By: Tolulope Oluwole
……Ifedore Monarchs, Prof Amoo charge Muslim women on Home Building
The Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN) Ondo State Chapter, has held her 11th Annual Conference, tagged “Ifedore 2021” over the weekend, urging the government to fi d a lasting solution to economic hardship and high cost of good stuff.
The association believes that if women are given the chance, to use their competence to do well in any capacity.
The event which has its theme; “Towards inclusive participation in development in the post covid era: Prospects, Challenges and the role of Muslim women in Africa” took place at the Alara’s palace hall, Ilara-mokin.
Alhaja Aminat Abibullahi Akinpelumi, the state Amirah (President) of the association, stated in her opening address that the theme of this year’s conference provided a platform to re-examine or appraise the operational environment and how to promote inclusiveness of Muslim women in development as we re-adjust to the post -covid “new normal way” of life.
“And also, to provide solution to the problems African women are facing now, right from the economic problem to various problems that may affect women.
She noted that FOMWAN Ondo State is celebrating the annual state congress to step down the 36th edition of the national conference held in Abuja recently.
“Challenges faced In the past two years required government at all levels to articulate and education crises respond plan that will sustain education access to millions of children in schools without necessary compromising their security. This is imperative to forestall the massive dropout of students from schools particularly girls as a result of insecurity”.
Akinpelumi added that Women must be prepared for a dynamic world and the insecurity pressure on their traditional roles of nurturing the next generation. “Muslim Women required a good blend of sound islamic knowledge and some rudimentary knowledge of how technology interfaces with her role as the first teacher of her children and other endeavours in life to be supported by the muslim ummah”.
“Another challenges confronting women and children is poverty compounded by the fall in naira, inflation even in food items and loss of livelihoods resulting from covid-19 pandemic. Government should take urgent action to ensure food security for all by strengthening the naira and regulating food prices to make basic necessities of life affordable to the common man”.
The Ondo State Amirah called on the Federal and state governments to make their women economic employment programmes reach more vulnerable woman by working directly with respectable women organisations like FOMWAN.
She further stated that it is the duty of women to participate in politics. Her words “In the next election, we want a woman to be the next president of the country, we own the country together, we were all born here and Islam is not against us participating in politics but if we want to participate, ww should take the fear of Allah in cognizance so that we do it and select who we want.
“We want the women to come out enmass, compete for the post and participate in voting, we should always support our fellow women in politics, vote for them and encourage our husbands and children to vote for them. When women are in power, I do much believe that the country will be in order”.
“We should live in accordance with the teaching of Islam. Islam has stated way of buying and selling things, the percentage you buy and sell, nobody should haul anything. If we live according to the teaching of Islam, the price going up and down , everything will be normal”.
While speaking on insecurity, Alhaja Aminat Akinpelumi advised members to be security conscious, know the type of visitors they will habour, take care of their children, know where they go and where they are coming from, avoid moving in the night.
The Chairperson, Central Working Committee of Ifedore 2021, Alhaja Rafat Momoh Abiodun, said that the theme of the congress is to let the women know their roles in the society.
“Then also, to let the society we are in be aware of the importance of women in a sustainable development. The Congress we held in Abuja, we had just few representatives from each state but this state congress is a grassroot level, from different local governments to foster unity among our women, to strengthen effectiveness, to empower them more on leadership training and to equip them for a better tomorrow.
“Our government should be ready to encourage the youths to go into agriculture with this modern techniques, this problem of unemployment will be reduced. If we engage our youths in agriculture and we are producers, not consumers, the price of things will definitely go down, they won’t be waiting for any white colar job any longer because all these farmers will also employ them,” Rafat Momoh said.
The National Amirah (President) Alhaja Rafiat Idowu Sanni said the association is not only a national one but an international organisation formed in Nigeria by a British woman.
“The organisation is established with 4 cardinal responsibilities, calling people to the way of God, Education of everybody, Health which has earned it the first organisation to established an orphanage and a motherless babies home”.
She also appreciated Imams and muslim men for their unrelenting efforts in supporting FOMWAN nationwide.
The Chairman of the Ondo State Muslim Welfare Board, Alhaji Chandy Dhikirullahi Adams represented by the Board’s Treasurer, Alhaji Adeleke Dada in his lecture, said that African Muslim Woman could use her strategic position as the bedrock of a muslim families to nurture muslim children towards achieving the societal goals in the post covid era.
“Violence against women got increased since the beginning of the (covid) lockdown in 2020 when a Muslim woman needs to be empowered economically, socially and politically.”
The Alara of Ilara Mokin, Oba Abiodun Aderemi Adefehinti, urged FOMWAN to be good wives to their husbands to reap the good benefits and fruits of their labour and also they should be of good behaviour to make the world a better environment.
While appreciating their efforts, the Monarch charged them to ensure adequate media coverage of all their activities for Nigerians to know what they are doing.
Alhaji Muyideen Adetiloye, the Chief Imam of Igbara-Oke said the activities of FOMWAN has served as a challenge to the men folk as he charged them to emulate the good works of the association in propagating islam across the nation.
The Sapetu of Igbara-Oke, Chief Moses Akinwale Aluko representing the Olowa of Igbara-Oke, Oba Dr. Francis Adefarakanmi Agbede stated that the future of Nigeria depends on the women because the men have done it for over 61 years without much significant impacts.
He called on Nigeria women to step up to have a Nigeria president which he said will make the country a better one, urging them to be prepared for a dynamic world and traditional role of nurturing the next generation.
The Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Abubakar Buhari from Ilara Mokin Muslim community said that women are home builders and the nation at large, saying that the programme has shown that islam is very formidable in the community as he appreciated women for their tremendous efforts.
A FOMWAN Patron and Chairman of FUTA Muslim community, Prof. Ishiaq Adekunle Amoo, congratulated Ondo and Osun states FOMWAN for doing wonderfully well as one of them emerging as the National President of the association.
Amoo also advised them to continue to support her for a successful tenure.
At the event were Regent of Ero, Princess Gbadesogun Aderonke, Alhaja Simbiat Bakare, founder, Aroleorisun Medical Mission and Medical Director, Shifauk Hospital, Akure, Dr. Oyelami Saliu and a host of many others.
The 3 days event had earlier started with visit to chairman of Muslim Welfare Board and the State Commissioner of Police on Thursday and on Friday visited the royal father’s within Ifedore local government area and held a jumat service while gift items we’re donated during a humanitarian visit to the only Muslim Primary School and community hospital in the area.
