The Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, Sheikh Dr. Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, has arrived in Abuja ahead of an international conference on security and national unity jointly organised by Jama’atu Izalatil Bidiah wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS Nigeria) and the Muslim World League, Saudi Arabia.
Al-Issa and members of his delegation arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Monday, where they were received by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate; Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, and other dignitaries.
His arrival came a day before the commencement of the two-day conference, which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to declare open on Tuesday, August 11, at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja.
The conference, themed, ‘International Conference on Security for Sustainable Socio-Economic Development,’ is expected to bring together government officials, religious leaders, traditional rulers, scholars, diplomats and other stakeholders to discuss security challenges and their implications for Nigeria’s development.
The organisers said the conference would focus on issues including banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and other threats to national security, as well as ways of promoting peace, unity and sustainable socio-economic development.
Speaking after welcoming the Saudi delegation, Chairman of the conference’s Media and Publicity Committee, Garba Mohammed, described the Muslim World League as the principal international partner for the event.
Mohammed said the participation of Al-Issa was significant because the Muslim World League is jointly convening the conference with JIBWIS Nigeria.
‘We are here to welcome the Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa. The Muslim World League is the main partner convening this conference with JIBWIS Nigeria. So, you can say he is a co-host of this conference,’ he said.
He said the conference would go beyond religious matters to address issues relating to socio-economic development, religious inclusivity, tolerance, peace and peaceful coexistence.
According to him, the involvement of an Islamic organisation does not mean that the discussions would be restricted to issues affecting Muslims.
‘The fact that it is an Islamic-based organisation does not mean that it is strictly for Islamic development; it is for the development of mankind, humanity as a whole,’ Mohammed said.
He added that the Muslim World League had organised similar engagements in other parts of the world.
The organisers said the conference would also examine issues surrounding Muslim unity and diversity, as well as peaceful coexistence among Nigerians and people of different ethnic and religious backgrounds.
The programme is expected to feature plenary sessions and expert panel discussions on countering terrorism and armed banditry, strengthening community resilience and promoting sustainable peace.
There will also be global partnership roundtables focusing on strategies for advancing sustainable socio-economic development.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, is expected to serve as the Royal Father of the Day at the conference.
Governors, ministers, members of the National Assembly, Islamic scholars, traditional rulers, diplomats, captains of industry and other participants from Nigeria and other countries are also expected to attend.
The conference is scheduled to end on Wednesday, August 12, after which a national preaching session will be held at the JIBWIS headquarters in Utako, Abuja.