The Ogun State Muslim Council (OMC) has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the welfare and rights of Muslims in the state, making key resolutions on political engagement, education, religious freedom, and media fairness.

The decisions were made at the Council’s general meeting held on Sunday, at the Ijebu Ode Central Mosque Hall, presided over by Professor Habeeb Oduye, Vice President General of the Council and former Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan.

According to a communique signed by the OMC Secretary-General, Asiwaju Kamal’deen Akintunde, the Council encouraged Imams and heads of Qur’anic schools to incorporate vocational training and formal subjects into their curriculum, as well as support initiatives to reduce the number of out-of-school children in the state.

The Council also expressed disappointment at the delay by Ogun State government in issuing a circular on the use of hijab in the state, urging the government to priorotise formalizing its approval.

The meeting urged Muslims to actively participate in the forthcoming continuous voter registration exercise, while calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure fairness and integrity in its operations.

The OMC also resolved to work with the League of Imams and Alfas to engage political parties, aspirants, electoral bodies, and civil society ahead of the 2027 general elections.

It endorsed a bill before the National Assembly seeking to increase women’s participation in politics, describing it as a vital step toward inclusive national development.

It also criticised what it termed the unfair allocation of religious airtime on state-funded broadcast stations and called for corrective measures.

The Council paid tribute to the late Awujale of Ijebu land, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Adetona, describing him as a visionary whose contributions to the OMC and Islamic development in Ogun State remain indelible.

On the succession plan, the OMC cautioned against the narrative that the stool is vacant, stressing that while the late Oba has passed on, the institution remains eternal and revered.

An eleven-member committee was constituted to review the organisation’s constitution, with Barrister Lawal Orisadare as chairman and Barrister Mariam Ogunmoye as secretary.

The OMC also ratified the commencement of the process to appoint a new President General and pledged to continue working with stakeholders to promote Muslim welfare and peaceful coexistence in Ogun State.

Delegates from the four zones of the state, Egba, Ijebu, Yewa, and Remo, attended, alongside notable figures such as His Royal Highness, the Moyegeso of Itele-Ijebu, Oba (Engr.) Mufutau Ade Kasali and former Commissioner for Forestry and Asiwaju Adinni of Yewaland, Alhaji Ali Ajibode.

Others are the CEO of ARON Contractors and Afolasadini of Ijebuland, Otunba (Engr.) Fatahi Arowolo; and former Commissioner for Information, Dr. Lateef Dele Ogunsiji, among others.