ICICE Seeks Sultanate Support to Develop Interfaith Dialogue
THE International Centre for Islamic Culture and Education (ICICE), Abuja has sought the support of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs to expand the Al-Noor Mosque at Wuse II in Abuja to accommodate 10,000 worshippers at a time.
The Director General of the Center, Dr Kabiru Kabo Usman stated this in Sokoto while briefing the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar about the proposed expansion of the Mosque and other activities of the centre.
This is contained in a statement issued in Sokoto by Alhaji Abdulkadir Ahmed Ibrahim the Special Assistant on Media to Dr Kabir Kabo Usman the Director General of the Centre.
He said the ever increase in the number of worshippers coming to the mosque especially for Friday prayers and during the two Eids (Sallah) prayers makes it necessary for the expansion project estimated to cost about N500m.
Dr Kabir Kabo seeks the support of the Sultan to make the proposed project a reality and in the areas of Waqaf, distribution of Zakkat among others.
The Director General told the Sultan that the Centre had successfully developed an ethic code of practice for Imams and other areas of research that will help the Muslim community, particularly on local issues.
He announced the introduction of Islamic Lecture Series by the centre and invited the Sultan to be the Special Guest at the maiden edition of lecture series scheduled to hold on Saturday, October 6, 2018 at Al-Noor Mosque.
The maiden Guest Lecturer will be the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, (JAMB) who is also the Secretary General of Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Prof I’shaq Oloyede.
The title of the lecture is “Islamic perspectives on Accountability in Public Service”.
He further requested the Sultan to support in the publication of the Al-Noor Mosque Friday prayers sermons in English, Hausa and Arabic languages for the period from August 2012 to date.
The centre has also put all necessary machineries in motion for the establishment of an Islamic Microfinance Bank for youths empowerment in addition to plans by the centre for the establishment of an Islamic Banking and Finance Academy.
Similarly, Dr Kabir said plans were in progress by the ICICE to organise an International workshop on Sukuk and non interest banking in Dubai scheduled for November 19th to 23rd this year.
Explaining further, Dr Kabir Kabo Usman said that the workshop will feature the fundamental principles of Sukuk structuring including Islamic Treasury Bills and other non interest capital market products, Islamic Banking and Insurance for key operators and relevant stakeholders in the Nigerian finance industries.
In his remarks, the Sultan of Sokoto who is the President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar pledged to assist the International Centre for Islamic Culture and Education to achieve its objectives and discharge other responsibilities.
He commended the centre for its educative activities especially in the training and capacity building programme among youths folk who he noted were the vanguard for progress.
The Sultan was particularly happy that the centre focuses on interfaith dialogue and training in order to correct misconceptions about the Islamic Finance industry.
He emphasized the importance of the Guidance and Counselling objective of the ICICE especially in the teachings of Islamic values, Islamic culture, knowledge and the poverty eradication and scholarship programs.
ABDULKADIR AHMED IBRAHIM,
Special Assistant (Media) to
Dr Kabir Kabo Usman,
Director General of
ICICE
