ICICE Seeks Sultan Support To Develop Interfaith Dialogue, Establishment Of Endowment Fund

The International Centre for Islamic Culture and Education (ICICE) has sought the support of the Nigeria Supreme  Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) to expand the Al-Noor Mosque at Wuse II in Abuja to accommodate 10,000 worshippers at a time.

The Director General of the Center, Dr Kabiru Kabo Usman stated this in Sokoto while briefing the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar about the proposed expansion of the Mosque and other activities of the centre.

This is contained in a statement issued on Friday in Sokoto by Alhaji Abdulkadir Ahmed Ibrahim the Special Assistant on Media to Dr Kabir Kabo Usman the Director General of the Centre.

He said the increasing number of worshippers coming to the mosque especially for Friday prayers and during the two Eids (Sallah) prayers makes it necessary for the expansion project estimated to cost about N500m.

Dr Kabir Kabo sought the support of the Sultan to make the proposed project a reality and in the areas of Waqaf, distribution of Zakkat among others.

The Director General told the Sultan that the Centre had successfully developed  ethic code of practice for Imams and other areas of research that will help the Muslim community particularly on local issues.

He announced the introduction of Islamic Lecture Series by the centre and invited the Sultan to be the Special Guest at the maiden edition of lecture series scheduled to hold on Saturday, October 6 at Al-Noor Mosque.

The maiden Guest Lecturer, according to the statement will be the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, (JAMB) who is also the Secretary General of Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Prof I’shaq Oloyede with a tittle  “Islamic perspectives on Accountability in Public Service”.

He further requested the Sultan to support in the publication of the Al-Noor Mosque Friday prayers sermons in English, Hausa and Arabic languages for the period from August 2012 to date.

The centre has also put all necessary machineries in motion for the establishment of an Islamic Microfinance Bank for youth empowerment in addition to plans by the centre for the establishment of an Islamic Banking and Finance Academy.

Also, Dr Kabir said plans were in progress by the ICICE  to organise an International workshop on Sukuk and non interest banking in Dubai scheduled  for November 19th to 23rd this year.

Explaining further, Dr Kabir Kabo Usman said that the workshop will feature the fundamental principles of Sukuk structuring including Islamic Treasury Bills and other non interest capital market  products, Islamic Banking and Insurance  for key operators and relevant stakeholders in the Nigerian finance industries.

In a remark, the Sultan of Sokoto who is the President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar pledged to assist  the International Centre for Islamic Culture and Education to achieve its objectives and discharge other responsibilities.

He commended the centre for its educative activities especially in the training and capacity building  programme among youths folk who he noted were the vanguard for progress.

He emphasized the importance of the Guidance and Counselling objective of the ICICE especially in the teachings of Islamic values, Islamic culture, knowledge and the poverty eradication and scholarship programs.