By Danjuma Attah, Gombe
The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has commenced a two day workshop at the Gombe State University (GSU) Monday afternoon, with the theme, “Self reliance and refrainment: the pinnacle of excellence for Ulama in Da’awa”.
Many students were in attendance at the opening ceremony of the workshop which also had in attendance prominent Islamic scholars and clerics from across Nigeria.
The clerics and scholars were scheduled to deliver lectures on the need for the youths to exercise caution and restrain in any action that could create rancour and set the country far behind.
Chairman of the occasion and immediate past Minister for Communication and Digital Economy, Sheikh Ali Isa Ibrahim Pantami, described the programme as apt and timely especially for the youths whom he described as a very important category of the society and the entire Muslim ummah.
Professor Pantami emphasized to the youths the need to engage and build legitimate business enterprises stressing that it will be a source of pride to the Muslims if the richest man from is a Muslim.
He cited Prophet Muhammad, the utmost example of all Muslims, whom he said was engaged in business, directly and indirectly, to be self reliant. He also named several examples of Islamic leaders in Gombe State who are self reliant and still lead other faithfuls religiously.
He called on the Government to consider such religious leaders in their empowerment programmes as an encouragement for them to be self reliant considering their duties to the Ummah.
Guest Speaker at the occasion, Professor Ahmed Bello Dogarawa of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, spoke on the need for the youths to avoid idleness and engage in legitimate entrepreneurship to earn a living.
Most of the scholars and clerics who gave a good will message commended the organisers of the workshop and called on the youths to adhere to wise counsels and ignore any form of protest.
In his goodwill goodwill message, Shehu Mohammed Makarfi of the National Supreme Council of Shari’a, categorically condemned any form of protest and warned that it will cause a setback to Nigeria, especially the North.
In his goodwill message, leader of Jama’atu Izalatu Bidi’ah wa’iqamatuss sunnah (JIBWIS) Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, represented by the Chairman of Ulamas of Gombe, Sheikh Hamza Adamu, warned that protest will lead Nigeria into crisis, rancour and chaos just like what is happening in countries like Libya, Sudan and some others.
In his address, the Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, who was the special guest of honour at the occasion called for advice from the religious leaders on how to do things better despite the Government’s determined efforts in alleviating poverty in the State.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, Governor Inuwa explained that the Government had distributed several interventions in the areas of food palliatives as well as many Government projects and programmes aimed at alleviating poverty.
Topics billed for presentation by eminent Islamic scholars included; essence of refrainment, understanding the spiritual significance of refrainment in the context of Da’awa by Sheikh Dr. Abdullahi Ja’afar Ishaq, Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.
The role of Ulama in building resilient communities, strategies for fostering self reliance with the Muslim community, by Dr. Ibrahim Omar Adam Disina, Sunnah TV among many other topics and prominent discussants.
The Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Abubakar lll represented by Dr. Sani Jauro, also graced the occasion and gave a goodwill remark.
