Communique issued at the end of the 75th Islamic Vacation Course (IVC) of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria MSSN “A” Zone held at Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna (Brothers) and Queen Amina College, Kaduna (Sisters) from 4th – 10th Rabiul Akhar 1439 AH (22nd to 28th December, 2017).
Introduction
The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria ‘A’ Zone Coordinating Committee comprising nineteen Northern states and Abuja organized its 75th Annual Islamic Vacation Course. It was officially declared open on the 23rd December, 2017 at the Convocation Square of Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna. The theme of the programme was “Turning our Diversity into Strength for Nation Building: MSSN as a Pacesetter”.
The ceremony had in attendance his Excellency, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State ably represented the Executive Director, Bureau for Interfaith, Kaduna State, Engr. Namadi Musa. Other dignitaries present at the opening ceremony included the Wife of the Kaduna State Governor, Hajiya Aisha Ummi Garba El-Rufai; the Amir of Birnin Gwari, Mal. Zubairu Jibril Mai Gwari II, Chairman of the Occasion and representative of the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alh. (Dr) Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III; the former Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Ahmad Muhammad Makarfi; Professor Ibrahim Suleiman of ABU Zaria; Former ”A” Zone MSSN Coordinating Committee, Dr. Abdullahi Musa Abu Abdussamad; the representative of the former Kano State Governor, Mal. Ibrahim Shekarau, Mal Gambo Ado; Malam Shehu Muhammad Makarfi, one time MSSN ‘A’ Zone Chairman and the LOC Chairman; The National Ameer, MSSN, Brother Muhammad Jameel Muhammad; Dr. Awwal Ahmad of ABU Zaria; and Mal Abubakar Shanono, representative of the Chairman, Council of Imam/Ulama, Kaduna State.
The keynote address was delivered by Professor Adam Ahmad Okene, ably represented by Professor Ibrahim Usman Imam, Director Centre for the Studies of Foreign Languages, NDA. He spoke on the Theme: “Turning our Diversities into Strength for National Building: MSSN as a Pacesetter”.
After a weeklong intensive training, classroom instructions, Da’wah outreach, seminars and discussions, skills acquisition for sisters, debate for secondary schools, Book Review for higher institutions, Simulations, Demonstration sessions and lectures on topics such as Unity in Diversity: The MSSN Approach in Managing Ethnic and Sectarian Differences; The role of the Prophet’s companions in upholding the religion of Islam; Substance Abuse: A Cancer in the Ummah; The Role of Inter-ethnic Marriage in strengthening the Ummah; Examination Malpractice: A Bane in our Educational System; and Family Planning, Conflict and Congruence from the Islamic Perspective.
The following observations and resolutions formed the basis of this communique.
Observations:
1. The continued turning out of prospective candidates with requisite SSCE and JAMB requirements roaming the streets because they cannot gain admission into Higher Institutions of learning due to limited space is becoming a social and security threat to the nation.
2. The proliferation and high cost of fees, unqualified teachers of substandard Nursery, Primary and Secondary Schools in the country are factors responsible for the falling standard of education of Nigeria.
3. The continued threats of strike action by academic and non-academic staff union of higher institutions as a result of unresolved issues between the government and relevant stakeholders in the educational sector portends danger to the development of education in Nigeria.
4. Undue relevance placed on paper qualification has led to the sophistication of examination malpractices in institutions of learning thereby discouraging diligence and hard work among students.
5. The reading culture hitherto common among Nigerian students in the past has eroded drastically leading to a decline in the literary quality of graduates produced by institutions of learning in Nigeria.
6. The quest for white collar jobs by graduates thus hindering them from acquiring entrepreneurial skills for self-reliance is lamentable.
7. The increasing cases of rape and drug abuse to the extent that even married women are involved in this ugly act is disheartening.
8. The lingering cases of farmers and herders clashes in some parts of the country portends danger to the peaceful co-existence of the country and is therefore condemnable.
9. The level at which citizens of Nigeria have turned their diversity in culture, religion and region to create barriers among them would not augur well for the country.
10. The denial of Firdausi Aljannah Amasa to be called to bar by the Council of Legal Education on the basis of her use of the Hijab, is unacceptable as it contravenes the law and her Fundamental Human Rights as a Muslim.
11. The declaration by the National Bureau of Statistics NBS, that Nigeria is out of recession leaves much to be desired as majority of the citizens are yet to feel the impact of the exit.
12. The approval of $1 billion by the Nigeria Governor’s Forum to tackle security challenges nationwide is worthy of commendation.
13. The violent methodology adopted in the clamour for re-structuring by some groups has the potential of threatening the corporate existence of Nigeria as a nation.
14. The efforts of the government in diversifying the economy through exploration of non-oil sectors of the economy such as Agriculture is a step in the right direction.
15. We join the rest of the world in condemning the international bully, the USA and her partner in crime, Israel for the unjust, unpopular and unprovocative decision to declare Jerusalem as the capital city of the illegally imposed state of Israel.
16. The society is saddened by the ceaseless genocide going on against the endangered Muslims in the Rakhine state of Myanmar.
Resolutions:
1. There is need for the government to set aside the statutory 30% of its budget to education as stipulated by the UN in order to tackle underfunding of the sector.
2. Regulatory bodies within the educational sector should rise up against substandard Primary, Secondary and Tertiary institutions and fight quackery in the teaching profession.
3. The National Assembly should enact laws to deal with academic corruption in the form of examination malpractice.
4. Stakeholders in education should encourage the presidential initiative of “Bring Back the Book” in our schools and homes so as to save the future of education in Nigeria.
5. The government, private sector and well-to-do persons in the society should put hands on deck to impart skills acquisition programs to unemployed graduates to promote self-reliance.
6. There is the need to enact appropriate laws that will curb the menace of drug abuse and rape while Muslim Scholars are called upon to educate the Ummah on the negative implications of the duo.
7. The re-demarcation of cattle routes and encouragement of cattle ranches across the country would not only solve the farmer/herder crisis but would go a long way in promoting food security in the country while government should be fair and just in handling the crisis.
8. Nigerians should see their diversities as a source of strength and not liability and respect one another irrespective of culture, religion or region as this will foster peaceful coexistence and build a strong nation.
9. We demand for an expeditious investigation into the matter of Firdausi by relevant authorities to enable her to be called to bar and urged the Council for Legal Education to make a formal public apology to the Ummah.
10. We call on the government to maintain the existing tempo on boosting the economy in order to ensure a practical and sustainable exit out of recession, which will translate into improved standard of living for Nigerians.
11. The government should ensure transparency and accountability in the utilization of the funds meant to tackle security challenges across the country.
12. The MSSN supports true Federalism in Nigeria but cautions on fairness and justice for all entities in the country.
13. We support the UN’s resolution on the Declaration by USA of Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel as illegal and call for the maintenance of status quo in order to promote global peace and harmony.
14. We call on the international community to sanction the government of Burma in order to put a stop to the needless genocide against the Rohyinga Muslim minority.
signed
Mal. Ishaq Muhammad Ishiyaku, Mal. Alhassan Lawal,
Zonal Chairman. I.V.C Organizer.
Board of Trustees
Sheikh AbdulKadir Orire, Sheikh Ahmad Lemu, Dr. Usman M. Bugaje, Dr. A.M. Abu Abdissamad, Dr. Abdullah J. Oyekan, Alh. Ishaq Kunle Sanni, Barr. Yusuf Ola-Olu Ali, Barr. Misbaudeen Oyefeso
