The Guild of Muslim Professionals (GMP) has formally opened its 2024 convention, themed ‘Balanced Prosperity: Faith, Wealth, and Global Resilience’. The three-day conference has brought together Muslim professionals from across Nigeria to address pressing issues facing the Muslim community.
In his welcome address, Dr. Akeem Oyewale, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, emphasized the importance of the conference theme, highlighting the urgency created by the complexities of the modern world. “As professionals, we are in a privileged position to ensure that wealth creation and distribution are ethical, inclusive, and beneficial to society.
Whether through entrepreneurship or public service, we must prioritize transparency, support charitable initiatives, and create opportunities for others to thrive,” he stated.
The Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Saka Matemilola, urged professionals to provide solutions to the myriad challenges facing the nation. He encouraged Muslim professionals to use their innovative minds to achieve noteworthy accomplishments in their fields.
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“No matter how many resources we have, if not properly managed, it is nothing. We cannot continue to remain docile. I want to charge my fellow Muslims to manage our resources properly to translate to prosperity,” the monarch said.
Oba Matemilola further emphasized the conference theme and its benefits, stating, “This conference theme is a befitting one for the event, and I think it is something we need to discuss more as a sect.
The theme is talking about money, physical assets, and knowledge, our influence and reach as Muslims, and how we use all of these to create prosperity for the general community. When we do that, we also give non-Muslims an opportunity to see the beauty of Islamic systems.”
Professor Tajudeen Yusuf, a Professor of Risk Management and Insurance at the University of Lagos, discussed the concept of Takaful, an Islamic alternative to conventional insurance. He highlighted risk sharing, usury-free transactions, and transparency as the major benefits of Takaful.
“Takaful, derived from the Arabic root word ‘Kafala’ (guarantee), is an Islamic alternative to conventional insurance. It is a mutual guarantee built on the principles of Ta’awun (mutual assistance) and Tabarru’ (donation). Takaful is distinct in its structure, objectives, and compliance with Shariah principles,” he explained.
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Using Quranic citations, thought-provoking questions, and case studies of different countries that have successfully used Takaful as a financial aid model during crises, Prof. Yusuf established the balance of the model in meeting the demands of economies while adhering to Islamic values.
“Balanced prosperity is not merely a goal; it is a responsibility. Faith and wealth, when aligned with ethical principles, can drive resilience and sustainability. Takaful exemplifies this balance, offering a Shariah-compliant model that meets the demands of modern economies while adhering to Islamic values,” he added.
Dr. Ibraheem Abdul, Rector of Yaba College of Technology, in his goodwill message, encouraged Muslims to embrace the teachings of the Holy Qur’an in deciphering actionable strategies to guide their lifestyle.
Echoing the royal father, Executive Director/Chief Finance Officer (CFO) of MTN, Modupe Kadri, urged participants to stop shying away from making their voices heard and to start taking actions based on their learnings from the program.
The GMP convention is an annual convergence of Muslim professionals in Nigeria, engaging in thought-provoking discussions, dialogues, workshops, and panel sessions led by renowned speakers from diverse backgrounds.