The Speech of the Amir/Coordinator of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) B-Zone at the formal opening ceremony Islamic Vacation Course Held at Km 30, Lagos/Ibadan Express of the 111th Islamic at IVC Permanent Site on Yammul Ahad the 22nd Of Jumadal Uulah, 1443 A.H (26th Day of December, 2021) Imolisa Village, Ogun State.
In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful. Praise and adoration are due to Allah, the most High, the first without beginning and the last without any point of termination. I glorify Him and adore Him. I bear true testimony that there is none worthy of worship except Allah. I also bear testimony that prophet Muhammad is His messenger and the Seal of prophethood.
I welcome everybody to the formal opening ceremony of the 111th Islamic vacation course of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria. We must all be grateful to Allah for sparing our lives to witness today’s event despite many challenges that have bedeviled our land in the recent past. I say Alhamdulilah robbil aalamin.
Distinguished guests, past and present leaders of the society, respected members of our great society, brothers and sister in islam, Islamic Vacation Course of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria is one of the major programmes of MSSN put in place by generation of past leadership to confront the evils associated with environmental influence of relating with non-muslims especially during their festivals and use the opportinuty for spiritual and intellectual development of muslim students, Despite the proliferation of the program by many other muslim groups, IVC has remained the holiday camping programme with the largest population as it has grown from less than hundred participant in the 70s to about ten thousand participants in the recent years, Alhamdulilah.
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The theme of this year IVC “HOW COULD THIS BE” was carefully chosen to address the various challenges facing the muslims across the globe. From Seria to Afganistan, Iraq to Iran, Libya to Palestine and Nigeria both the North and the South. Muslims have become the endangered species facing challenges from all fronts. We have not only faced with external aggression, we have also become enemies to ourselves. And the questions may arise “How Could This Be”? How can this happen to Muslims when we are the best of mankind ever raised on earth? And what is the solution to the ever -increasing challenges facing us both nationally and internationally? To do justice to the theme and answer these posers, we have chosen a scholar of international repute, an administrator per excellence, a role model and a pride of Muslims in Nigeria, a great ambassador of MSSN and the first Amir/Coordinator of MSSN B-ZONE in person of PROFESSOR ISHAQ OLANREWAJU OLOYEDE who is the current Registrar of Join Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
Our fathers and mothers, distinguished personalities here present, past and present leaders of our great society, since about twenty years ago when the IVC site was acquired, successive regimes have continued to consider the infrastructural development of the site as a top priority. I want to thank those who have committed their resources to bring it to the present condition, But as we can all see, a lot is still needed to be done to develop the camp to make it suitable for the use of our ever-increasing population. I therefore want to call on all of us to make serious financial commitment to bring the camp to enviable condition.
May I use this opportunity to sound a note of warning to those authorities and individuals especially some religious bigot who take delight in using their positions of authorities to infringe on the fundamental rights of muslim students. The event of few weeks ago which saw some university teachers and administrators humiliating and embarrassing muslim female students on the use of Allah’s ordained Hijab/Niqob (Face Veil) is worrisome of special note was the purported ban of Niqob by the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State (FUNAAB). I want to say that the purported ban will not stay as we will do everything possible to fight against it. We therefore identify with the position of MSSN FUNAAB Branch on the issue and warn that nobody should dare touch any of our sisters in Hijab and Niqob as anybody doing so will earn the wrath of Muslim students across Nigeria. Enough is Enough!!!
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Finally, I appreciate our father,the sultan of Sokoto & President General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Dr.Sa’ad Abubakar III ably represented for his support at all times. May His Eminence live long in the service of Allah and humanity.
I appreciate the project committee headed by our father and leader, Alh Ishaq Kunle sanni for their untiring effort towards the development of IVC camp. I thank the chairman of today’s event for his support.
I thank members of zonal executives and the Area unit umarahs for the supports so far. I especially thank the Amirs of Oyo, Osun and Ekiti State for always being in the forefronts in making financial contributions towards the development of the IVC camp. Hal jazaahulihsan illal ihsan? Is there any reward for good except good.
I sincerely appreciate the ummuat (the mothers segment of MSSN B-ZONE) for being the backbone of support for the physical development of IVC site. I cannot thank them enough. I thank all members from various Area units for their cooperation, commitment, support and encouragement. Jazakummullahu khayran.
Qaasim B. Odedeji Amir/Co-ordinator of Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) B-Zone.
