By Collins Yakubu-Hammer
Abuja, Feb. 28 2026 (NAN) President Bola Tinubu has commended Ashraaf Islamic Foundation for it activities in guiding citizens on topical issues that are useful to nation building and progress for the country.
Tinubu gave the commendation during his remarks at the 9th Ashraff Ramadan Lecture 2026 on Saturday in Abuja.
The lecture with the theme, “Faith and Justice: The Islamic Judicial Perspective on Terrorism and Banditry in Nigeria ” was organised by Foundation with support from partners.
Tinubu, who was represented by the Minister of State for Health and Socail Welfare, Dr Adekunle Salako thanked the Muslim Umma for the prayers and support given to his administration since 2023.
“I want to thank the Ashraaf Islamic Foundation, because what they are doing is commendable; talking and guiding people to talk about very topical issues that will be very useful to the progress of the country.
“Thirdly, I want to give assurance that Nigeria is turning the corner. What has happened to Nigeria from May 2023, is like that of a patient who was suffering from a malignant cancer and had to go through a radical surgery.
“After that radical surgery, definitely there will be pains and sufferings, but the alternative is that if that surgical surgery is not done, that patient will be on the way to the mortuary.
“Thankfully, we can see very clear signals, that things are improving, and quite a number of them are highlighted. Food inflation is consistently on the downward trend. Interest rate is going down.
“Our salary is improving, currency, which is a national, something that we should be proud of, is now stable.
“And Naira Card is now acceptable anywhere in the world. Our foreign reserve is important and today we have the highest foreign reserve since 2019 and so on and so forth.
“Government is doing remarkable infrastructural projects across the country, so these are clear signals that the bad days, the suffering days are gradually over,” Tinubu said.
On security, he assured that he is working very hard to also ensure that security in those areas of the country where insecurity is happening, is brought back, and is doing everything possible.
Tinubu admonished the Muslim Umma to continue to cooperate, give intelligence information and protect government properties, so that all could build a Nigeria that we are very proud of.
Also speaking, the Chairman and Founder of the Foundation, Dr Sharafudeen Aliagan, said, the 9th edition of the lecture centred on Islamic perspective and disputings on the issue of terrorism and banditry.
“It’s quite important and very timely that we let the world know the position of Islam to the issue and the maintenance of terrorism and banditry.
“That is the reason why we have gathered everyone here, including the Christian community, to come and rob mine and dissect these topical issues and let the whole world know what Islam stands for.
“And we believe that by the end of the day, we will all go back home loaded with Islamic perspectives on the issue of banditry, terrorism and insurgency in the country.
“This is because, Islam is a religion of peace and it preaches nothing other than peace, harmony and tranquility.
“And we believe everything will be alright at the end of the day with us going with a positive mind that no banditry should be allowed, no terrorism should be allowed.
“We have to go by the principle of Islam and what God really wants us to do to keep our country safe and peaceful,” Aliagan said
The Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Adam Ahmed, the Provost CRS, National Defence College, Abuja said the topic tried to bring faith and justice together.
According to him, the greatest problem confront Nigeria is insecurity, because kidnapping, banditry, human trafficking and others are connected to hunger.
Also, the Co-Chairman of the event, Dr Ibrahim Ajiya noted that the Ramadan Lecture is unique, because the topic borders about typical issues that is confronting the country.
“The guest lecturer and speakers are looking at the perspective on how to assist the country in tackling the problem of insurgency, kidnapping and all sort of senseless killing across Nigeria.
“I will encourage all our religious leaders and traditional rulers that the balls of insecurity lies in their courts. It is not for us to say it is the responsibility of the government. We all have a role to play.
“The security issues today must start from the family. We are encouraging all our communities leaders to be vigilant .
“We must talk to all our residents to give information on suspicious residents and movements in the community so that actions can be taken properly,” Ajiya said.
Also, the Guest Lecture, Prof. Abdulkadri Ibrahim during his presentation stressed that insurgency, kidnapping and terrorism are not part of Islam.
Ibrahim, who is also the Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Advamced Legal Studies, Abuja further explained the society perception and misconception concerning terrorism and Islam around the world.
Ibrahim was represented by Barr. Adam Olori-Aje from the Muslim Lawyers’ Association of Nigeria (MULAN)
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that highpointd of the occasion were recitation of the Holy Quran, Al-Aqsoh Pupils presentation, Madhun Nabiyy panel discussion and prayer for the nation (NAN)