By Bilkis Abdulraheem Lawal
The Nasrul-Lahi-l-Fatih Society (NASFAT), Lagos Zone 1, convened a transformative one-day capacity-building workshop aimed at strengthening the leadership and communication skills of Imams across the Zone.
Held at the Zonal Secretariat in Surulere, Lagos, the workshop, themed “Leadership and Coordination in Conformity with Modern Age Demands,” brought together prominent religious leaders, scholars, and missioners, committed to enhancing the quality of Islamic preaching and service delivery in a rapidly evolving world.
Declaring the workshop open, the NASFAT Lagos Zone 1 Missioner, Imam Uthman Jaji, charged the Imams to engage wholeheartedly with the training. He emphasised that knowledge-seeking is essential for spiritual and intellectual growth.
“NASFAT members who attend weekly Assalatu come to learn,” he said. “It is therefore necessary that our sermons reflect modern realities. The world is evolving, technology has advanced, and our congregations are well informed. They can research your topic even before you mount the pulpit.”
Imam Jaji noted that the workshop was organised to align Islamic preaching with contemporary expectations, adding that Imams who fail to embrace new learning tools risk losing relevance.
In his goodwill remarks, the Chairman of NASFAT Lagos Zone 1, Alhaji Adewole Kadri, commended the Surulere branch for hosting the programme. He described the theme as timely, stressing that religious leaders must continually learn, unlearn, and relearn to maintain excellence.
“As leaders, people observe us closely,” he said. “We must remain transparent, diligent, and exemplary. The society we guide reflects the quality of leadership we provide.”
Delivering the keynote lecture titled “Programme Planning and Execution: Expectations from NASFAT Imams,” the NASFAT National Dawah Officer, Imam Abdul-Ganiyy Raji, underscored the importance of excellence and meticulous planning in religious activities.
He described the NASFAT Imam as both a spiritual guide and an image-maker for the organisation. He stressed that an Imam’s conduct, speech, dressing, time management and programme coordination, significantly shapes public perception.
The immediate past Chairman of NASFAT Lagos Zone 1, Alhaji Mustapha Alabi, spoke on “Necessities of NASFAT Operations,” outlining the society’s structured order of service for social functions such as Aqiqah, Nikkah, Mawlid, Fidau and Walimat-ul-Qur’an. He emphasised that these guidelines ensure uniformity and discipline across NASFAT branches.
He also highlighted the organisation’s focus on socio-economic empowerment, interest-free loans, business grants, skill acquisition and other initiatives that contribute to an enlightened and well-organised Muslim community.
The event featured recognition awards and the presentation of certificates of participation to all attendees.
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