Students under the aegis of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit have ushered in new leaders to direct the affairs of the group.
The newly elected Islam leaders are – Kaamil Kalejaiye as Amir(President); Saheed Ashafa, Naibul Amir (Vice-President); Tajudeen Balogun, General Secretary; Miftaudeen Abdurrahman, Asst. Secretary; Idris Qasim, Public Relations Officer; Mustapha Kelani Asst. PRO; Abdulhakeem Odedele, Asset Maintenance Officer; Misbaudeen Ismail, Welfare Officer.
Others are Qasim Salisu, Asst. Welfare; Saheed Shonibare, Business Chairman; Abdulhakeem Salman, Internal Auditor; Hafsoh Badrudeen, Amirah (Female leader); Bashira Abdulhameed, Naibatul Amira(Asst Female leader); Khadija Adebowale, Umuhaat Coordinator.
Also Halima Tijah emrerged as the Secretary Sisters’ Circle; Fauziyya Abdurrazak, PRO Sisters; Shsakirah Abdurrazak, Welfare; Fatimah Olokodana; Council of Higher Institutions Coordinators.
They all emerged through a Shura system of Islam on Sunday at the annual conference and award conferment on distinguished individuals by the society.
Speaking on behalf the youth-based group, Outgoing President, Qassim Badrudeen insisted that students must be allowed freedom to practice their religion as enshrined in the constitution.
The Group had sued the Lagos State Government to allow Hijjab in Secondary Schools. This was as a result of intimidation and floggings of students in some secondary schools in Lagos for wearing the religious scarf.
However, a case on the Hijjab will be held on November 13, at the Lagos High Court, Ikeja.
Lamenting that students were not allowed to wear Hijab in some secondary schools in Lagos, Badrudeen said: “Many of us are aware of the struggle with the State Government to allow the use of Hijab by Muslim girls in state public schools. The problem is still there because the state government remains adamant on not allowing Muslims to wear the Hijab in schools.
“Even though the government is seeking an out of court settlement after we took the case to the court, up till the last adjournment date, October 28, no effort whatsoever was made by the government to reach us for terms of settlement. The case has again been adjourned till November 13. May be the government will approach us before then!
“It is ironical that the state government, which refuses to recognise the divine and constitutional right of Muslim girls to wear the hijab in school, signed the cremation bill into law to protect the ‘right’ of foreigners to exercise their cultural practice in Lagos!”
He urged the incoming administration not to relent in the “struggle” that the right of Muslims are protected, adding it must be pursued to a logical conclusion.
Dean, Faculty of Arts, Lagos State University, Prof. Lakin Akintola, who spoke on ‘Sustainable development: Nigeria as a case study’, blamed corruption for the country’s insecurity and poor standard of education.
