IIIT Seminar: Don, Scholars Seek Fusion of Faith, Knowledge to Tackle Nigeria’s challenges
By Bintu Imran
Scholars and educationists have called for a stronger integration of Islamic values, ethics and modern knowledge to promote sustainable development, strengthen food security and address some of Nigeria’s pressing social and economic challenges.
They made the call at a seminar organised by the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT), Southwest Nigeria, in collaboration with the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure (FECA), Ondo State, with the theme, “Integrating Faith and Knowledge for a Just, Productive and Sustainable Society.”
The seminar brought together academics and professionals who examined the application of Islamic principles to contemporary fields, including education, agriculture, food processing, technology and social development.
Professor Ismail Musa of the University of Lagos and Secretary, IIIT Southwest Nigeria, said Islam did not oppose modern knowledge, science or intellectual advancement, but encouraged Muslims to engage with knowledge critically and apply it in ways that serve humanity.
Presenting a paper titled “Understanding Integration of Knowledge: A Simple Question-and-Answer Guide,” Musa said the integration of knowledge, also described as Islamisation or Tawhidisation of Knowledge, sought to connect knowledge with values, ethics and human purpose.
He said the approach recognised Allah as the ultimate source of truth while encouraging the use of reason, science, technology and human experience for human welfare. He stressed that it did not require Muslims to reject existing knowledge, but to ensure that its application was guided by sound moral and ethical principles.
Musa said the approach was relevant to professionals in medicine, engineering, education, agriculture, economics, technology and social work, particularly in confronting challenges such as climate change, poverty, corruption and other social problems. Using artificial intelligence as an example, he urged responsible deployment of emerging technologies, with attention to human dignity, fairness and accountability.
Also speaking, Professor Dr Oloke Murtaador of the University of Lagos advocated the integration of Islamic ethical and spiritual principles into agricultural education and practice, saying agriculture should be viewed not merely as food production but as stewardship, worship and service to creation.
In his presentation, “Integration of Knowledge in Agriculture,” Murtador said the Islamic concept of khalifah, or stewardship, placed a responsibility on humans to protect and sustainably manage the earth. He proposed a four-dimensional agricultural framework covering spiritual, ethical, social and environmental considerations.
He said the framework could guide issues ranging from soil conservation, crop diversity, animal welfare and food safety to fair trade, food security and responsible use of natural resources. He also called for ethical scrutiny of chemical overuse, land degradation, harmful monocropping, food waste and exploitative commercial practices.
Professor Muyibi Opeloye, Head of the IIIT Research Team and Director, IIIT Osun State, further called for an Islamic framework combining agricultural knowledge, human effort, ethical production and responsible food processing to reduce post-harvest losses and improve food security in Nigeria.
Presenting a paper titled “The Divine and Human Factors in Agricultural Processing,” Opeloye, a retired professor, said agricultural processing offered an important avenue for applying human ingenuity to resources provided by Allah, particularly through preservation, value addition and reduction of post-harvest losses.
He cited the Qur’anic account of Prophet Yusuf as an example of strategic food preservation and planning, noting that the preservation of agricultural produce during periods of abundance could help societies prepare for scarcity. He also stressed the need for ethical conduct in food storage and trading, warning against exploitative hoarding, deception and practices that compromise food quality.
Opeloye advocated adherence to the Islamic principles of halal and tayyib ((Lawful and wholesome), saying food production and processing should involve not only lawful ingredients but also wholesome, safe, hygienic and environmentally responsible practices. He also proposed Islamic financing mechanisms, including murabahah, musharakah and waqf-based processing cooperatives, to support agricultural value addition.
In his remarks, Federal College of Agriculture , Akure, (FECA), Provost Dr. Folorunso Rasheed Imam , Represented by Dr. Olaleye Sulaiman said the seminar was timely, describing it as the first of its kind at the college.
The Provost said education should go beyond the acquisition of technical knowledge to develop individuals capable of connecting knowledge with values, responsibility, ethics and societal needs. He noted that challenges in agriculture, science, technology, economics, environmental sustainability and human development were interconnected and could not be effectively addressed through fragmented knowledge.
Earlier, Professor Adekunle Amoo of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), and Ondo State Director of IIIT, called for stronger integration of Islamic teachings with acquired knowledge, saying education should contribute to the spiritual, moral and intellectual development of Muslims.
Amoo, who delivered a welcome address at the programme, said academic and professional pursuits should not be separated from religious and moral responsibilities. He urged participants to pursue knowledge in ways that strengthen family life, moral values and responsible citizenship.
The speakers collectively stressed that the integration of faith and knowledge should translate into practical outcomes in education, research, professional practice, agriculture and community development, with the ultimate objective of promoting human welfare, justice, sustainability and responsible stewardship.
Dignitaries present at the occasion included the College Registrar, Mr Ajide Kamorudeen, and the College Farm Manager, Mr Badmus Alirudeen.
