The inaugural Annual Ramadan Lecture organized by the founder of the Shina Kadri Foundation, Ambassador Adeshina Kadri, was held at Ile Tuntun Community in Ibadan on Saturday.
The lecture attracted dignitaries from various walks of life, including the wife of the philanthropist, Chief Mrs. Ajokeade Kadri; Chairman of the Ile Tuntun Community Development Association, Engr. Okuneye; Oluomo of Akinyele, Otunba Adekunle Kareem; Baale of Idi Oro Elewa, Ologuneru, Chief Abobade Adefisoye; and Baale of Asa, Ile Tuntun, Chief Abdulrafiu Lawal, among others.
Prominent Islamic scholars also graced the event, including Alhaji Jamiu Akorede Oke, Chief Imam of Ile Tuntun; Alhaji Daud Sanmi Temidire, Imam of Adetokun; and Alfa Nasirudeen Afolabi.
Delivering his lecture titled Total Reliance on God, the Chief Imam of Ile Tuntun, Alhaji Jamiu Akorede Oke, encouraged Muslims to place complete trust in God, both in private and public life. Citing stories from the Holy Quran, he highlighted the unwavering faith of a slave who prayed for rain during a severe drought and a woman who had her only child revived at the point of burial.
The cleric also emphasized the importance of reverence for Allah and the observance of the five daily prayers as a demonstration of true reliance on God, stressing that religious obligations should not cease after Ramadan. He commended Ambassador Kadri for his generosity in organizing the event, noting that such contributions reflect faith in God. He further urged affluent Muslims to emulate Kadri, as acts of charity attract divine rewards.
In a brief chat with journalists, Ambassador Adeshina Kadri explained that the motivation behind the lecture stemmed from his belief that Islam, like Christianity, is a religion of peace and love. Despite being a Christian, Kadri, who holds the title of Asoju Oba of Orile Ilawo Kingdom in Abeokuta, revealed that his late father was a Muslim, which exposed him to the values of both religions from an early age.
“I come from a background where my father was a Muslim. Even though I wasn’t raised in the Islamic way, I am a Christian. However, I have realized that both faiths center around love and peace,” he said.
“I felt this is the Holy Month, something I believe in and want to be part of. In my own little way of propagating the gospel of Islam, I choose to emulate good practices. If everyone does the same, the world will be a better place for all of us.”
Kadri further stated that he organized the lecture to inspire positive change in society through religious teachings. The event is set to become an annual tradition during the Holy Month of Ramadan.
