Muslim philanthropists, Islamic scholars, corporate bodies, groups, individuals both within the state and outside on Saturday, 1 March, 2025 stormed the conference hall of the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos to support the N5 billion social infrastructure projects funds of the Island Muslim Community(IMC).
The funds are meant to put in place compliant Muslim cemeteries, orphanages and hospitals, which are currently non-existent in the Victoria Island/Ikoyi and Ibeju-Lekki axis.
Presents at the august gathering include Chairman of IMC, Ahaji Rafiu Adisa Ebiti; Vice Chairman of IMC, Alhaji Tijani Borodo; National Missioner, Ansar-ud-deeen society of Nigeria, Shaykh Abdur-Rahman Ahmad; Dr Abdullah Shuaib; Alhaji Biodun Dabiri, Exco Chairman; Alhaji Niyi Akinlusi, Co-Ordinator, IMC Projects; Alhaji Abdusalam Jaiyeola, Chairman Fund Raising Committee; Alhaji Ariyo Olushekun; Imam (Dr) Tajudeen Adebayo; Imam (Dr) Rilwan Jamiu Kayode; and Alhaja Akinlusi Akinsemoyin among others.
Speaking at the event, Ebiti said: “We are gathered here today in the cause of Allah, specifically to raise N5 billion for the provision of Islamic Social Infrastructure in our local jurisdiction.”
According to him, it is rather pathetic to note that such essential facilities as cemeteries, orphanages, women and children hospital, Halal recreation centres, among others, are either totally non-existent or inadequate in our local jurisdiction.
He added that this explains why IMC is embarking on an arduous task of raising N5 Billion for the provision of such essential Islamic social infrastructure for the teeming Muslim population in the aforementioned axis.
The IMC BoT Chairman said it is open secret that the ancient cemeteries on the island, such as Oke-sunnah, Abari, and Ikoyi are already bursting at the seams. Unfortunately too, according to him, the few highbrow cemeteries available hardly meet Islamic standards, apart from the fact that their charges are expensive.
“In view of this ugly situation, we have made cemeteries our flagship project, he said, just as he also disclosed that IMC already negotiating for expansive parcels of land for cemeteries in the Ibeju-Lekki and Epe areas,” he said.
Ebiti also disclosed that the organization has been gifted a 15-acre land in Ikorodu where work had already commenced on Ikorodu Muslim Cemetery.
On orphanages, Ebiti, said : “Undoubtedly, orphanages serve as veritable avenues for shaping the religious future of orphans. So, we need to have as many of them as possible to avoid losing innocent Muslim children to other faiths through non-Muslim orphanages”.
Also speaking at the event, Shaykh Ahmad expressed concern that in most fund raising for projects often lose steam after the fundraising ceremony which had led to many projects suffering neglect.
“I have shared this thought before. I have done a study of fundraising of most Muslims organizations in the last 15 years in Nigeria, what we have is unfortunately, more publicity, less result, the zeal for donation stops after the fundraising.
“Something is wrong with us, with our thinking. We have everything at our disposal to fund projects but unfortunately we don’t like doing it. What is wrong with us? We need to change this model, we need to do away with this habit. We need to operationalised at the local level, do it better, continuing donating even after the launching of the projects for the projects to be sustainable for benefits of human kind,” Ahmad said.
The revered Shaykh, who praised IMC for embarking on the projects for the usage of mankind, called on all Muslims, irrespective of their organizations, to come together and give helping hands to IMC projects.
Imam Shuaib, in his address at the august gathering, said the launching of funds for the establishment of Muslim cemeteries, orphanages, women and children hospital, and vocational training centres are not just infrastructure projects, but ‘bridging the infrastructure gaps.’
Shuaib, who said the projects are lifelines, symbols of dignity, and essential social services that will serve generations to come, said the imperative of philanthropy in Islam is underscored by many verses of the Qur’an.
Also speaking at the occasion, Alhaji Olushekun, Chairman of Fund Raising Committee, vowed that every kobo and items donated, will be accounted for, saying periodic report of what the committee is doing with the funds realized will be made available to public domain for everybody to see.
The IMC Fund Raising Chairman also said his committee will also embark on generating funds on its own by going to Pakistani, Lebanese, Arab communities, corporate bodies, rich individuals among others within the state to solicit for funds for the laudable projects.
Donations in cash and flow like river as people present and those not present responded in cash and kind for the laudable projects of IMC. Hectares of land were donated, just as buildings were also donated for the course of the projects.
IMC is a nascent not for profit organization for all Muslims and Muslims organizations(including mosques, associations and Islam-friendly corporate entities on Victoria Island, Ikoyi lekki scheme 1, and Ibeju /Lekki areas of Lagos State.
The idea of IMC was conceived by Imam Ridwan Jamiu of the Lekki Central Mosque in November 2021, while actualization of the dream began in 20222 with the coming on board of the representatives of other mosques and Muslims communities on the island axis.
