The immediate past Chief Imam of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Oloyede Abdur-Rahman has attributed Nigeria’s main challenge to the lack of belief in the hereafter.
At the sendforth/appreciation ceremony for its immediate past Executive Secretary I of the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN), Prof. Muslih Tayo Yahya held at its expansive Ibadan secretariat on Saturday, Abdur-Rahman called on Muslim leaders to address the education gap between Muslims and Christians.
He also urged the faith leaders to ensure that more Muslim youths are supported with entrepreneurial skills so that they could be more useful members of the society.
MUSWEN’s pioneer Executive Secretary, Prof. Dawud Shittu Noibi traced the growth and evolution of the group, and thanked Allah for guiding Yahya’s tenure over the last six years.
He praised the leadership for moving MUSWEN higher over the last 17 years of its existence, and commended Yahya for his contribution to the growth of the Ummah and the association.
The President of MUSWEN, Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo said that Yahya served MUSWEN with humility, wisdom, and unwavering commitment to unity.
Oladejo said; ‘He (Yahya) listened attentively, acted thoughtfully and consistently placed the interest of the Ummah above personal comfort.
‘This ceremony is therefore not simply a farewell, it is a collective expression of love, respect and appreciation for a devoted servant of the Ummah and a family that shared him selflessly’.
Oladejo, who said that Yahya won his deep respect, added that the ceremony carried mixed emotions of joy, gratitude, reflection and a gentle sense of nostalgia.
‘Allah says in the Qur’an: “Is there any reward for goodness except goodness”? Today, we gather to appreciate goodness with goodness.
‘As he enters a new phase of life, we pray that Allah accepts Yahya’s service as an act of ibadah, forgives his shortcomings and multiplies his rewards. We also pray earnestly for his wife and children- that Allah grants them good health, peace of mind, continued unity and abundant barakah‘, he further said.
On behalf of the MUSWEN secretariat, Alhaji Wakil Olaniyi noted that Yahya assumed office as the Executive secretary in November 2019 at a critical period in the life of MUSWEN.
He recalled: ‘From the very first day, he demonstrated uncommon calm, clarity of purpose, and deep commitment to the ideals of the organisation. To us, the staff, he was not just an administrator, but a mentor, teacher, and father figure.
‘One of Yahya’s most outstanding qualities was his open-door leadership style. He listened attentively, encouraged constructive dialogue, and carried staff along in decision-making.
‘He placed great emphasis on discipline, professionalism, and integrity, while also showing understanding and compassion. He corrected with wisdom, guided with patience, and always sought solutions rather than blame.
‘Under his leadership, staff capacity was strengthened, administrative processes were improved, and the Secretariat became more organised and responsive.
‘Yahya also consistently reminded us that MUSWEN is not just an institution, not only a place of work, not only a paycheck, but an amanah (trust), an opportunity to serve Allah, that must be handled with sincerity, transparency, and fear of Allah’.
A Deputy President of MUSWEN, Alhaji Rafiu Adisa Ebiti described the event as a gathering of gratitude.
He urged Yahya not to retire but to embrace fresh challenges, and advised Muslims to return to the true faith, saying that, with prayers no challenges would be too onerous.
Chairman of the Mediation and Reconciliation Committee, Prof Muibi Opeloye dscribed Yahya as an exceptional Arabic scholar and administrator, who has brought stability and growth to MUSWEN.
The new Executive Secretary, Prof. Wole Abbas thanked his predecessor for his years of service and promised to build on the legacy.
In his response, Yahya thanked MUSWEN for the support he received while in office.
He promised to continue to work for the progress of the organisation and the Muslim population in general.
Gifts were presented to the retired official by MUSWEN and some of its affiliate ororganisations, including the Federation of Muslim Women’s Association of Nigeria.
