The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Mudashiru Obasa has described security as a collective spiritual duty while drawing a parallel between the pursuit of national and state security and the broader spiritual journey toward Jannah (Paradise).
In his keynote address at the 31st Pre-Ramadan Lecture of the University of Lagos Muslim Alumni held inside the cavernous J.F Ade Ajayi Main Auditorium of the institution on Sunday, February 15, 2026, Speaker Obasa described security as not just physical safety but the alleviation of poverty, which he fingered as the major cause of insecurity; upholding transparency, fairness, compassion for the vulnerable, and improved healthcare for all and sundry among other humanitarian acts.
For every desire, Speaker Obasa said, “There must be an input. What we have to do to get to heaven is no different from what we have to do for the security of our society. Insecurity is a function of poverty. Security is not about the police alone; it is about all of us. It is a collective spiritual duty. Every time you see people gathered on your street, don’t just drive past; make enquiries as to who they are.”
He further portrayed security as an act of worship and nurturing faith through selfless deeds that protect communities, prevent oppression, and build unity, adding, “By integrating spiritual light with responsible leadership, believers contribute to a Nigeria where peace prevails, guiding souls collectively toward Paradise while securing the present world as a foundation for the eternal one.”
Describing Lagos as a vibrant melting pot of cultures and faiths, Speaker Obasa said that the government has been able to foster a safe and secure environment by ensuring sustained interfaith dialogues, support for religious institutions (mosques and churches), and legislative efforts to promote harmony without division.
Continuing, Obasa said, “As Muslims, our faith calls us to be custodians of justice, peace, and good governance, and we cannot separate our spiritual obligations from our civic responsibilities.
“In governance, we must uphold transparency, fairness, and service to humanity. In the community and in the family, we must be agents of compassion, supporting the weak, feeding the hungry, and uplifting the oppressed. If we uphold these admonitions, there will be peace, prosperity, and progress in our society, aligning with Quranic calls to stand firm in justice (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:8) and the Prophetic ideal of benefiting others.”
In his welcome address, Dr Abdulmumini Alao, National President, University of Lagos Muslim Alumni (UMA), said, “Our theme for this year’s lecture – The Light Beyond: Guiding Our Souls to Paradise – challenges us to reflect and aspire. In several verses of the Qur’an, Allah gives us a description of Jannah (Paradise) that will be the permanent abode of the righteous after our temporary stay on earth.”
He added that as is the practice of the UMA, there were two guest speakers; “One teaching us on a spiritual subject, while the other would speak on a contemporary national issue. Therefore, while Dr Ridwan Jamiu’s (Chief Imam, Lekki Central Mosque) topic deals with our spirituality, Prof. Is’haq Oloyede, Registrar of the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB) as the lead speaker to address us on national security, which is an issue grabbing the headlines in Nigeria today.”
The Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, represented by the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Umar Usman Kadafur, was the chairman of the occasion.
The University of Lagos Muslim Alumni is a faith-based alumni body of the association, founded in 1995 by 44 members, with a vision to be a frontline group of conscious and dynamic Muslims with a positive and effective impact on their alma mater and society at large. Its mission is to promote brotherhood, scholarship, entrepreneurship, and the best Islamic practices.
