SUFI Centre Founder, Akinbile, Urges Nigerians To Awaken Divine Potential
•By KAZEEM OYENIYI
IBADAN – The Grand Sheikh and Founder of the Caring and Sharing SUFI Centre, Ibadan, Master Dr. Rasheed Akinbile, has urged Nigerians to awaken the divine potential within them, saying the nation possesses all it takes to become a global leader if citizens fully harness their God-given talents.
Dr. Akinbile made this call during the 36th anniversary celebration of the centre, also known as the Muslims in Light Organization, held in Ibadan. The event, themed “The Perfect Being – Sayyidena”, drew dignitaries from across the country and served as a platform for spiritual empowerment, healing, and community impact initiatives.
“It’s essential for us to come together, prioritize knowledge and wisdom, and value them over mere ordinary prayers,” Akinbile said. “As we worship through prayers and supplications, we should also make work our worship. When we do this, we are truly serving God.”
The spiritual leader emphasized the need for peace, unity, and national self-discovery, urging Nigerians to rise above ethnic and religious differences.
“My message to Nigerians is to continue to live in peace and unity. Let us explore the perfect being within us — though our languages differ, the same blood runs in us,” he added.
Reacting to a purported statement by former U.S. President Donald Trump threatening to invade Nigeria over alleged “Christian genocide,” the Grand Sheikh dismissed the claim as baseless, stressing that no foreign nation could love Nigeria more than Nigerians themselves.
“Nigeria is a secular nation with freedom of worship and association,” he said. “While security challenges exist, we must address the elements disrupting peaceful coexistence. Christians and Muslims in Nigeria unite, marry, and work together. We are one nation, united in love.”
Akinbile noted that national development could only be achieved through peace, unity, and the practical application of faith through hard work and self-awareness, adding that security challenges are global issues that should be tackled collectively and without religious bias.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Seyhidah Dr. Shakirat Idowu Akinbile, wife of the Grand Sheikh, outlined several welfare and empowerment programmes marking the anniversary. These include the opening of a subsidized food market, support packages for women, and business start-up assistance for the unemployed.
“The government cannot do it all alone,” she said. “Our organization ensures we reach out to society by subsidizing food prices and empowering women to become self-reliant.”
Among dignitaries at the event were representatives of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Senator Rashidi Ladoja, and the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, as well as other political and religious leaders. They commended the SUFI Centre for its unwavering commitment to peace, unity, and interfaith harmony.
Highlights of the celebration included Islamic songs, exhortations, goodwill messages, and the unveiling of community outreach programmes.