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| Dignitaries. |
The Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN), Lagos State chapter, has intensified its appeal for financial support to complete its Primary Healthcare Centre project in Eti-Osa Local Government Area, as it marked its 40th anniversary with a strong call for climate responsibility and women-led environmental action.
Speaking at a well-attended 40th Anniversary of the
Association held at the Alausa Community Mosque Multi-Purpose Hall on Thursday,
the Amirah of FOMWAN Lagos, Serifat Oluwatoyin Ajagbe, described the ongoing
construction of the healthcare facility at Olugborogan area, Elesan Village,
Eti-Osa LGA, as a strategic intervention aimed at bridging gaps in access to
primary healthcare services.
She called on philanthropists, corporate organisations
and well-meaning Nigerians at home and abroad to partner with the association
to ensure the facility becomes operational soon.
Ajagbe reiterated that beyond healthcare delivery,
FOMWAN Lagos remains active in civic education, election observation, gender
advocacy, human rights promotion and humanitarian interventions during communal
conflicts and flooding.
She added that the association collaborates with
government agencies to disseminate public health information and extends
welfare support to inmates in correctional centres.
The Royal Father of the Day and Chairman of the
Occasion, Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, commended FOMWAN Lagos for four
decades of sustained service to faith and humanity.
Reflecting on the milestone, the monarch challenged
members to remain faithful to their founding vision.
“At forty, we must ask ourselves: Are we still aligned
with the vision of our founders? Are we sincere in our service for the sake of
Allah? Are we positively impacting lives and strengthening our communities?” he
said.
He noted that for four decades, FOMWAN Lagos has stood
as a pillar of faith, discipline, education, family support and community
development, empowering women, supporting widows and advancing healthcare
initiatives.
However, he observed that serious challenges remain,
including discrimination, economic hardship, domestic violence, depression and
health concerns affecting many women. He described the Primary Healthcare
Centre as a timely grassroots response, particularly for riverine and
peri-urban communities within Eti-Osa.
The Oniru urged individuals and corporate bodies to
support the project, stressing that sustainable development requires synergy
among faith-based organisations, traditional institutions and government. He
added that women-led initiatives continue to demonstrate their power to drive
social transformation.
Delivering the keynote lecture, Professor Khadijah
Olaniyan urged Muslim women to see climate change as both a spiritual and civic
responsibility.
She said environmental degradation stems largely from
human excesses and mismanagement, citing indiscriminate waste disposal,
particularly poor e-waste management, as a major contributor to contamination
and disease.
Advocating the concept of a “Green Mosque”
environment, she encouraged mosques and Islamic centres to adopt proper waste
management systems, reduce plastic usage and integrate environmental
sustainability into faith practice.
Citing the Holy Qur’an and Islamic teachings, she
noted that the Holy Prophet encouraged the planting of trees, describing it as
a spiritual responsibility that safeguards the environment and mitigates the
causes and effects of climate change.
“Planting a tree is not just environmental activism;
it is an act of worship that safeguards humanity,” she said.
Olaniyan also identified carbon emissions from cooking
systems, vehicular pollution, blockage of drainage channels and open burning of
waste as contributors to flooding and climate-related disasters.
She warned that overconsumption driven by covetousness
worsens climate challenges and has far-reaching implications for health,
education, food security and economic stability. Climate change, she added,
contributes to desertification and rising food costs, affecting availability
and affordability.
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