A few days back, member of NAFSAT in Canada & the U.S met in Texas. It was a grand convention held in Houston, Texas. The theme of the convention was ISLAM: History, Beliefs, Growth and Modern Significance.
In this interview NAFSAT Vice-President 2, Alhaji Ayodeji Abdulrauf explains all that happened at that convention.
Can you explain to us details of Nasfat Relief International and your involvement in it?.
NASFAT Relief International Inc,USAÂ is a non-profit organization registered by NASFAT Worldwide to provide the following services :
1.Support :-Supporting communities globally in responses to crisis
2.Educate :-We strive to increase the financial wellness of the underserved population by providing opportunities for education with career goals, training and job placement
3.Integrate :-We provide access to resources as we aim to plant the roots of immigrants resettling in USA and Other Nations
My involvement as the Society Vice President Worldwide, l do travel to all branches see their wellbeing and ensure compliance .When our Chief Miissioner Sheikh Abdulazeez Onike spoke at the last UN sitting on Window and Orphans and Rights of women . It was then decided by the stakeholders that the Society needs a separate vehicle to educate ,support and integrate underserved/needy people in the world.This idea gave birth to NRI Inc. The NASFAT Worldwide Executive Council constituted a board for the registration of the Nonprofit organization with office in Houston, Texas USA
How about the role of the Jimmy Carter Centre (Foundation) and Nasfat’s involvement in it.
Jimmy Carter Foundation (Centre) is a foundation set up by the former President of America ,It promotes Human Rights activities, rights of women ,welfare of widows and orphans, Religion tolerance and understanding,inter faith seminars and civil and human rights activities ,As a society. We have benefited from our relationship with the body over the year. These include : Training for our youths on Entrepreneurship.women empowerment programs, Missionary and women training on widow and orphans projects this is still on going 1st batch of NASFAT misioners and women from different locations of the society just returned from Senegal on one of the training fully funded by Jimmy Carter center.It has become a train the trainers project in our society to improve passion for social work by All stakeholders especially the Misioners. Women and Youths .
Please tell us about the role of Religion & Modernization and how it affects our children.
Religion is a complete way of life thru faith and belief in our Supreme being or Creator” Allah “or “God” based on acceptable culture ,language , social ,political and economic development of humanities.Then Modernization, it’s the use of science and new knowledge to enhance humanities in all ramifications .It’s saddening today that people use scientific principle and other modern knowledge to exploit humanities rather than enhancement .God created everything for a purpose not to destroy but to enhance humanities.for better living .
Our children are the pride of life and need to be care for. However our care for them should not be rigid but flexible.We are just custodians to them, Parents need to listen and allow them to say their views for mutual understanding.They can not brought up today the way we were during our time .They must be told consulting Google’s for meaning of words ,using to learn without recourse to authencity of the source is not ideal. Children spending too much of their time on Facebook and YouTube is not right education Parents must be awared that rearing children this day is challenging ,they must be exposed to both religion and mordern education for handling of life challenges and become better beings tomorrow.
Tell us about your position as VP 2 of NAFSAT. What do you do?
My Vice President 2 position. I am Alhaji Ayodeji Abdulrauf, a teacher, lecturer, lT expert, Policy Maker, public and private sector manager, chartered stockbroker,Management/Training and Business Analyst. l am the one in charge of all zones. branches and groups of the society .Its my duty to carry out oversight functions on all of them by ensuring compliances to NASFAT Constitution , the birth of a new group or branch , induction for new executives , regular communication, conflict management and resolution, visitation to the zones ,branches and groups and others as may be assigned by Worldwide Executive Council. This is done through a body which l chair named NAZOCC ie NASFAT Zonal Coordinating Committee. This body is made up of committed and dedicated volunteers men and women with a liason officer or desk officer to each of the twenty – two zones around the world. to ease communication.
Presently, how many Nasfat branches are across the globe? How many have you visited?
As at today, we have over 359 branches located around the world, it’s still a monthly growing numbers .l have visited over 200 as at today ln sha Allah .Others to be covered in couple of months to come. NASFAT has become the fatest growing Islamic society in the world today just like the “VALUES ” its propagating “ISLAM ” meaning Removal of evils /pains and giving or delivering of Benefits to all human races .
Is this the 1st time America and Canada Convention will ever take place?
This is the 1st convention for the NASFAT America and Canada Zone as earlier stated. Definitely, there were challenges and looking at planning period within three months , it was a success however there is room for improvements.This is just a pilot project and it was impactful
Is there any criteria one must meet to attend the Convention?
It’s a delegate conference attendance as stated in NASFAT constitution .It’s meant to be attended by All stakeholders ( BOT,COE , BEC, MB , ZCE, ZEC, ZMB and Members, as specified in the constitution,however other faiths and Islamic organizations can be invited to attend some sessions of the convention for inter -organization ralationships
Are you looking towards holding the Convention in Canada or it will only take place in America?
Yes, for sure it must also be held in Canada when the branch is ready and met the hosting conditions as set by the convention committee.In actual fact, At the end of the convention branches were asked to bid for next one ,three branches did .they are Atlanta Georgia, Maryland Washington and Toronto Canada. The Zonal Executuve council and Convention Committee are already looking into them for final selection based on set criteria which including the hosting group must be an inaugurated branch.
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