An Islamic education leader in Nigeria has called on authorities at all tiers of government to create stronger support systems for Quranic learning centres, warning that moral education is essential to the country’s long-term stability and progress.
The appeal was made by Ustaz Ali Abdussalam, Director of the Ali Institute for Quran Memorisation (AIQM), during the institute’s fifth Quran memorisation graduation ceremony held on Sunday in Ibadan.
Abdussalam said investment in Islamic education would help cultivate disciplined, patriotic citizens guided by strong moral values, while reducing the influence of extremism, tribal divisions and other societal challenges.
He expressed concern over rising moral decay, particularly among young people, attributing part of the problem to unchecked exposure to harmful content on social media platforms.
“Children who are raised with sound Quranic teachings and Islamic morals are less likely to be involved in social vices,” he said. “Our responsibility is not only to teach the Quran, but to build balanced individuals who can positively influence society.”
The director revealed that 160 students graduated at the ceremony, noting that the institute has produced a total of 379 full Quran memorisers since it began graduating students in 2019.
Highlighting the character training embedded in the institute’s curriculum, Abdussalam referenced a former student, Muqaddis Kolawole, who reportedly returned a misplaced wallet containing 2,500 dollars while studying Artificial Intelligence Engineering at Cyprus International University.
He further urged the Federal Government to take a more decisive approach in combating insecurity, including insurgency and kidnapping, stating that effective leadership in this area would restore citizens’ trust and reinforce Nigeria’s global standing.
The event’s chairman, Alhaji Kola Karim, the Agbaoye of Ibadanland, praised parents for their commitment to moral education and commended the institute for shaping disciplined young Muslims. Represented by his aide, Alhaji Yinka, he advised the graduates to remain true ambassadors of Islam through their conduct.
Delivering a lecture at the ceremony, Sheikh Kamaldeen Abdulhamid encouraged the graduates to pursue continuous learning and self-development beyond the achievement of Quran memorisation.
Professor Taofeek Yekini, a parent of one of the graduates, applauded the institute’s dedication to producing ethically sound individuals and called on parents to combine religious and formal education to secure both worldly success and spiritual fulfilment for their children.
