By Zainab Faruk
A one-day Ramadan lecture organised by the Office of the First Lady of Bauchi State in collaboration with the Bauchi State Hisba Board has called for collective action by parents, religious leaders and government institutions to address the growing moral and social challenges confronting society.
The event, held in Bauchi, brought together Islamic scholars, traditional leaders, government officials, security agencies and community stakeholders to deliberate on the theme of moral decadence and social problems affecting communities.
Speaking at the event, the Bauchi State First Lady, Hajiya Aishatu Bala Mohammed, said the gathering was convened to openly discuss the challenges facing society and identify practical solutions.
She noted that moral decline, family breakdown and gender-based violence have become serious concerns not only in Bauchi State but across Nigeria.
According to her, many of the social problems affecting communities today stem from the neglect of parental responsibilities and deviation from religious teachings.
“The aim of this gathering is to discuss our problems and find solutions. What we are witnessing today is a general breakdown of values in our communities. Parents must return to their responsibilities and guide their children according to the teachings of Allah,” she said.
The First Lady emphasised that government alone cannot solve the problems facing society, urging parents, religious leaders and community members to contribute their quota in restoring discipline and moral values.
She called on fathers in particular to fear God and take greater responsibility in protecting their children from abuse and exploitation.
“Government cannot do it alone. Every parent must play a role in protecting and guiding their children. If we fail in our responsibilities, the consequences will affect the entire society,” she added.
Hajiya Aishatu also urged community members to support government efforts through voluntary service, financial contributions and community engagement in addressing social challenges.
She further highlighted the need to reform the Almajiri system, stressing that children should not be placed under the care of teachers beyond their capacity to cater for them.
Earlier in his remarks, the Permanent Commissioner of the Bauchi State Hisba Board, Barrister Aminu Balarabe Isa, said the Ramadan lecture was organised to draw attention to the growing moral challenges confronting the state.
He explained that the theme of the lecture was carefully selected to address the rising cases of moral decadence which, according to him, could eventually weaken the faith of the people if not addressed.
Barrister Isa disclosed that the Hisba Board recently uncovered a house in Bauchi used for ritual practices and fraudulent spiritual claims where idols were allegedly kept to deceive people seeking spiritual assistance.
“We received reports of a house in Bauchi where idols were kept and used to deceive members of the public seeking solutions to their problems. Security operatives have evacuated the items while the suspect fled and is currently being searched for,” he said.
He noted that such practices show how far some individuals have deviated from religious teachings, urging scholars and community leaders to intensify efforts in guiding people towards proper moral conduct.
The Hisba commissioner therefore called on Islamic scholars to use the Ramadan period to strengthen moral and spiritual awareness among the people.
The lecture featured presentations from religious scholars who emphasised the importance of strong family values, responsible parenting and adherence to religious teachings as key measures to restore discipline and harmony in society.
Participants at the event also called for stronger collaboration between government institutions, traditional leaders, religious scholars and civil society organisations to effectively address the social challenges facing communities in Bauchi State.
Discover more from Albarka Radio
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
