Catholic Men Organisation of the Church of the Annunciation Parish Kubwa Abuja

By Bridget Ikyado

The Parish Priest, Church of the Annunciation, Rev. Fr. Gabriel Edache, has called on Christian fathers to always exhibit actions that are worthy of emulation in all their actions for a better society.

Edache made the call on Sunday in a sermon to mark this year’s Father’s Day Celebration in Kubwa, Abuja.

Any society with a complete family is always devoid of criminalities and a blessing to the nation, enhancing development.

While expressing concern over the attitude of some fathers who are fast deviating from fatherly roles, the highly respected cleric admonished Christian fathers to always show love and provide for their families.

He also enjoined Christians to be focused, “praying God to give them the grace to keep our homes.

“Don’t loose focus, Jesus Christ is your corner Stone, tell all to Him,” he said.

On his part, Chairman of the Catholic Men Organization of the church, Mr Ambrose Onyeachonam, advised fathers to always watch their characters to avoid misleading their children as the mirror of the family.

He said the essence of Father’s Day was to recognize the roles of Father’s both in the church and families.

He called on fathers to shun every form of violence against women and stressed the need for them to bring up their children in the fear of God to enable them become responsible citizens of the country

Fathers should start cultivating closeness to the children by applying discipline with love, while making sure that a child clearly understood why he or she is being scolded for.

“The present day child is no longer attuned to the authoritarian stand of some fathers, especially when they want to assert their authority as a man without any cause for it,“ he said.

The cleric, however, urged fathers to spend excellent time with their families, instead of hanging out in joints with friends and peers.

“Fathers should return home and strive to understand their homes as well as the individual differences in their children, which makes them unique from one another in terms of characters and view-points.“

He also said that fathers’ fellowship in the church was meant for spiritual upliftment and interaction among fathers, which involves sharing experiences.

The Chairman of the Occasion, Mr Francis Bobai, also advised fathers to live responsibly and shun divorce in order to raise morally-upright children.

He said the increase in social vices among youths was as a result of fathers’ absence in training the children right from infancy, as most women had become single mothers and were solely nurturing their kids.

“For a child to be properly groomed with the right moral standards, the father must be contributory in the process,” he said.

He, however, urged men to live up to their responsibilities in grooming their wards to avoid exposing the children to social vices.

“Fatherhood entails understanding your obligations and responsibilities as a man to your wife, children and the society at large”.

Highlights of the Father’s Day celebration in the church include dance, special numbers by the Catholic Men Organization and presentation of gifts to fathers and prayers for the country and its leaders. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vincent Obi

Second Right:FCT Overseer of Deeper Christian Life Ministry Pst Elijah Adebiyi and other clerics at the World.Press Conference

By Bridget Ikyado

The General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor William Kumuyi, says if well guided and equipped, Nigerian youths will stand out among nations.

According to him, young people are a critical mass that can make Nigeria stand out, but they must be guided and equipped with the right values to achieve this goal.

He spoke virtually at a news conference in Abuja ahead of the global children and teenagers convocation jointly organised under the auspices of Global Crusade with Kumuyi, GCK.

According to Kumuyi, Nigeria has a bright future, and young people are an essential part of that future.

He, therefore, emphasised the importance of catching young people early and inculcating in them the right values.

“Nobody is born a doctor, an engineer, an achiever, a militant courageous soldier. We’ll all start at the ground level,” Kumuyi added.

The FCT Overseer of DCLM, Pastor Elijah Adebiyi, echoed Kumuyi’s sentiment, stating that the convocation was open to children and teenagers between 5 and 19 years of age.

He said it would provide a platform for young people to interact with one another and learn from experienced teachers.

Adebiyi said, “We believe that young people are the future, and we want to invest in them.”

“This is a critical mass of Nigerians that can make our country stand out if we catch them young by inculcating in them spiritual, academic and moral values,

“The children and teenagers convocation is an opportunity for young people to come together and learn from experienced teachers who are committed to providing them with the right values and skills to succeed in life.”

The global children and teenagers convocation will take place from May 11 to 14 at the Main Bowl of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)BTT/IA

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

By Bosede Olufunmi

Prospective pilgrims who made deposits for the forthcoming Hajj with Kano State Pilgrims and Welfare Board have been told to complete their payment as announced by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

The Executive Secretary of the Board, Alhaji Abba Muhammed-Danbatta, gave the charge at a news conference on Tuesday in Kano.

Muhammed-Danbatta said the deadline was to enable the board to comply with the deadline set by NAHCON for all states in respect of payment of Hajj fares for this year.

The board executive secretary said that payment of the balance by prospective pilgrims would enable the board to establish its master list for the trip, considering the time frame for the transportation of the pilgrims to the Holy land.

Muhammed-Danbatta said that 4,500 out of the 5,917 intending pilgrims had completed their payment for the pilgrimage.

He disclosed that completing the amount as required, would enable the board to continue with other travel arrangements as well as the deadline for the balance of payment to NAHCON.

He said that, “even those who have not completed their payment are included in the list of the intending pilgrims going for this year’s Hajj, but I still want to plead with others to complete the payment of their fare.

“Max Air has been engaged as one of the aircraft to airlift our intending pilgrims, each one will airlift over 1,600 intended pilgrims and they have ordered for another aircraft,” he said.

Muhammed-Danbatta said the board had completed all preparations for this year’s Hajj, including accommodation, feeding, transportation from Jeddah to Makkah and Makkah to Madina.

He said the board was, however, waiting for directives from NAHCON to start issuing visa for those from the state. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board says it will commence medical screening for the 2023 Hajj intending pilgrims from May 5 to May 7.

The Director of the Board, Malam Abubakar Evuti, announced this in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the board, Malam Muhammad Aliyu, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Evuti also disclosed that the inoculation exercise for all the intending pilgrims would be conducted from May 15 to May 17, 2023, in line with the procedure for the trip to Saudi Arabia.

He advised intending pilgrims to participate in all activities earmarked by the board for proper guidance to get value for their money without any hindrance.

The director however warned all intending pilgrims who are yet to return their completed application forms or submit their International Passports to do so.

This, according to him, will enable the board fast track the process of obtaining their travel documents in good time before the commencement of airlift to Saudi Arabia.

Evuti said that the board would commence the second phase of education and orientation exercise for intending pilgrims on April 29 to April 30.

The director explained that activities have been outlined to actualise the success of the operation and ensure that intending pilgrims are well prepared for the spiritual journey to the holy land of Saudi Arabia.

He sassured that intending pilgrims would get the rudiments of performing Hajj in order to have value for their hard-earned money paid to perform the religious obligation.

Evuti disclosed that intending pilgrims who paid through Abaji, Kwali and Gwagwalada Area Councils as well as those who registered through the Hajj Saving Scheme would be trained on April 29.

“While those who registered through the Headquarters, Bwari, Kuje and Abuja Municipal Area Councils would have their orientation exercise on April 30 at the Permanent Hajj Camp located at Bassan Jiwa, close to the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.

He said that Islamic scholars and relevant stakeholders have already been mobilised for the exercise scheduled to take place from 8 a.m. on April 30.

He added that the phased orientation exercises would enable the intending pilgrims get enlightened on the Hajj rites as well as guidelines and new policies introduced for this year’s Hajj by the Saudi authorities and National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON). (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

By Olukayode Babalola

Ahmed Wadada, Senator-elect for Nasarawa-West Senatorial District, has felicitated Muslim faithful in the state and the country at large for the successful completion of the Ramadan fasting.

Wadada offered his felicitations in his Eid-Fitr (Sallah) goodwill message made available to newsmen on Friday in Keffi, Nasarawa.

The Senator-elect also urged all Muslims to sustain the lessons of the holy month of Ramadan by adhering strictly to the teaching and traditions of Prophet Muhammad.

He emphasised the relevance of tolerance, sacrifice, charity, love, and peaceful coexistence, noting that these were virtues which Muslims and non-Muslims alike must imbibe beyond the month of Ramadan.

“We shouldn’t forget the important lessons of the Ramadan which include sacrifice, charity, piety and enhancing our bond with the poor, vulnerable groups and the less privileged in the society.

“Abstention from food and drinks during the month of Ramadan has made it possible for us to appreciate the situation of the poorest of the poor who go without eating every day.

“We should continue to give more charity to the underprivileged, the poor, persons with disabilities, widows, orphans and other vulnerable groups in our various communities,” he said.

Wadada also urged the Muslim Ummah to use the period of the Eid-Fitr celebration to offer special prayers for Allah’s blessings, wisdom and guidance on the part of the leaders of the country as the nation was passing through the period of transition.

He thanked the people of Nasarawa-West Senatorial District for giving him their mandate in the recently concluded National Assembly elections.

He also assured the people of the senatorial zone of his resolve to build on the success and achievements he recorded 12 years ago when he was a member of the House of Representatives.

Wadada said he would offer quality representation in the Senate. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kingsley Kubeyinje

By Lucy Ogalue

Former Governor of Abia state and Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Kalu, has felicitated Muslim ummah on the successful completion of Ramadan fasting and celebration of Eid-el- Fitr.

Kalu, in a statement, urged Muslim faithful to sustain the teachings of the holy Qu’ran and exemplary qualities of Prophet Muhammed (SAW) beyond the sacred month of Ramadan.

He then admonished religious leaders across the country to use their positions in advocating peaceful co-existence among Nigerians, regardless of religious, ethnic and political differences.

The chief whip, who cautioned against hate speech and inflammatory utterances, urged politicians not to use religious sentiments in polarising the nation.

He said, “I join our Muslim brothers and sisters across the globe in celebrating Eid-el-Fitr in commemoration of the completion of Ramadan fasting.

“It is a season of spiritual rebirth, sober reflection and service to humanity.

“The lessons of the holy Qu’ran must be upheld and sustained in our lives beyond the month of Ramadan.

“Nigerians must demonstrate love, patriotism, selflessness and optimism in their daily endeavours for the country to take its rightful position in the comity of nations.

“As we approach the transitioning to a new administration, we must be steadfast and peaceful, I call on the political class to live up to expectations.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Vincent Obi

By Salisu Sani-Idris

An Abuja based Islamic cleric, Malam Yahya Al-Yolawi, has advised Muslims to give Zakat-al-Fitr only to the poor and needy in the society.

Al-Yolawi gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

NAN reports that Zakat-al-Fitr, or the zakat of breaking the fast of Ramadan, is a special obligatory alms paid by all Muslims at the end of the month of Ramadan regardless of age or gender.

The cleric said that Prophet Muhammad enjoined the payment of one Sa’a of dates or one Sa’a of barley as Zakat al-Fitr on every Muslim, young and old, male and female, free and slave.

He said that the purpose of Zakat al-Fitr was to purify the one who has fasted from any type of indecent act or speech he might have committed while fasting.

Al-Yolawi also said that Zakat-al-Fitr helps the poor and the needy, adding that the material of the zakat can be either barley, wheat, rice, corn or similar items considered as basic foods for people residing in a particular place or society.

” Zakat al-Fitr has to be paid by the end of ramadan either one or two days before Eid or the day of Eid before the Eid prayer.

” However, If one pays zakat al-Fitr before the eid salat, it is considered an accepted zakat, if he pays it after the Salat, it is considered an ordinary charity.”

Al-Yolawi encouraged all Muslims to take their wives and children to the eid prayer area, saying that Prophet Muhammad used to take his wives and daughters to the Eids ground. (NAN)

Edited by Hajara Leman/Ismail Abdulaziz