FOMWAN: making community development a priority (I)

It is also serves as a reunion with members of a powerful but unassuming community of advocates for development. They prefer to let their work speak for them. In the twenty eight years of its existence, the annual national conference of the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria has taken place with clock style […]

It is also serves as a reunion with members of a powerful but unassuming community of advocates for development. They prefer to let their work speak for them. In the twenty eight years of its existence, the annual national conference of the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria has taken place with clock style regularity. It rotates between the north and southern states with states competing to host it the event viewing it as an opportunity to showcase their event management skills and raise the profile of FOMWAN in their states.
Last year, Imo state hosted the conference where the decision to host the 2013 conference in Makurdi, the Benue state capital was taken. From  August 28- 31 2013, one thousand and twenty five delegates from thirty three states including the Federal Capital Territory Abuja converged on  Command Government Secondary School Makurdi,  the  venue of the  conference. The theme of the conference was “Women in Community Development: 21st Century Issues”. The theme of the Conference is “Women in Community Development: 21st Century Issues”. The federation chose this theme to underscore the importance of community development and grass roots involvement and mobilization of all strata of society especially the youth as a veritable link in the development process. The federation is concerned that this link, as well as the Islamic methodology for community mobilization is often missed by development workers.
The opening ceremony attracted dignitaries from all walks of life and it was declared open by the Special Guest of Honour, First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Her Excellency, Dame Patience Good luck Jonathan. In her welcome address, the National Amirah of FOMWAN, Hajiya Maryam Idris Othman welcomed all the guests and participants. She recalled the humble beginning of FOMWAN as an umbrella body for Muslim women’s associations in Nigeria. From the 35 women visionaries (my humble self was privileged to be one of them) who gathered in Minna to establish FOMWAN in April 1985, the organization has grown into a network of Muslim women activists with very strong grassroots presence nationwide. Today we have chapters in all the 36 states of the country and also the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Abuja. At the community level, we have over 600 Local government branches across the nation and 2,500 Nongovernmental organisations and community based organisations as affiliates. Speaking on FOMWAN’s vision, the National Amirah (President) said the organization envisions ‘a world in which women are totally empowered to be role models in making positive impact in the society. This it aims to achieve through the propagation of the religion of Islam and improving the socio economic status of the populace, particularly women, youth and children. The methods used include advocacy, training, micro enterprise schemes, provision of quality education, health and humanitarian services.’
FOMWAN has been actively engaged in community develop-ment activities nationwide and has focused on education by providing technical expertise in policy development, review and implementation in colla-boration with the Universal Basic Education Commission and the Ministry of Education. In this sector, its success stories range from establishment of 250 nursery, primary and secondary schools, five hospitals and three orphanages nationwide. Hajiya Maryam added that the federation’s activities extend beyond education and health to such issues as ‘promoting good governance, environmental health and peace building. This has earned the federation respect from federal and state governments on one hand and foreign and local donor organisations on the other. It has achieved the enviable status of an indispensable partner in breaking grounds in Nigerian rural communities. FOMWAN is a major partner in global campaigns against malaria, HIV/ AIDS, poliomyelitis, maternal and child health to mention a few.’
 In her speech, which was presented by the Special Assistant to the President on Gender, Dr Asmau Abdulqadir, the First Lady commended FOMWAN for its community development activities and dedication to the advancement of women through education and promotion of healthcare services and urged the federation to continue with the development projects it is undertaking in various communities.
 In his speech, the Chairman of the occasion, Professor Is’haq Oloyede, Secretary General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs welcomed participants and urged other Islamic organisations to promote activities that will reduce poverty and empower their communities. The Governor of Benue State, the Rt. Hon. Dr Gabriel T. Suswam welcomed delegates to the state. He observed that women have from time immemorial been active in promoting development of their various communities. He commended the State chapter of FOMWAN for hosting the conference and pledged his government’s commitment to supporting their development activities. His goodwill message was delivered by the Secretary to the Benue State Government, Dr David Salifu.
Other dignitaries who presented good will messages were the Guest of Honour, Her Excellency the wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Amina Namadi Sambo, represented by Alhaja Saudat Duduyemi. The wife of the Governor of Benue state, Her Excellency, Arch. Yemisi Dooshima Suswam, was represented by the Commissioner, Women Affairs and Social Development. The father of the day, His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto and President of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, was represented by the Emir of Lafia, HRH Dr Isah Mustapha Agwai 1. The Emir adopted a progressive stance which pleased the conference delegates by allowing his wife to attend the opening ceremony. Shortly after the Emir took his seat, a group of women quietly ushered in the Emir’s wife who was invited by Nasarawa State chapter of FOMWAN in recognition of the impressive work she was doing in the establishment of Islamiyyah schools in Lafia and environs. She received an ovation from the participants.
Among those who received special recognition were, the wife of Gombe State governor, represented the Special Assistant to the Governor on Women Affairs, the Chairman of Jama’atu Nasrul Islam JNI represented by its Secretary General, Dr Khalid Abubakar Aliyu. Benue state Chairman of JNI, Benue State Amirul Hajj, Alhaji Abubakar B. Tsav, President of the Catholic Women’s Association, the Women and Youth Wing leaders of Nasrilllahi Fatahi Society (NASFAT), the Benue State President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Amirah of Muslim Sisters Organisation.
The keynote address was supposed to be delivered by Hajiya Amina Az-Zubair, the Secretary to the UN Secretary General on Post-MDG Strategic Plan. She had to attend to an urgent assignment at the global level and my humble self was conscripted to present it. Its content and the communiqué will be discussed next week.