MUSWEN: A General Assembly with a Difference

By Abdulfattah Abdussalam

In the coming days, all roads, by air and by land, shall lead to Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, for another epochal General Assembly meeting of the apex body for all Muslims in South West Nigeria: the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN). This is the eleventh General Assembly, and the destination is the prestigious ambience of Nigeria’s foremost citadel of learning, the University of Ibadan. The array of guests, participants, and observers suggests a General Assembly with a difference in the history of Islamic assemblages.

The past months have witnessed a flurry of activities by members of the Board of Trustees, the Executive Council, and the Secretariat. A battery of visitations, consultations, and solicitations has been carried out and is still ongoing across the country. Invitations have been extended to Mr. President, executive governors, members of the judiciary and the legislature within its catchment, business tycoons, community leaders, Muslim title chiefs, Muslim intellectuals, Islamic clerics, Imams, professionals from all human endeavors, the new generation of Muslim Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), women’s and youth organizations, Muslim traditional and community leaders, media organizations, the South West Committee of the League of Imams and Alfas, and other distinguished Muslim leaders to grace the occasion.

Thus, by the morning of Sunday, 15th November 2026 (5th Jumada al-Akhirah 1448 AH), President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, will be in attendance alongside Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, the Chief Host, to preside over the Assembly. The Governors of Osun, Sen. Ademola Jackson Adeleke; Ekiti, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji; Lagos, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Ogun, Prince Dapo Abiodun; and Ondo, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, are Co-Hosts. His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alh. Muhammadu Sa’adAbubakar III, CFR, President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Amirul Mu’mini, will lead the distinguished array of Muslim guests, while the BornoState Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, will serve as the Keynote Speaker.

This gathering of dignitaries elevates the Assembly beyond an ordinary meeting of a Muslim organization. Since its inception, MUSWEN has provided purposeful leadership for a myriad of Muslim organizations and individuals, deepened peace and unity among Muslim stakeholders in South West Nigeria, and taken genuine steps toward regional development and progress.Indeed, since 2008, MUSWEN has grown to become a core constituent component of the NSCIA. Its role as the primary platform for engagements on matters affecting Muslims and inter-faith relations across South West Nigeria, as well as Edo and Delta states, is widely recognized by the NSCIA, governments, and non-governmental organizations alike.

The upcoming 11th Annual General Assembly is a landmark event for the organization, paired with major regional development milestones. There will be a significant transition of power as the current President, Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo, FCS, steps down after six years of profound leadership and quantum achievements. Alhaji Oladejo, a sage, peace–builder, and a man who exemplifies faith through generosity, will hand over the reins to Alhaji Rafiu Adisa Ebiti, FCA, a philanthropist, da’ee, and statesman, as the 5th President of the apex umbrella body for Muslims in South West Nigeria. The position will beentrusted to him in accordance with the extant laws and succession mechanisms entrenched in MUSWEN’s constitution.

Strategic discussions at the Assembly will focus on building practical solutions to regional issues, such as insecurity, economic hardship, youth unemployment, and peaceful religious coexistence. Towards achieving the outcomes of these discussions, the organization has launched a ₦2 billion fundraising initiative specifically targeting three critical, long-term regional infrastructure and welfare goals:

1. Next-Gen Educational Training: Alongside traditional scholarships and bursaries, the Education Committee is establishing training initiatives for Muslim youth in artificial intelligence, robotics, data informatics, and information science.

2. State-by-State Healthcare Infrastructure: Plans are underway to establish world-class diagnostic and treatment healthcare facilities across all six South West states. These facilities are structured to improve public health while operating under a self-sustaining commercial framework that feeds revenue back into MUSWEN.

3. New Regional Headquarters: Leveraging land allocated in Agodi GRA, Ibadan, it plans to construct a permanent secretariat. The current office at Iwo Road, Ibadan, will subsequently be remodeled into a commercial complex to generate sustainable investment income.

In addition to these three main interventions, MUSWEN is currently working with the governors of the six South West states, such as Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to formally establish state chapters of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC). These chapters will introduce a leadership structure comprising seven Muslim and seven Christian representatives to serve as a direct mechanism for resolving localized disputes before they escalate, thereby promoting peaceful coexistence between the two main religions.

The Assembly will leverage the high-profile attendance of high-net-worth individuals to advocate for increased financial support for MUSWEN’s activities and projects. Emphasizing its critical role in propelling the organization to new heights, MUSWEN seeks the unwavering generosity of guests toward its various Islamic projects.

The vision of MUSWEN is to serve as a united and effective voice for Muslims in the region under strong, veritable, and collective leadership. The overall aim is to raise the profile of Muslims in South West Nigeria. This includes enabling them and their offspring to live their lives fully as staunch believers and practitioners of the faith, while simultaneously contributing their quota to the development of the country as responsible and respected citizens. Therefore, the General Assembly will host delegates representing member organizations, Central Working Committee members across the South West states, Muslim Councils and Communities, as well as Muslim organizations and institutions domiciled in the South West geopolitical zone of Nigeria (Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Oyo States). Significantly, the General Assembly serves as the supreme decision-making organ of MUSWEN.

Also expected are members of the Board of Trustees (BoT), a high-level advisory body consisting of nine distinguished members who formally represent the six South West states under the chairmanship of Dr. Abdulrauf Wale Babalakin, SAN. The other BoT members include Alhaji Fola Adeola, Otunba LekanBello, Prof. Yusuf Ali, SAN, Alhaji AbdulGaniy Adebiyi, Dr. Habibat Adubiaro, Alhaja Lateefah Okunnu, HRH Alhaji (Oba) Mashood Arowodoye, and Barrister Kazeem Olanrewaju.

Similarly, members of the Elders’ Council, a consultative wing composed of roughly 100 Muslim statesmen, veteran jurists, and seasoned professionals tasked with addressing the strategic socio-political concerns of MUSWEN will be in attendance. In the same vein, members of various standing committees (Education, Health, Finance, Zakat, Legal Advisory, and Mediation), specialized task forces, and the Endowment Fund Committee under the coordination of Alhaji Lekan Bello are expected. Alhaji Tajudeen Fola Adeola, a seasoned financial expert, heads the Board of Trustees for the fund.

Going by the extensive preparations for this year’s Assembly, it is evident that the organizers led by the Executive Secretary, Professor Wole Abbas, alongside the dedicated administrative staffs are sparing no effort to ensure a successful occasion. Furthermore, the meeting will play a pivotal role in consolidating and executing the laudable achievements recorded over the last six years under the leadership of its outgoing President, Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo, whose tenure has yielded a treasured legacy of accomplishments.

“Alhamdulillah, we have been able to set up dynamic systems of administration for the easy coordination of our activities. The state Muslim councils are functioning better than they were at the beginning of my presidency in November 2020, and because of that, we are more visible and impactful. Today, an average Muslim in the Southwest is more aware of MUSWEN’s existence as an organization, right down to the local government areas of each state in the region, than before. Salaries of staff are now streamlined and paid regularly without having to go cap-in-hand begging. Additionally, we have reconstituted the Board of Trustees of MUSWEN to replace former members, as most of them, except two, are deceased. Another significant development in MUSWEN is the composition of several standing committees to execute the decisions of the Executive Council. We have also advanced significantly in reviewing the old constitution to adopt a new one.  Let me tell you, we have taken steps to shore up our finances. We hope that when the new constitution of MUSWEN becomes effective, other Islamic groups, associations, and bodies will start contributing funds to increase our sources of revenue. Today, in terms of advocacy, the organization is louder and playing its rightful role in society, building bridges across the country for the benefit of Muslims in the Southwest, particularly in close collaboration with the leadership of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs. Through that proximity, the concerns of Muslims in the Southwest are listened to and acted upon positively. Alhamdulillah, MUSWEN is grateful to all stakeholders for these achievements and gives kudos to the founding members who braved all odds to start it.” – Alh. Rasaki Oladejo, FCS, in an interview previously granted to PEACE Magazine.

The Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) operates under a highly organized administrative and consultative framework. Day-to-day administrative execution and executive decision-making rest with the Central Working Committee (CWC) and the Secretariat. Its prominent executive officers include Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo, the outgoing President (who also serves as the Deputy President-General [South] for the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs [NSCIA]); Deputy President I, Alhaji Rafiu Adisa Ebiti (the incoming President); Deputy President II, Alhaji Wale Sonaike; and the Executive Secretary/CEO, Professor Wole Abbas. The Secretariat serves as the central operational engine of the organization.

MUSWEN was officially inaugurated in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Sunday, August 10, 2008. Stakeholders widely acknowledge MUSWEN’s pivotal role as the hub for promoting peace, progress, and unity for all Muslims in the South West region of Nigeria, as well as serving as the coordinating organ for the office of the Deputy President-General (South) of the NSCIA.

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