Foundation Trains Islamic Scholars On Anti-corruption Campaign

An Islamic group, Just Foundation (JF), on Monday in Osogbo trained 50 Islamic scholars on anti-corruption campaign.

The  scholars were trained on budget tracking, and ensuring accountability and transparency by all levels of government.

Imam Fuad Adeyemi, the Executive Director of the foundation, said the training was to support Federal Government’s anti-corruption campaign using Islamic leaders as tool in promoting the campaign.

Adeyemi, who noted that corruption remained one of the major challenges in the country, said the scholars would be encouraged to speak out on the negative effects of corruption.

He said, “what we are doing is to train Islamic scholars, teachers and preachers on the dangers of corruption in the society.

“We want to actually empower them on how to tackle corruption through their teachings, how to say it and what to say in such a way that it will not cause problem and with the aim of making our communities corruption free.

“These scholars have the Qur’an knowledge with them already, but what we are doing now is to train them on how to be more pragmatic in their approach.”

Adeyemi said that the foundation had secured the support of an International donor agency, MacArthur Foundation, to commence the training.

He said after the training, the scholars would help in the fight against corruption through their teachings at the grassroots.

The guest lecturer, Prof. Kamil Oloso, noted that corruption had created unstable political environments that had made Nigeria a laughing stock in the eyes of international community.

Oloso, who is the Head of Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University Ibadan, commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to the fight against corruption, saying it was necessary in ensuring good governance and development.

Earlier, Governor Rauf Aregbesola, represented by Mr Fatai Kolawole, Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), commended the foundation for the initiative, saying that it would promote the fight against corruption.

One of the participants, Alhaji Salaudeen Olaleye, pledged that they would use the knowledge learnt to add value to the anti-graft war.