General
As OCIS Clocks 40 , Sultan Sa’ad Extols Center
Last Thursday in the University town of Oxford, some 48 miles North West of London the Oxford Centre of Islamic Studies celebrated its 40th anniversary with the King of England Charles ||| superintending over the event. It was headlined by the speech of the very venerable King and also climaxed with the Annual General Meeting of the Board of Trustees as well as a tree-planting ceremony at the Centre’s garden.
Sultan of Sokoto , Saad Abubakar ||| extolled the Centre and it’s management for the remarkable achievements recorded in the last 40 years which has witnessed visits , lectures, seminars and speeches by very important dignitaries like former President Nelson Mandela and former Secretary General of the United Nations Kofi Annan. Sultan Saad lauded the administration of the Centre and expressed hope that the rest of the world especially the developing world would emulate the foresight and vision of the founding fathers of the Islamic Centre.
He expressed delight at the highly intellectual endeavor and community service both local and international that the Centre has become synonymous with.
Over the last four decades the Centre has become a citadel of learning incorporating lectures, seminars , provision of scholarship, research , fellowship, and engaging a multi-racial and multi-religious congregation as it’s students and clientele. A huge number of visiting lecturers frow the world over , are available to the academic faculty of the Centre.
Similarly, it’s Board or Trustees reflects variegated , ethnic, racial and cultural diversity with both Muslim and non-muslims co-habitating successfully on the Board .
While Saudi Prince Turki Al Faisal sits stop the board as Chairman, Sultan Nazrin Shah of Malaysia occupies the seat of Vice Chairman , Sheikh Mohammed Al Sabah former Prime Minister of Kuwait remains one of the pillars of the Centre.
There is also a strong British membership on the board , Rt Hon Dominic Grieve KC is former Attorney General for England and Wales , Sir Martin Donnelly KCB is former Permanent Secretary at the Department of International Trade as well Dr Catherine Swales , Director Clinical , Medical Sciences Division University of Oxford .
This array of Distinguished personalities on the board is further dignified by the inclusion and membership of the only African on the leadership of the Centre in the person of His Eminence Sultan Muhammad Saad Abubakar III.
The achievements of the Centre include the Research components of its study programme focusing on “the social and intellectual history of the Muslim world, the social and economic development of Muslim societies, science, technology and environment in Muslim societies and Muslims in Britain”.
Similarly, the Centre witnessed the emergence and growth of its publications , “The Journal of Islamic Studies” and the “Makers of Muslim Civilization”. The Lectures an Roundtables have also been a major highlight , while in the area of teaching the Centre has promoted multi- disciplinary study of culture and Islam and contemporary Muslim societies through fellowships like The King Charles fellowship, Nelson Mandela Fellowship, the Globe Fellowship and Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Fellowship among twenty others
The Director of the Centre Farzan Nizami in highlighting some of the story behind the success stated the centre proudly launched an Exhibition of “Lines of Faith:: Astronomy and the Art of the Astrolabe in the Islamic World”.
Two highly intellectual lectures that brought recognition to the Centre in the last one year are that of Lord Neuberger (former President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom) “Threats to the Rule of Law” and that of Professor Phillipe Sands of the Universe College London titled “On Genocide : Then ad Now”.
It is remarkable as well as instructive that the Centre came into existence in 1986 in a wooden hut on St Cross Road and grew tremendously into the oak it is today, esconsced on a beautiful piece of land on Martson road in the heart of Oxford town vigorously propagating interfaith dialogue and inter- civilization co-habitation as well as social harmony and general well-being of the human race.
Without doubt with the continued commitment of the Centre’s Grand patron King Charles ||| and the unique, sagacious capacity of it’s African monarch Sultan Saad of Sokoto the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies is bound to continue to grow in leaps and bounds probably surpassing the successes of the last 40 years in another 40 years.
Nasir Danladi Bako PhD, OON
Kogunan Sokoto
July 22, 2025.
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General
Kano Line Resuscitation Committee Chairman Felicitates Gov. Abba Kabir Yusuf on Third-Year in Office
The Chairman of the Kano Line Resuscitation Committee, Alh. Saidu Abdullahi Shu’aibu, has congratulated the Executive Governor of Kano State, His Excellency, Alh. Abba Kabir Yusuf, on the occasion of his third year anniversary in office.
In a congratulatory message, Alh. Saidu Abdullahi Shuaibu described the administration of Governor Alh. Abba Kabir Yusuf as purposeful, people-oriented and committed to restoring the lost glory of Kano State across various sectors.
He particularly commended the Governor for his unwavering support and commitment toward the revitalization of Kano Line, nothing that the ongoing reforms and investment in the transportation sector have rekindled hope among workers and the people of the state.
According to him, the efforts of the present administration in improving infrastructure, enhancing public transportation, empowering youths, supporting education, healthcare and promoting economic growth have continued to earn the confidence and support of the people in line with the “Kano First Agenda”.
Alh. Saidu Abdullahi Shuaibu further prayed for Almaighty Allah continued guidance, wisdom and protection upon Governor Alh. Abba Kabir Yusuf as he continues to steer the affairs of Kano State toward greater development and prosperity.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Kano Line Resuscitation Committee to support the administration’s vision of transforming the transportation sector for the benefit of the people of Kano State.
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The Civil Society – Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) has organized a two-day capacity-building workshop for stakeholders in Kano State on the use of the National Nutrition Budget Tracking System (NNBTS).
The training, held at Tahir Guest Palace, brought together key actors in the health and nutrition sector to enhance accountability and strengthen nutrition financing across the state.
During a presentation titled “Overview of Nutrition Financing in Nigeria: State Trend Analysis Review”, CS-SUNN official Jibrin Okpaji stressed that government interventions at all levels are vital for tackling malnutrition and its associated challenges.
Okpaji noted that sustained investment in nutrition is essential for improving public health and reducing preventable deaths among vulnerable populations.
He emphasized the need for stakeholders to acquire the technical expertise to effectively use the NNBTS, which would bolster advocacy for increased budgetary allocations and promote transparency in resource management.
Abdulrahman Abdullahi, Secretary of CS-SUNN Katsina State Chapter, described the NNBTS platform as a key tool for evidence-based planning, monitoring, and accountability in nutrition programs.
The training featured live demonstrations of the portal, practical exercises on data entry and reporting, and the generation of scorecards, analytical reports, and policy briefs using sample data.
Participants also developed state-level implementation frameworks and action plans for the effective adoption of the system.
In his goodwill message, CS-SUNN Kano Coordinator Salman Mohammad urged participants to fully utilize the training to achieve its objectives.
Stakeholders described the workshop as timely and crucial for strengthening nutrition governance and improving coordination among actors in Nigeria’s nutrition ecosystem under initiatives led by CS-SUNN and its partners.
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Families in Kano State have turned out in large numbers to participate in a digital birth registration exercise organised by the National Population Commission (NPC) in partnership with UNICEF.
The initiative, supported by the Government of the Netherlands and implemented in collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and ALGON, aims to provide legal identity for children, particularly in hard-to-reach and underserved communities.
Speaking during an exercise in Wasarde Birgima community, Joda Ward, Gabasawa Local Government Area, Abba Hussaini, focal person for Under-One Birth registration, described the turnout as “highly encouraging.
“Over 626 children were registered in the community alone, adding that the target for the area is 1,100 and 12,000 for the entire local government,” he explained.
Hussaini commended UNICEF for technical support, training of personnel, and provision of registration equipment, and highlighted the role of traditional and religious leaders in mobilizing families.
Also speaking, Bashir Aminu Dambazau of NPC said the digital system has simplified registration by enabling instant issuance of birth certificates, improving data management, and ensuring children are documented immediately.
He explained that the digital registration system is helping to improve documentation and data management while ensuring that children receive certificates immediately after registration.
Hussaina Ahmad, 20, who brought her eight-month-old daughter, Aisha, after missing the previous exercise in September 2025, said that she was only two weeks into motherhood then.
According to Hussaina, her husband, a commercial motorcycle operator, learned about the exercise from the village head and informed her.
“I don’t know my own birth date and I want my children to have an identity from the start.” She said
She explained that the registration was essential for school enrollment and other future benefits.
“I didn’t attend school, and neither did my parents, but I want my child to go to school and become influential in the community. Every child deserves this,” she added.
Hussaina noted that she would return to her community to educate other parents about the importance of early registration, praising the organisations bringing the service closer to families.
Similarly, 19-year-old Kaltume Ali of Unguwar Tsakiya brought her four-month-old son, Musa, said community awareness campaigns helped her realise that children without birth certificates often face barriers to healthcare, education, social protection, and other opportunities.
“My husband first heard about the registration from the village head and encouraged me to enrol our child. Neither of us has a national identity card, but we were told we could use his brother’s NIMC card. I don’t want my only son to miss out on opportunities,” she said.
Also participating was 20-year-old Asmau Sagir of Unguwar Yamma, who brought her seven-month-old son, Abdulrahman , said birth registration to safeguard children’s identity and future.
Sagir noted that digital registration helps families avoid challenges later, particularly with school enrollment and access to government services.
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