The President of The Islamic Community of Southwest Nigeria (MUSWEN) Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo stated that the capacity of Nigerians to endure economic and social crises has been significantly undermined due to ineffective leadership, excessive reliance on oil income, and insufficient institutional strength.
Alhaji Oladejo made this statement on Thursday, at the official commencement of the Guild of Muslim Professionals (GMP) Conference held at the AM2PM Hotel in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.
Led by the Second Vice President, MUSWEN, Alhaji Thabit Wale Sonaike, Alhaji Oladejo stated that the nation is listed among the least resilient countries in Africa and cautioned that without targeted reforms and ethically driven leadership, long-term progress will continue to be difficult to achieve.
The event, titled "Resilient Professionals, Resilient Nation," gathered Muslim professionals, academics, and business leaders to discuss Nigeria's economic instability and the impact of faith-based professional conduct on country revival.
Alhaji Oladejo stated that Nigeria's strong dependence on oil and gas, contributing as much as 90 percent of foreign currency income and roughly half of state funding, has made the economic system vulnerable to fluctuations.
He mentioned that deficiencies in infrastructure, instability, elevated poverty rates, and increasing debt have further weakened the country's ability to withstand challenges.
He stated that Nigeria's gross domestic product per person fell by an average of 0.7 percent each year from 2014 to 2023, with inflation surpassing 40 percent in 2024, increasing difficulties for residents.
"Despite recent changes like the relaxation of foreign currency controls and the elimination of fuel subsidies, which have enhanced availability of foreign exchange and bolstered reserves, issues such as power outages, lack of food security, and extensive poverty continue to pose significant problems," he stated.
The head of MUSWEN highlighted reducing poverty, maintaining financial responsibility, and boosting local income as main goals, emphasizing that poverty can't be solved with temporary solutions.
He emphasized the importance of having a strong labor force, highlighting that trained, flexible, and morally guided employees are essential for maintaining national security.
He advocated for specialized training in areas such as digital technology, artificial intelligence, and cyber security, along with adaptable working arrangements and robust mental well-being assistance.
He stated that these actions would enable Nigerian experts to stay effective throughout emergencies and support sustained development.
Previously, during his speech, Dr Akeem Oyewale, Chairman of the GMP Board of Trustees and CEO of Marble Limited, called on Muslim professionals to view perseverance as a moral and religious duty.
He mentioned that experts should serve as symbols of honesty inside flawed structures, influenced by Islamic principles of responsibility, fairness, and quality.
He believed that resilience based on faith demands moral self-control, hard work, and responsible management, even when organizations fall short.
He called on Muslim professionals to reinforce, instead of weaken, the organizations they work for, pointing out that national stability mostly relies on personal behavior.
The main speaker, Sheikh Muhammad Mahmoud, during his talk titled "Ihsan in Islam," emphasized that maintaining a continuous sense of Allah's presence encourages moral conduct, tranquility, and perfection (Ihsan).
He mentioned that when experts embrace spiritual responsibility, honesty comes naturally in all aspects of their lives.
The academic encouraged attendees to integrate spiritual awareness into their everyday activities through easy practices, like short periods of contemplation enhanced by technological tools, while emphasizing the significance of appropriate guidance and following traditional Islamic principles.
The head of Executive Education and Consultancy at Nungu Business School, Dr. Jubril Salaudeen, stated that Muslim professionals should actively assume responsibility for Nigeria's economic and social progress. He also cautioned that silence and lack of cooperation have diminished their impact on national matters.
He pointed out that although they are found in important industries, Muslim professionals encounter issues related to identity, representation, and recognition of their contributions, which have been made worse due to the lack of accurate information about their population size, distribution within different fields, and roles in leadership.
He stated that this lack of information complicates efficient planning, evaluation of effects, and transition processes.
Dr. Salaudeen stated that Muslim professionals are mostly found in mid-level positions, with little presence in senior roles within industries like finance and legal services, a pattern he referred to as a risk to their future impact.
He urged deliberate guidance and support to promote capable individuals into managerial roles instead of relying on luck.
He criticized the prejudice faced by Muslim women at work, sharing examples of skilled applicants being turned down because they wore the hijab.
He mentioned that enabling Muslim women to achieve professional success could enhance family earnings and improve the country's overall economic performance.
Dr. Salaudeen called on the GMP to implement long-term mentoring and leadership growth strategies over a period of five to ten years, enhance cooperation among Muslim professionals across both government and corporate fields, and encourage ethical public involvement to boost community perception and nationwide significance.
Supplied by SyndiGate Media Inc. ( Syndigate.info ).
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