NSCIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY: Sultan formally honours Oloyede, as he calls for Muslim unity, active participation in national affairs
By KEMI KASUMU
The Sultan emphasised that Muslims should be free to practise their religion without hindrance, and stressed that the NSCIA does not support coercion in matters of faith. He said Islam does not permit Muslims to force others to embrace the religion, maintaining that matters of faith should be approached voluntarily.
The President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has called on Muslims across Nigeria to strengthen unity, protect their religious rights and actively participate in efforts to address the challenges confronting the country.
The Sultan made the call on Thursday October 1, 2026 in Abuja while delivering his opening remarks at the NSCIA General Assembly, which brought together Muslim leaders, representatives and delegates from different parts of Nigeria.
He described the General Assembly as an important platform for members of the Muslim community to deliberate on issues affecting Islam, Nigeria and humanity, while expressing appreciation to the delegates who travelled from various parts of the country to attend the meeting.
According to the Sultan, the gathering was particularly significant because the NSCIA had not convened a full General Assembly for several years, largely due to financial constraints.
He explained that although the Council had continued to organise expanded general-purpose committee meetings involving Muslim leaders, government officials and other stakeholders, some responsibilities could only be effectively discharged through a properly constituted General Assembly.
Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar urged Muslims to remain united and take an active interest in national affairs, stressing the need to protect their rights while respecting the rights and freedoms of other citizens.
He emphasised that Muslims should be free to practise their religion without hindrance, and stressed that the NSCIA does not support coercion in matters of faith.
The Sultan said Islam does not permit Muslims to force others to embrace the religion, maintaining that matters of faith should be approached voluntarily.
He also urged Muslims to uphold good character, peaceful coexistence and responsible citizenship wherever they live, stressing that members of the Muslim community have a responsibility to make positive contributions to society and national development.
Sultan Commends Prof Oloyede on Service to Nation, Islam
The Sultan also seized the occasion to commend the immediate past Registrar/Chief Executive of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and serving Secretary-General of the NSCIA, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, for his contributions to national development and advancement of the Muslim community.
This followed an earlier commendation done through the Sultan’s media team recently where he hailed two other top Muslims over their recorded successes with regard to their services to service of Allah in Nigeria.
He recalled that Oloyede served the Federal Government for about a decade while simultaneously continuing to discharge responsibilities within the NSCIA.
The Sultan described the professor’s record of public service as worthy of recognition, saying the Muslim community was proud of his contributions to Nigeria, particularly during his tenure as JAMB Registrar.
In recognition of his service, a plaque was presented to Professor Oloyede at the gathering.
The Sultan prayed for the emergence of more Muslims who would demonstrate integrity, competence, dedication and commitment in the service of Islam and the nation.
NSCIA Reaffirms Engagement with Political Stakeholders
The NSCIA leadership also reaffirmed the Council’s readiness to engage political stakeholders across party lines, explaining that such engagements are aimed at communicating the concerns, expectations and interests of the Muslim community.
The Sultan recalled that the Council had received representatives associated with different political interests, including those connected with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Peter Obi during the 2023 general election period.
He stressed that the Council’s engagement with political actors should not necessarily be interpreted as partisan involvement, but rather as an avenue for the NSCIA to explain its identity, concerns and expectations while promoting the interests of Islam and the wider Nigerian society.
The Sultan therefore urged delegates to participate actively in the deliberations of the General Assembly and work towards building a common direction on issues affecting Muslims and the country.
NSCIA Renews Representation on Global Fund Coordinating Mechanism
Meanwhile, the General Assembly nominated and approved Professor Fatima Abdulkareem, a Professor of Pathology at the University of Lagos, to represent the NSCIA and the faith-based organisation constituency on Nigeria’s Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) of the Global Fund for the next three years.
The representative explained that the CCM coordinates and supervises Global Fund activities in Nigeria, particularly interventions addressing HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
She said the participation of faith-based organisations in the mechanism provides an opportunity for religious institutions to contribute to discussions on the health needs of their communities and bring grassroots perspectives into the implementation of Global Fund interventions.
The development is part of the NSCIA’s broader efforts to ensure effective representation of Muslim communities in national institutions and programmes while strengthening the Council’s engagement with issues affecting Nigerians.
The General Assembly also underscored the importance of continued prayers and collective efforts towards achieving peace, stability and sustainable development in Nigeria.
