Photo caption: The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi; the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, and the society’s National President, Adeniji Kazeem, and other dignitaries at the commissioning of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria’s new national secretariat on Saturday in Lagos.
President Bola Tinubu on Saturday inaugurated the newly completed National Headquarters of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria in Lagos, praising the organisation for its decades of contributions to education, healthcare, humanitarian services and national development.
The President, who was represented by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, unveiled the edifice, named Hassanat Abebi Okunnu House, in Surulere, Lagos.
Tinubu said the project reflected the importance of visionary leadership, strong foundations and sustained commitment to community development, stressing that government alone cannot build the nation Nigeria aspires to become.
According to him, Ansar-Ud-Deen Society has played a significant role in shaping society, particularly through its early recognition of education as a tool for human advancement and national transformation.
The President commended both past and present leaders of the organisation, noting that the strength and longevity of institutions depend not only on the vision of their founders but also on the dedication of successive generations that preserve and advance that vision.
“I also wish to express my deep appreciation to the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria for more than one hundred years of dedicated service in education, healthcare, humanitarian intervention, and numerous other programmes that have positively impacted society,” Tinubu said.
He called on faith-based organisations and private institutions to continue partnering with government in the drive to build a more enlightened, disciplined and prosperous society.
“The government alone cannot build the nation of our dreams. We require strong partnerships with private institutions that share the vision of building an enlightened, disciplined, compassionate and prosperous society,” he said.
Tinubu also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to religious freedom while urging the society to continue promoting religious tolerance.
“Government under my watch will continue to guarantee freedom of religion, while we urge the Society to continue to preach religious tolerance. As this beautiful secretariat begins a new chapter in the history of the Society, may service to Allah and humanity remain the guiding principle,” he added.
The Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, who also spoke at the event, urged the society to continue promoting the values that have sustained it for more than a century.
Hamzat expressed concern over declining societal values and said religious and educational institutions must play a greater role in restoring respect for knowledge, discipline and moral responsibility among young people.
“Today, we hear our children saying that education is a scam. We hear young people saying that knowledge is no longer necessary. Our Islamic and Christian institutions must confront this challenge,” he said.
In his remarks, the National President of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society, Adeniji Kazeem, described the new secretariat as a symbol of the organisation’s renewed vision and commitment to the future.
Kazeem said the building represented the fulfilment of a long-standing aspiration and marked a new phase for the society, which was founded in 1923.
He noted that for more than a century, Ansar-Ud-Deen has contributed to Nigeria’s development through educational initiatives, moral instruction, healthcare programmes, humanitarian efforts and community service.
“For over a century, we have worked alongside the government in nurturing responsible citizens and building stronger communities,” Kazeem said.
He added that the society’s legacy was reflected not only in the institutions it had established but also in the generations of Nigerians shaped by its values of scholarship, integrity, patriotism and service.
