Ondo Muslim Welfare Board moves to strengthen media ties, calls for political engagement
By Khadijat Salahudeen-Okoro
The Chairman of the Ondo State Muslim Welfare Board (MWB), Engr. Zikrullah Adam Chandy, has underscored the need for effective information dissemination and strategic media engagement to promote Muslim activities and strengthen unity within the Muslim community.
Engr. Chandy stated this while receiving members of the Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN), Ondo State chapter, during a courtesy visit to the board’s office in Akure.
He described information as critical to the growth, cohesion and progress of Muslims, stressing the board’s readiness to partner with MMPN for professional and structured dissemination of its activities, even if such collaboration comes at a cost.
According to him, the board has identified the urgent need for a more organised media structure, revealing plans to appoint a dedicated media officer.
He said the board would formally request the Ministry of Information to deploy a Muslim officer to serve as its media officer and act as a liaison with Muslim media practitioners for effective publicity.
The MWB chairman also disclosed plans to create a formal budget line for news coverage and publicity.
He added that discussions from the visit would culminate in the organisation of a media and publicity workshop for Muslim groups and stakeholders across the state, alongside the adoption of a partnership framework to ensure proper and consistent coverage of Muslim activities.
“There is a need to let people know that we are doing a lot of things, rather than people highlighting minor inadequacies beyond expectations,” Engr. Chandy said.
He noted that robust media engagement would not only foster unity among Muslims but also enhance their political relevance.
He therefore urged Muslims in the state to participate actively in politics, stressing that political involvement would translate to better representation, stronger relationships and increased benefits in governance.
Earlier, the Ondo State Chairman of MMPN, Jubril Bada, lamented the poor publicity accorded many Islamic programmes across the state, noting that several important activities are either underreported or not reported at all.
He explained that part of MMPN’s social responsibility is to use the media to propagate Islam and give adequate publicity to Muslim activities, but observed that Muslim stakeholders often fail to engage the media for this purpose.
Bada highlighted some of the association’s recent initiatives, including career talks organised for Muslim students.
He expressed concern over the poor infrastructural facilities at Muslim College, Oke Aro, where the last career talk was held.
He also referenced the celebration of Ashura Day, which was organised to educate Muslims on its significance.
He urged the Muslim Welfare Board to remain committed to its statutory responsibility of catering for the welfare of Muslims in the state, noting that the board, as a government agency and parastatal, is best positioned to coordinate the distribution of government palliatives meant for Muslims.
Bada cited instances where non-Muslims allegedly benefited more from welfare packages intended for Muslims, adding that such occurrences are rare in the distribution of welfare materials meant for Christians.
He called for a strong, consistent working relationship between the Muslim Welfare Board and Muslim media practitioners, stressing that Muslim journalists are better positioned to report Muslim activities accurately and responsibly.
“If we do not publicise our activities, nobody can do it for us, and it can never be done as perfectly as by Muslims in the media sector,” he said.
