Ogun PDP deputy governorship candidate calls on Muslim women to join forces in fight against societal ills

Lateefah Sowunmi-Kolapo, the Iya Sunnah of Egbaland and 2027 deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State, has made a impassioned plea to Muslim women to put aside their differences and work together to tackle rising social ills, bolster family units, and drive community development across the country.

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According to Sowunmi-Kolapo, mothers are the bedrock of society, and it is their responsibility to instill strong moral values in their children, enabling them to resist threats such as drug abuse, cybercrime, cultism, and moral decadence.

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Sowunmi-Kolapo made this call while delivering the keynote address at the inaugural summit of the Egba Muslim Women Forum, which took place in Abeokuta on Sunday, with the theme "Mothers, Unity and Community Service: Nurturing Strong Families, Building Vibrant Communities".

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The summit was attended by a diverse range of stakeholders, including Ogun State Deputy Governor Noimot Salako-Oyedele, Islamic scholars, traditional rulers, women leaders, and representatives of Muslim organisations from across Egbaland.

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Sowunmi-Kolapo described the launch of the forum as the beginning of a movement, rather than just another association, with the goal of strengthening families, empowering women, serving communities, and contributing to the development of Egbaland.

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She praised the Egba Women Titled Chiefs and the organising committee for creating a platform that would facilitate collaboration among Muslim women, and noted that the strength of any nation is dependent on the stability of its families, which in turn is built by responsible parents, particularly mothers.

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Sowunmi-Kolapo emphasized that motherhood extends beyond childbirth, encompassing the nurturing of faith, discipline, honesty, compassion, and excellence, and expressed concern over the erosion of family values driven by economic hardship and the negative influence of social media.

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She highlighted the numerous challenges facing homes today, including drug abuse, cybercrime, cultism, weakening family values, the negative influence of social media, and economic hardship, and urged Muslim women to intentionally raise children who fear Allah, uphold integrity, and contribute positively to society.

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Sowunmi-Kolapo called on the newly inaugurated forum to become a unifying force for every Muslim woman in Egbaland, regardless of age, profession, political affiliation, or organisational background, and to replace rivalry with cooperation, suspicion with trust, and competition with collaboration.

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She encouraged Muslim women to engage in community development, understand public policies, promote accountability, support justice, and encourage competent, God-fearing leadership, noting that leadership is a sacred trust and that capable Muslim women should be encouraged to serve in various sectors.

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Sowunmi-Kolapo also urged the forum to champion leadership development, family counselling, youth mentorship, humanitarian intervention, and advocacy programmes that can transform lives across Egbaland.

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Ogun State Deputy Governor Noimot Salako-Oyedele declared the summit open, describing it as a historic milestone, and commended the organisers for their vision and efforts.

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Salako-Oyedele noted that every enduring movement begins with a vision and expressed optimism that the efforts of the organisers would continue to yield positive results, and urged Muslim women to embrace unity despite their differences, as collective action would achieve greater impact than individual efforts.