The National Association of Proprietors of Arabic and Islamic Schools (NAPAIS) has cautioned those it described as meddlesome interlopers to desist from interfering in the affairs of the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS).
NAPAIS said the warning became necessary to address the dust raised by a petition reportedly submitted by individuals known for their unrestrained Islamophobic rhetoric, which caused public unrest in both 2019 and 2023.
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In a statement in Ibadan, Oyo State, signed by its president, Sheikh Muhammadu-Jamiu Abdulgafar, NAPAIS clarified that the recent antagonism toward the Federal Government’s formal policy validating the NBAIS certificate as equivalent to the senior school certificate is misplaced.
The association described the resulting hue and cry as a deliberate and malicious attack against Islam.
It emphasised that Nigeria deserves peaceful coexistence, unity, religious tolerance and harmonious interfaith relations in order to fully realise President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.
NAPAIS said, “Federalism and democracy, at a minimum, require accommodation, tolerance and unity in diversity.
“On this note, our candid suggestion is for the claimants to consult a competent lawyer for an accurate interpretation of the relevant constitutional provisions, particularly sections 10 and 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), to correct their misinterpretation
“To set the record straight, the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS) was established in 1960 by the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Alhaji Sir Ahmadu Bello, to promote exclusive education in Arabic and Islamic studies. It has undergone significant transformation since being transferred to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and is now recognised as a national examination body.
“The vision of NBAIS is to serve as a leading examination board in line with the Federal Government’s policy of integrating Islamic and Western education systems, promoting Qur’anic schools and the Madrasat education system nationwide. This vision has been strongly advanced by the NBAIS Registrar, Professor Imam Yahuza Suleiman.”
It added, “How does the approval of the NBAIS certificate constitute a form of structural discrimination? In what way is the policy contradictory to the nation’s secular principles, as alleged?
“Have Muslims in Nigeria ever opposed educational initiatives by traditional African religion adherents or Christian groups?
“The answer to the last question, NAPAIS asserts, is a resounding ‘No’. Instead, Muslims would challenge the petitioners to promote scholarship and knowledge in ways that benefit all Nigerians.
NAPAIS also expressed no surprise at recent remarks of one of the petitioners, citing his controversial history.
The association recalled how he once allegedly branded the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as an ‘Islamic Brotherhood of Nigeria’ and spread false claims about a militant Fulani Islamic group plotting to Islamise the country by force.
NAPAIS further recalled his “failed propaganda” against former President Muhammadu Buhari and his alleged pseudo-prophecy claiming God told him that Nigerian churches are “irresponsible churches.”
The association appealed to Nigerians to be vigilant and not fall prey to the antics of rabble-rousers “who seek relevance through conflict, especially when Muslims have remained law-abiding, even during times when education policy favoured Christian missionary schools to the exclusion of Islamic institutions.
It urged education regulatory authorities, including the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, not to be swayed by the alarmist cries of divisive elements concerning the policy that equates NBAIS with recognised examination bodies such as NBTE, NECO and WAEC and integrates Arabic and Islamic Studies into the national education curriculum.
The association also appealed to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and other well-meaning Christian leaders and organisations to distance themselves from the petition, thereby helping to place its falsehoods and bigotry in proper context.
In the same vein, NAPAIS called on the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) under the leadership of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, to support the ongoing efforts to protect Nigeria’s Islamic educational heritage from elements bent on denying over 5,000 NBAIS certificate holders and more than 500 accredited centers, including 30 in Oyo State, their rightful place in the national education framework.
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