By Mohammad Ibrahim
Kaduna (Nigeria) – President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria says moral and religious education are declining in his country, calling on parents to teach their children religious values.
To this end, Buhari directed Nigeria’s Ministry of Education to look into adoption of two Islamic Studies books written by late Justice Muhammad Bashir Sambo in the secondary school curriculum for all Federal Secondary Schools..
He said adopting such books in schools would go a long way in teaching the younger generations good moral and religious values.
President Buhari who spoke while launching the reviewed editions of the two books was represented by Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai of Kaduna State.
According to him, he first met late Justice Bashir Sambo on television when the late Justice Bashir Sambo, along with Mallam Umaru Sanda and Justice Muazu Aliyu, all of blessed memory were teaching on television on the Islamic Da’awah.
He described late Justice Bashir Sambo as a distinguished public servant, educationist and a great teacher.
“As an educationist, the late Justice Bashir Sambo, not only wrote this book that was used in secondary schools in Nigeria at a time, but went on to become a distinguished Judge at the Sharia court of Appeal and the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
“I thank the co-authors for updating these books and structured them in a way that matches new secondary curriculum. I call on the ministry of education to look at these books with the view to adopt them in all government colleges.
“There are similar Islamic books that teach moral upbringing of our children, but these books are facing extinction, I therefore call on Jaiz Charity and Development Foundation to go into research and bring out these books and update them for the benefit of Islamic education in our society.
“I still remember that when we were growing up, our mallams used to teach us good moral from these books, so the foundation should ensure that these books are brought back to life”.
Earlier, Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Foundation, Alhaji Umar A. Mutallab said Bashir Sambo Centre for Islamic Da’awah was established by disciples and associates of late Justice Sambo in order to immortalise and inspire the legacy of the late sage.
He explained that the review of 1974 edition of the book became imperative in view of the introduction of academic curriculum of 6-3-3-4 system in the country by the Federal Ministry of Education, which rendered the maiden edition obsolete.
The two books were co-sponsored by Bashir Sambo Centre for Islamic Da’awah and Jaiz Charity and Development Foundation, in memory of late Justice Bashir Sambo, (former Judge of the Sharia court of Appeal and the Code of Conduct Tribunal) – the books were reviewed by Mallam Mukhtar Lere to conform with the current academic curriculum of 6-3-3-4 system in the country.
