The need for youths to reclaim the cherished national value of Integrity was brought to the fore at the celebration of the 2023 International Anti-Corruption Day by Al-Habibiyya Islamic Society Abuja with the theme, “Uniting the Youths for Accountability and Transparency”.
Speaking at the event, which recently held at Al-Habibiyya Central Mosque Hall, Guzape, Abuja, the representative of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Mr. Hassan Salihu, stated that the purpose of life for the youths was seriously undermined by experiences of humiliation due to lack of integrity in their day-to-day dealings.
“The Holy Qurán describes the term Fasaad to mean dishonest or illegal behaviour that brings us to lack of accountability and transparency. Islam emphasises that Muslims should eat and spend only from what they have earned lawfully (Qur’an 2:267), as a measure to reduce corrupt practices in the society.”
In his opening remarks, the National Imam of the Islamic Society, Sheikh Fu‘ad Adeyemi, stated that the World Anti-Corruption Day celebrated annually was an opportunity for the Islamic Society to assess progress and challenges in the anti-corruption crusade annually.
Sheikh Adeyemi added “For this reason, Al-Habibiyya Islamic Society considers as this year’s theme to discuss the youths as change-agents that should take-up and practise the principles of accountability and transparency to change the future of Nigeria for the better”.
At the end of the discussion session, it was unanimously resolved that lack of accountability and transparency in governance pushes Nigerian youths to the high risk of being ill-treated in so many ways, such as politicians using them as political thugs, drug-barons luring them into drug-trafficking; also the youths severely suffer the torment of sexual harassment in the schooling system.
The solution to all these social vices was identified as the absolute belief and fear of ALLAH (SWT), which Islam preaches is firmly linked with the Day of Judgment. It is a Day that people will render account of their stewardship during their stay in this temporal world. The Holy Qur’an says: Every soul shall have a taste of death: And only on the Day of Judgment shall you be paid your full recompense. For the life of this world is but goods and chattels of deception (Qur’an 3:185).
The highlights of the celebration included questions from students and answers were provided by resource persons. Prizes were presented to numerous deserving winners.