Oyo state governor, Engr Seyi Makinde and his Osun State counterpart Governor Ademola Adeleke are expected as guests at the 15th Annual General Conference (AGC) of the Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria (MULAN) scheduled to hold on Friday 3rd of May 2024.
The conference according to the National President of the Association, Kazeem Olajide Olaniyan will be declared opened by the Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi.
The Niger State Governor, Umar Bago is expected as the chairman of the conference, as over one thousand participants who are lawyers are expected across the country as delegates of the three days event.
In his address during a pre-Conference Press briefing held at the University of Ibadan, on Thursday, the National President of the association noted that MULAN is a National Association and an umbrella body for all Muslim Lawyers in Nigeria, stressing that the association was established and registered in 2006, with the maiden edition of the AGC held in Gusau in Zamfara State.
He said, “This year’s AGC, is the 15th in the series, and the second under the regime of the current national executives with the themed “National Development: The New Dynamics and Nuances”.
Kazeem further said that the theme of this year’s conference is coined as a follow-up to the theme of the last AGC in Lafia, Nasarawa State- which is “Religion, Power and Politics: The Need For A Unified Polity.”
“Recall that our last AGC was held shortly after the current Government were sworn-in, both at the National and the States, and we cannot, as a faith-based association, forget in a hurry how sharply divided we were religiously as a People and as a Nation while seeking for political power. At that AGC, we were able to send a very strong message to our political and religious leaders on the fact that the difference in our religions should be a source of harmonious relationship for peaceful coexistence in Nigeria.”
“This year’s theme naturally flows from our clear and unpretentious resolve of the last year’s AGC, as Muslim Lawyers to further examine the various dynamics and obvious nuances which were carelessly put at the doorsteps on the path to the National Development, in our quest to move on as a nation, as a people.””A careful selection of a team of experts have been assembled to do justice to this year’s theme through their various presentation. Thirteen crudite speakers drawn from all the six geo-political zones of the country will speak at the conference. These eminent gentlemen and lady presenters comprising six professors, three senior advocates, two consultants/physicians, three educationists and a banker will discuss the theme and sub-themes in nine sessions and the grand dinner.”
“The conference will be declared opened by the Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi on Friday 3rd of May 2024, the first plenary session commences soon after the opening. The first session is a technical session where the Immediate Past President, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) Nigerian Branch; Mr Olatunde Busari would mount the rostrum as the first Speaker. The second session will feature Hajia Maryam Lemu who wil discuss marriage and family issues. The third erudite Speaker would be our iconic Prof Yusuf Olaolu Ali who will handle mentorship in a holds no bar session where delegates would learn from the distinguished member of the bar, The annual general meeting of the association will round up the day’s activities.”
“The second day will begin with the session titled ‘Relevance of faith-based financial services to national development’ to be jointly discussed by Dr Dawood Amoo Alaga and Alhaji Taofeeq Mustapha; the Divisional Head, southwest at Jaiz Bank. This will be followed by the main session where the conference theme will be discussed by distinguished Prof. Siyan Oyeweso.”
“The main event is also expected to be witnessed by their excellencies, the executive governors of Oyo, Osun and Niger States, The main event will be under the chairmanship of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Niger State; H.E Umar Bago.”
“The sixth session will feature a scholar from the southeast geopolitical zone; Malam Friday Isa Okonkwo who will discuss ‘Extremism in Nigeria and its effects on national development.’ The seventh session has its Speaker in the person of Alhaji Nurein Zakarriyya, a general manager at the Nigerian Flour Mills who discusses Taith merchandise and the worsening poverty level in Nigeria: A consideration? The next session will feature two medical consultants: Prof Muhammed Manga and Associate Prof Jíbril AbdulMalik who will discuss infections and mental health issues respectively.”
“The last session before the grand dinner is titled “Building Challenges: the role of Muslim Lawyers” to be discussed by two of our past presidents and erudite professors of law at the University of Maiduguri and University of Ilorin, Prof Daud Kamal and Prof Ibrahim Abikan, respectively.”
“Lastly, the grand dinner sponsored by the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta States; Alhaji Dauda Akinola will be the last programme of the conference where distinguished members of the Association will be honoured, I must quickly add that this year’s AGC is a three day fully packed event, have been laced and embellished with some side attractions and goodies to water the appetite of all the participants.” Kazeem said.