The Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) has announced plans to hold its 2025 General Assembly in November, where it will unveil a comprehensive ₦2 billion development initiative targeted at empowering Muslims across the six South-West states.
The Chairman of the Central Planning Committee, Alhaji Murisiku Siyanbade, disclosed this in an interview, explaining that the fund would be used to drive a range of social, educational and economic projects that will improve the lives of Muslims and strengthen the organisation’s role as a catalyst for regional development.
According to him, the General Assembly, scheduled to hold on Sunday, November 16, 2025, at the Bola Babalakin Conference Hall, Gbongan, Osun State, will bring together leaders of Muslim organisations, scholars, policymakers and philanthropists from across Nigeria.
The event will be hosted by Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), the Chairman of MUSWEN’s Board of Trustees, while the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), His Eminence, Dr. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, will serve as the Guest of Honour.
Siyanbade said the proposed ₦2 billion project is part of MUSWEN’s renewed commitment to foster empowerment, wealth redistribution and human capital development among Muslims in the South-West.
“Our goal is to make our impact more deeply felt across the region,” he said.
“We plan to spend ₦50 million per state for economic empowerment, which amounts to ₦300 million across the six states. This will benefit Muslim communities, councils and organisations in the South-West. The impact will extend beyond the beneficiaries to their families and dependents. By doing this, we are not only empowering Muslims but also contributing to Nigeria’s economic development.”
He added that part of the funds will be invested in strengthening zakat administration to promote social justice and reduce poverty.
“Almighty Allah has prescribed zakat as a means of redistributing wealth between the haves and have-nots. We are reinvigorating our zakat committee to develop stronger policies that will help Nigerians, especially in the South-West, live better lives,” Siyanbade stated.
MUSWEN also discussed it plans to expand its educational and healthcare interventions. Siyanbade revealed that the organisation intends to train Muslim youths in Artificial Intelligence, robotics, and data informatics to prepare them for global opportunities.
“We want to raise quality Muslim children who can compete anywhere in the world,” he said, adding that a similar approach will be taken in healthcare, with plans to establish world-class diagnostic and treatment facilities in each of the six states.
“These centres will not only improve public health but also generate revenue for MUSWEN. We already have land at Agodi GRA in Ibadan, allocated by the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi, for our permanent secretariat, which we intend to develop soon. Our current Iwo Road office will be converted into a commercial complex for income generation,” he added.
The MUSWEN chairman further explained that the General Assembly, the organisation’s highest decision-making body will also ratify key policy decisions, including new initiatives by its standing committees and the Central Working Committee, stating that the year’s programme has been restructured to begin with the business session at 10 a.m., followed by the formal opening ceremony at noon, which will feature the Sultan, state governors, philanthropists and other dignitaries.
Siyanbade also appealed to well-meaning Nigerians, particularly Muslim philanthropists, to support the initiative.
“We are appealing to those whom Allah has blessed to see this as an opportunity to trade with Him. Whatever they give in His cause will be rewarded abundantly,” he said.
“People should come to our headquarters at No. 46 Iwo Road, Ibadan, identify with us and support the cause of Islam and humanity.”
He emphasised that MUSWEN, established in 2008 as the umbrella body for all Muslim organisations and communities in the South-West, remains committed to promoting unity, social welfare and faith-based development.
“If we can achieve this ₦2 billion target, it will be a turning point for Muslims in the region, MUSWEN will grow, Islam will grow, and humanity will benefit,” Siyanbade affirmed.
