Ibadan: The Director of the Ali Institute for Quran Memorisation (AIQM), Ustaz Ali Abdussalam, has called on governments at all levels to support Quranic Islamic Centres in the country to raise future pious and patriotic leaders. Abdussalam gave the advice at the 5th graduation ceremony of complete Quran memorisation of the institute in Ibadan.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Abdussalam emphasized that supporting these centres would help raise God-fearing Nigerians who would be free of tribalism, terrorism, and other vices negatively affecting Nigeria’s progress. The director advocated that individuals equipped with a balanced knowledge of the Quran and Islamic morals and values would not engage in social vices.
Ali expressed concern over increasing societal corruption and the exposure of children to various vices through social media, suggesting that nurturing children with Islamic knowledge would significantly benefit the country. He elaborated that the institute not only focuses on Quran memorisation but also prepares students for life’s challenges morally, psychologically, and spiritually, aiming to cultivate individuals of good character.
He urged governments to provide an enabling environment for teaching virtues and morals alongside education for the overall betterment of the country. The director highlighted the graduation of 160 Quran memorisers, noting that the institute had graduated 379 memorisers since 2019. Abdussalam cited the moral uprightness of the graduands, sharing a story of an alumnus, Muqaddis Kolawole, who returned a lost wallet containing $2,500, exemplifying the character they aim to instill in their students.
Furthermore, Abdussalam called on the Federal Government to address issues of insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and other crimes in Nigeria, advocating for decisive action to restore confidence in the government and enhance the nation’s greatness.
The event’s Chairman, the Agbaoye of Ibadanland, Alhaji Kola Karim, praised the parents and the institute’s director for imparting knowledge and morals. Represented by Alhaji Yinka, Karim encouraged the graduands to remain good ambassadors of Islam, reflecting their learning in their conduct.
In his lecture, Sheikh Kamaldeen Abdulhamid advised the graduands to view their graduation as the beginning of their educational journey, encouraging continuous knowledge enhancement. Prof. Taofeek Yekini, a parent of one of the graduands, commended the institute for its dedication to nurturing upright individuals, which has garnered parental support and investment.