By Akinsola Omidire
Recently, the Lagos Women Council of Ansar-ud-deen Society of Nigeria recently celebrated the 2017 edition of its family day.
The event was held at the Ansar-ud-deen College of Education, Isolo, Mushin, Lagos. There, clerics, students, teachers, academics and other stakeholders gathered for the eighth edition, all gaily dressed in their white clothes with green headgears. In spite of the downpour, the Muslim women trooped out en-masse to grace the annual event usually held after the Ramadan to appreciate, celebrate and give thanks to Allah for seeing them through the period. It was also a forum for reunion and networking among the members.
The chairman of the day, Alhaji Hassan U. Alao was represented by his daughter, Miss Alao while a member of Council, Summit University, Offa, Mrs Mosun Belo-Olusoga was the chairperson.
In her remarks, Belo-Olusoga asserted that the family was very important, adding that the bond among them should be cordial. “In a gathering like this, families come together, interact, network and generally have fun. It’s a welcome development,” she noted.
Chairperson of the council, Alhaja Risquat A. Oke affirmed that the event was to thank Allah for making them survive the Ramadan. She said the public lecture, ‘Chronic liver disease’ was to get the participants educated on the debilitating disease. Oke informed that the event also presented an avenue for the celebration of one-day chairperson.
“The pupils are chosen during a four-week competition of quiz and debate among Ansar-ud-deen nursery and primary schools in the metropolis,” she noted.
She also charged them to always perform their duties as mothers as ordained by Allah and imbibe the fear of Allah in their children just as they must give them western and Islamic education.
Secretary of the council, Alhaja Morenike Oyediran corroborated what the chairperson said that the event was a forum to interact, network and unwind after the Ramadan.
While delivering the lecture entitled ‘Chronic liver disease’, Prof Fatimah B. Abdulkareem of the Summit University, Offa, Kwara State, educated the audience that the liver, which is the largest organ of the body, detoxifies the food before it gets to other parts of the body and produces vitamins. She noted that anything that affects it invariably does damage to the body. She explained that chronic liver disease is the stage the liver ceases to function properly for six months or more. It can be contacted through food, water, transfusion and sex, she noted. “It is always common with pregnant women and it is deadlier than HIV\AIDS since there has not been a vaccine for the cure and must be treated proactively before it gets chronic.”
Abdulkareem charged the audience not to assume they have malaria if symptoms like tiredness and vomiting occurred but should see a doctor without delay, as it might be liver disease. She rounded off by urging the participants that prevention was better than cure.
Secretary, Ansar-ud-deen Society, Lagos, Alhaji Abdulrasheed O. Adeola said the programme is an annual event where all the members come together with their families to celebrate after the Ramadan. He advised the women to keep their homes intact, adding that women are the true owners of the homes.
Among the dignitaries were Alhaja Bambe and Alhaja Toluwaloju.