep. Benson and others are impactful and meaningful.
“The NASFAT center in Ikorodu is also powered by Rep. Benson with solar light which made the environment distinct. We are grateful for all these,” he added.
He too sought for Rep. Benson’s support for the Ikorodu Muslim Community in achieving the proposed cemetery.
“As an organization that is not relenting on what the founding fathers have achieved we are going to be asking for more to sustain the achievements.
“Because of the challenges confronting us in Ikorodu in terms of having proper burial ground and the fact that all the burial grounds around have been filed to their maximum capacity, the entire Muslim community in Ikorodu resolved to establish a Muslim cemetery and to achieve that, we purchased a parcel of land last year on which work has commenced.
“We want to build a modern Muslim cemetery and we want your support in achieving this”, he said.
The guest speaker, Imam AbdulRasak AbdulAzeez Ishola speaking on the theme, ‘Charity and Zakat: Providing Relief and Support During Challenging Times”, said that the topic is timely because it deals with how to bring relief to challenges confronting us at the moment.
He emphasised that those before now have faced severe social and economic challenges and there are ways that they were tackled.
The guest speaker added that good Muslims should recognize that whenever there are challenges, they are trials from God.
He listed insecurity, hunger, sudden death and famine as categories of trials that God uses in challenging men.
While stating that nothing including challenges last forever, Imam AbdulRasak, said that God has provided solutions to all challenges in Zakat and Sadakat.
He explained that Zakat are religious obligations to God by Muslims like observation of daily prayers, fasting and Hajj.
He stated that Zakat is God’s commandment which must be observed once a year adding that there are two necessary factors that must be present for proper Zakat which is the percentage of money made within a year which must be given to eight individuals.
He also explained that Sadakat is a charity which is the height of humanity.
Imam AbdulRasak acknowledged Rep. Benson for his good governance and quality representation which have been beneficial to the populace and offered him prayer.
The Director – General, iCare Foundation, Mayor Muhydeen Sanwoola, while thanking the organizers for the lecture, enjoined Alfas to endeavour to use Ijebu dialect to preach instead of mimicking the Ilorin dialect.
He thanked the NASFAT for this year’s Ramadan lecture and assured them that they will again gather at the Rep. Benson Constituency office for another Ramadan session.
As part of the Ikorodu Muslim Community honour for Rep. Benson, Anwar -Ul -Islam Movement of Nigeria is set to organize another public lecture at the Ikorodu Town Hall on Sunday, March 16, 2025.
In the same manner, all central mosques in Ikorodu Federal Constituency have also started Ramadan Public Lectures and prayers in honour of Rep Babajimi Benson for his efforts towards infrastructural upliftment in Ikorodu Division.
