MUSWEN honours retired Executive Secretary at send-off ceremony

THE Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) last Saturday organised a send-off and appreciation ceremony in honour of its immediate past Executive Secretary, Prof. Muslih Tayo Yahya, at its secretariat in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The President of MUSWEN, Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo, presided over the ceremony, assisted by his deputies, Alhaji Rafiu Adisa Ebiti and Alhaji Thabit Adewale Sonaike.

Also in attendance were the pioneer Executive Secretary of MUSWEN, Prof. Dawud Noibi; chairperson of the MUSWEN Committee on Women Affairs, Prof. Lateefah Durosinmi; and chairman of the Mediation and Reconciliation Committee, Prof. Muibi Opeloye.

Speaking at the event, Prof. Noibi traced the growth and evolution of MUSWEN and thanked Allah for guiding the tenure of the retiring Executive Secretary over the last six years.

In his address, Alhaji Oladejo described Professor Yahya as a leader who served MUSWEN with humility, wisdom and unwavering commitment to unity.

“He listened attentively, acted thoughtfully, and consistently placed the interest of the Ummah above personal comfort,” Oladejo said.

According to him, the ceremony was more than a farewell. “It is a collective expression of love, respect and appreciation for a devoted servant of the Ummah and a family that shared him selflessly,” he added.

Oladejo noted that the occasion evoked mixed emotions of joy, gratitude, reflection and nostalgia.

Quoting the Qur’an, he said: “Is there any reward for goodness except goodness?” (Qur’an 55:60). “Today, we gather to appreciate goodness with goodness,” he said.

He prayed that Allah would accept Prof. Yahya’s service as an act of ibadah, forgive his shortcomings and multiply his rewards, while also granting his wife and children good health, peace of mind, unity and abundant barakah.

Delivering a sermon at the ceremony, Prof. Oloyede Abdur-Rahman, immediate past Chief Imam of the University of Ibadan, said many of the challenges facing Nigerians stem from a lack of belief in the hereafter.

He called on Muslim leaders to address the education gap between Muslims and Christians and to support Muslim youths with entrepreneurial skills to enable them become more productive members of society.

Speaking on behalf of the MUSWEN Secretariat, Alhaji Wakil Olaniyi recalled that Prof. Yahya assumed office in November 2019 at a critical period in the organisation’s history.

“From the very first day, he demonstrated uncommon calm, clarity of purpose and deep commitment to the ideals of the organisation. To us, the staff, he was not just an administrator but a mentor, teacher and father figure,” he said.

Olaniyi highlighted Prof. Yahya’s open-door leadership style, noting that he encouraged dialogue, involved staff in decision-making and emphasised discipline, professionalism and integrity, while also showing compassion and understanding.

“Under his leadership, staff capacity was strengthened, administrative processes improved, and the Secretariat became more organised and responsive,” he said.

He added that Prof. Yahya consistently reminded staff that MUSWEN is an amanah (trust) and an opportunity to serve Allah with sincerity, transparency and the fear of Allah.

Prof. Noibi later commended the leadership of MUSWEN for steering the organisation to greater heights over the past 17 years and praised Prof. Yahya for his contributions to the growth of the Ummah and the association.

In his remarks, Alhaji Ebiti described the event as a gathering of gratitude, urging Prof. Yahya not to see his retirement as an end but as an opportunity to embrace new challenges.

He also advised Muslims to return to true faith, noting that with prayers, no challenge would be insurmountable.

Prof. Opeloye described Prof. Yahya as an exceptional Arabic scholar and administrator whose tenure brought stability and growth to MUSWEN.

Responding, Prof. Yahya expressed gratitude to MUSWEN for the support he received while in office and pledged to continue working for the progress of the organisation and the Muslim community at large.

The new Executive Secretary of MUSWEN, Prof. Wole Abbas, thanked his predecessor for his years of service and promised to build on the legacy he left behind.

The event featured presentation of gifts to the retired Executive Secretary by MUSWEN and some of its affiliate organisations, including the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN).

READ ALSO: Let’s talk about New Year advocacy