Ogun State Muslim Council (OMC) has expressed concern over the decline in the teaching of Arabic and Islamic Studies in public schools, warning that the subjects risk extinction if urgent action is not taken by the government to address the redeployment of qualified teachers and fill existing vacancies.
Secretary-General of OMC, Asiwaju Kamal'deen Akintunde (Esq.), raised the concern in a communique issued at the end of the Council’s general meeting held on Sunday, November 9, 2025, at the Crescent Muslim Professionals Hall, Leme, Abeokuta, where the Olowu of Owu-Kingdom, Oba (Prof.) Saka Adelola Matemilola, was also formally appointed as the new President-General of the Council.
Oba Matemilola who succeeded the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, CFR, during the meeting, attended by traditional rulers, eminent scholars, and Muslim leaders from the state’s four divisions - Egba, Ijebu, Yewa, and Remo, called for unity, brotherhood, and the end of ethnic divisions within the Muslim community.
The monarch in his acceptance speech, pledged to work with stakeholders to strengthen Islamic institutions and empower organizations to address challenges confronting the Ummah.
Focusing on education, the Council expressed deep concern over the arbitrary transfer of qualified Arabic and Islamic Studies teachers to institutions where their expertise is underutilized.
The State Muslim Council resolved to work closely with the Union of Arabic Teachers to hold a crucial meeting with relevant authorities to reverse the trend.
OMC urged the Ogun State Government to recruit more Arabic and Islamic Studies teachers to bridge the existing gaps, while encouraging Muslim professionals to specialize in the disciplines and serve in public schools.
It warned that the current neglect, if unaddressed, could undermine Islamic literacy and weaken the moral foundation of young learners.
The State Muslim Council equally called for more investment in educational infrastructure, to enhance teaching and learning in public primary and secondary schools
The meeting also received an update on the Ibara Housing Estate Central Mosque, which had earlier faced demolition threats.
The Council welcomed the government’s intervention to halt the demolition and directed the mosque’s management to regularize its title documents to secure permanent approval.
On community development, the Council accepted the request from the Ogun Standing Committee on Musabaqah (OSCOM) to work with stakeholders toward securing the hosting rights for the 42nd National Qur’anic Recitation Competition in 2027.
The council in the communique, also resolved to partner with the Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria (IMAN) to organize free medical outreach programme for residents, focusing on early detection and prevention of illnesses.
In recognition of excellence, the Council ratified the nomination of Adegboye Rahmat Adedayo of Olabisi Onabanjo University and Egunsola Hafsah Omolola of Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja, as beneficiaries of the Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar Female Medical Scholarship coordinated by MUSWEN.
The OMC further affirmed the continued participation of its Secretary-General and Assistant Secretary-General in the MUSWEN Central Working Committee (CWC) and General Purpose Committee (GPC), respectively, ensuring the state’s active representation in regional and national Islamic bodies.
The communique reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to promoting unity among Muslims, safeguarding Islamic education, and fostering inclusive development across Ogun State.
On the security situation admidst the threats by President Donald Trump of possible military intervention by United States over alleged Christians genocide in the Northern part of the country, OMC called for caution against a single, divisive narrative in the amplification of security challenges in Nigeria
The Council expressed its strong support for the Federal Government on the stance that all Nigerians, irrespective of religious or ethnic affiliation, urging both the federal and state governments to further strengthen the security architecture of the country to prevent the loss of lives and property and protect the sanctity of life
The meeting commended the Ogun State Government on the construction of the Gateway International (Cargo) Airport in Remo, and strongly urged the administration to ensure the equitable extension of critical infrastructure development to all parts of the State.
Dignitaries at the meeting included the Olowu of Owu, Oba Saka Matemilola; the Olu of Eleyele, Oba M. Ola Yusuf; the Chief Imam of Egbaland, Alhaji Saadallah Bamgbola; the Chief Imam of Gbagura, Emeritus Prof. Kamaldeen Balogun; and the Former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Alhaji Sarafa Tunji Isola. Representatives from all four divisions of the State, Egba, Ijebu, Yewa, and Remo amongst other revered traditional rulers, eminent scholars, and seasoned diplomats
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