Religious
From Charity to Self-Reliance: Ashraaf Islamic Foundation’s Fight Against Food Insecurity
By Abdulrahman Aliagan, Abuja
In a world where food insecurity remains a pressing challenge, organizations like the Ashraaf Islamic Foundation are making tangible efforts to address the issue through empowerment and strategic advocacy. adsbygoogle || []).push({}); js">
The event, a five-in-one gathering, combined a Ramadan lecture, national prayers, empowerment programs, training sessions, and an exhibition aimed at addressing food security while uplifting widows, persons with disabilities (PWDs), unemployed youth, and the Almajiri community.
The Founder and Chairman of the Foundation, Imam (Dr.) Sharafudeen Abdulsalam Aliagan, emphasized that empowerment is more than just financial aid; it is about providing people with the means to sustain themselves.
“We are going to empower four categories of people in this hall today,” Aliagan announced.
“The widows will be trained and empowered. When you train somebody, you are directly empowering them. So, we’re going to train and empower widows. We’ll empower Almajiris. We are going to train and empower as much as possible. We are going to train and empower people with disabilities and young unemployed Nigerians. We pray that Allah will make this happen more than the way we expected.”
Aliagan reiterated that self-reliance is key to reducing poverty and food insecurity, urging Nigerians to embrace modern agricultural practices, particularly smart agriculture, to ensure sustainable food production.
The Chairman of the occasion, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), represented by Deputy Director Audu Ayuba Mayo, underscored the importance of food security in national development.
“Food security is not just an economic or agricultural concern; it is a fundamental aspect of national development and social stability. A well-nourished society is a productive one, and ensuring access to affordable, nutritious food is essential for national growth and peace,” he stated.
He called on government agencies, religious institutions, private organizations, and individuals to contribute toward ensuring food sufficiency by supporting local farmers, reducing food waste, and adopting responsible consumption habits.
The NOA, according to Issa-Onilu, remains committed to mobilizing Nigerians towards behavioral change and policies that protect the most vulnerable.
“As we reflect during this holy month, let us renew our commitment to building a nation where no one is left behind,” he concluded.
Representing the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, CSP Faruk U. Dange called for youth engagement in agriculture to prevent crime and idleness.
“An idle mind is the devil’s workshop. If the youth are engaged in productive activities like agriculture, they will have no time for crime. We must involve them in food production while also ensuring their safety,” he said.
Dange encouraged Nigerians to collaborate with security agencies by providing timely information to combat crime, adding that prayers and moral support for officers working to maintain law and order were also necessary.
A retired director of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Oyeleke Rasaq, emphasized the need for Nigerians to grow their own food, citing small-scale agricultural initiatives such as snail farming as viable ways to enhance food security without significant financial investment.
Aliagan reinforced this sentiment, noting that even small agricultural efforts can collectively have a significant impact on food security:
“The solution is for each and every one of us to learn how to farm on our own without serious capital. You can do farming in your respective homes. You can do what we call snail farming and others,” he advised.
He further appealed to non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private individuals, and the government to invest in agricultural empowerment programs that promote self-reliance and reduce dependency.
Speaking at the event, Senator Saliu Mustapha, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food Security, represented by Mr. Salman Salman, commended the Foundation for selecting a timely and crucial topic. He stressed the importance of food security, not only during Ramadan but throughout the year.
“Now that food security has become an issue the world over, it is essential that we put our acts together to ensure that we provide for those who are less privileged,” Mustapha stated.
He echoed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s stance on producing what we eat and eating what we produce, advocating for increased investment in local food production.
As the event progressed, attendees had the opportunity to participate in an ongoing exhibition showcasing agricultural products and innovations. Vendors and farmers engaged in buying and selling activities, reinforcing the importance of practical agricultural engagement in achieving food security.
Dr. Aliagan made an impassioned appeal to wealthy individuals and corporate organizations to contribute to empowering more Nigerians in sustainable agriculture, emphasizing that “the more they give, the more they are expected to give.”
With prayers for national peace, economic prosperity, and food sufficiency, the event ended on a hopeful note, inspiring attendees to take practical steps toward self-reliance and community support.
The Ashraaf Islamic Foundation’s 8th Annual Ramadan Lecture exemplified the essence of Ramadan—compassion, sacrifice, and communal responsibility. However, beyond charity, the Foundation’s approach underscores the importance of empowerment, education, and strategic policy engagement in addressing food insecurity and economic challenges in Nigeria.
As the country grapples with rising food prices, unemployment, and security concerns, initiatives like these serve as a blueprint for a self-sufficient and economically stable Nigeria—one where every individual has the means to feed themselves and contribute meaningfully to society.
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Religious
Faith Must Shape Nigeria’s Renewal, Says CSN Secretary General in New Year Message
By Abah Anthony John
The Secretary General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), Rev. Fr. Michael Banjo, has called on Nigerians to allow their faith shape personal conduct, civic responsibility, and national renewal, stressing that genuine transformation of the country must begin with renewed consciences rooted in God. js">
In his New Year message titled “Faith at the Service of the Nation”, released on January 1, 2026, Fr. Banjo reflected on the Christian understanding of time, describing it not merely as a sequence of days but as “the sacred space in which God acts for our salvation.”
He reminded Nigerians that through the Incarnation, when Christ entered human history, time itself was redeemed and given meaning.“Whatever resolutions we may make at the beginning of this year, the most fundamental must be the resolve never to live our time without God at its centre,” he said, noting that time “only finds its meaning when it is lived with God within it.”
The Catholic priest explained that Christmas fundamentally changed humanity’s identity, moving believers “from slavery to sonship.”
According to him, through Christ’s life, death and resurrection, Christians became sons and daughters of God, a new identity that carries concrete responsibilities in daily life.
“Faith that does not shape life has not yet been fully received,” he said.
Fr. Banjo emphasized that living as children of God requires courage and responsibility, especially in challenging times.
He said this identity demands a life free from fear and panic, grounded in the assurance of God’s abiding presence.
“The child of God lives without panic, because God is never absent,” he noted, urging Nigerians to recognize one another as brothers and sisters and to reject divisions based on tribe, religion or social status.
He also underscored the importance of family life, describing marriage as “a covenant of love and fidelity” marked by patience, forgiveness and mutual respect.
According to him, giving God a place in daily life through prayer, charity, honest work and care for family is essential, because divine sonship “is not an idea to admire, but a life to be lived.”
Turning to national life, the CSN Secretary General said the identity of Nigerians as children of God places a moral obligation on them as citizens.
He stressed that loving Nigeria goes beyond criticizing its failures and requires personal commitment to what is right.
“Nations are renewed when consciences are renewed,” he said, adding that renewal does not begin only in government offices but in the daily choices of ordinary citizens.
Fr. Banjo called for honesty, fairness and respect in the use of public resources, warning that the abuse of roads, schools, hospitals and public utilities reflects a deeper neglect of conscience.
“What we destroy in public space reveals what we neglect in conscience,” he said.
He also urged Nigerians to prepare responsibly for the 2027 general elections, advising citizens to make choices guided by truth, conscience and the common good rather than by money, ethnic loyalty or divisive rhetoric.
He challenged public servants to reject bribery and abuse of office, while calling on traders, artisans and workers to act with integrity, reminding them that their labour is ultimately offered to God.
Highlighting the role of families and education, Fr. Banjo described the family as the “basic building block of society,” noting that the strength of a nation is shaped in the quality of its homes.
He urged parents and teachers to see their role as a “sacred trust,” forming consciences through faith, discipline, honesty and hard work. Quoting Proverbs 22:6, he said proper formation of children quietly but decisively shapes the future of society.
He paid special attention to young people, warning that youth is not merely preparation for the future but a decisive moment of responsibility.
He urged them to choose discipline over recklessness and to reject drugs, crime and other destructive paths that promise quick freedom but end in loss. “A disciplined youth is a nation’s quiet revolution,” he said.
Acknowledging Nigeria’s difficulties in the past year, including economic hardship, insecurity and social tension, Fr. Banjo said the New Year itself is a sign of hope.
However, he cautioned that such hope must be active and responsible. “Hope becomes credible when it is translated into responsibility,” he said.
He concluded by praying for God’s strength and guidance, expressing confidence that if Nigerians live authentically as sons and daughters of God, the New Year can become “a turning point in the renewal of our nation,” marked by justice, peace and hope.
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News
Gov Ododo Reaffirms Commitment To Religious Harmony, Peace, Unity
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to fostering peace, unity, and mutual coexistence across the three senatorial districts of the state. adsbygoogle || []).push({}); js">
The Governor gave the assurance while addressing participants at a One-Day Peace Conference organized by the Ebira Muslims Peace Initiative in Okene.
The conference, themed “Essence of Peace and Unity Among the Muslim Ummah,” was held at Ohinoyi’s Palace in Okene Local Government Area.
The meeting brought together Islamic scholars, community leaders, youth groups, and stakeholders from across Kogi State to deliberate on peaceful coexistence and collective responsibility in strengthening societal harmony.
Governor Ododo commended the organizers for championing a platform that reinforces unity within the Muslim Ummah while also fostering tolerance across ethnic and religious divides.
He emphasized that sustainable development is impossible without peace, stating that Kogi State has earned recognition as a model of peaceful coexistence through the mutual efforts of citizens and the government’s proactive peace-building strategies.
He noted that No society grows in an environment of hatred and division. Peace is the foundation on which we can build prosperity, and unity is the bond that keeps us together as one people.
He further highlighted the role of government and religious leadership in securing long-term peace, noting that security is not achieved by force alone but through deliberate relationship-building and inclusive engagement.
“Our major responsibility is to provide security for our people, and in providing that security you must ensure unity of the land. One of the ways of guaranteeing peace and unity is by deploying non-kinetic methods of resolving issues,” he said.
“Today we have come to meet with our people and the Islamic leaders to engage them constructively on the need for us to give peace a chance, and hence the unity of our state, our land, and our people, so that we can all sleep with our two eyes closed.”
“I have just finished a meeting with all Islamic Scholars in Ebiraland and the Kogi Central Senatorial District, of course, we are working on that of the West and the East, then the Christian and Traditional aspect as well. To ensure peace, you must engage all critical stakeholders, and the Chief Imams, Sheikhs, and Ustaz are leaders the people believe in Islam, so we must work with them.”
“We are happy that we are all ready to give peace a chance in Kogi State.”
Earlier in his goodwill message, Chairman of the Ebira Muslims Peace Initiative Committee, Ustaz Ismail Obosi Suleiman, stressed the importance of unity among various Islamic sects across Ebiraland. He emphasized that while disagreements are natural, hostility is a choice, citing Qur’an 3:103: “Hold fast, all together, to the rope of Allah, and do not be divided.”
Suleiman called for inter-sect dialogue, focus on shared values, and rejection of political manipulation that seeks to worsen divisions. He urged religious leaders to model respectful engagement and promote authentic Islamic teachings to help dispel misconceptions among followers.
He reaffirmed that peace remains the foundation for a prosperous Ebiraland and called on all groups to work collectively toward sustaining unity.
The One-Day Peace Conference concluded with a renewed commitment by Islamic scholars, government representatives, and community stakeholders to strengthen peaceful coexistence and ensure that Kogi State continues to thrive as a united society.
Other dignitaries who shared their views on peaceful coexistence are the Ohinoyi of Ebira Land, His Royal Majesty Alh Ahmed Tijani Muhammed Anaje and the provost of National Defence College Professor Adam Okene Ahmed
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- Prince Abdulrahman Obaje is a Media, Information and Computer Technology Consultant. A quintessential Journalist, online marketer, social media strategist, Mathematician and Computer Scientist is based in Abuja, Nigeria. He is the Founder and the Publisher of The Informavores!. You can reach me on +234 805 939 5252 or send i-witness report directly to me on news@informavores.com.ng.
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News
Yuletide: Oruma Calls on Christian Faithfulls to Dedicate the Season to Prayers for Nigeria
By AbdulRahman Obaje
The National President Igala Centre for Development Advocate, Prince Musa Oruma calls on Igala Sons and daughters to inclulcate love and unity as a recipe for progress of Igala Nations while dedicate this festivity period to prayer for meaningful progress in Igala Nation, and Nigeria as a whole. adsbygoogle || []).push({});
Oruma made the call in a Christmas greetings message he personally signed and circulated.
He admonished especially the Christian faithful to dedicate the season to prayers for Nigeria and Nigerians, asking God Almighty to intervene positively in the affairs of the nation and to grant the country lasting peace and stability in the face of insecurity.
He further told Christians to also remember our leaders at all levels in their prayers, seeking divine guidance, wisdom, and courage to enable them to govern with fairness, compassion, and a sincere commitment to national unity and development.
Oruma wished Christians in Kogi State, Nigeiria and across the world a joyous Christmas celebration while praying that the season would bring renewed hope, strong faith, peace and abundant blessings to families nationwide.
Author Profile
- Prince Abdulrahman Obaje is a Media, Information and Computer Technology Consultant. A quintessential Journalist, online marketer, social media strategist, Mathematician and Computer Scientist is based in Abuja, Nigeria. He is the Founder and the Publisher of The Informavores!. You can reach me on +234 805 939 5252 or send i-witness report directly to me on news@informavores.com.ng.
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