Tinubu unveils Ansar-Ud-Deen’s new national secretariat, lauds society’s impact
August 1, 2026 10:00 pm
Photo caption: The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi; the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, and the society’s National President, Adeniji Kazeem, and other dignitaries at the commissioning of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria’s new national secretariat on Saturday in Lagos.
President Bola Tinubu on Saturday inaugurated the new National Headquarters of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, and commended the Society for its impact on nation-building.
While unveiling the edifice named Hassanat Abebi Okunnu House in Surulere, Lagos, the President said government alone cannot build the nation of our dreams and that
the project demonstrates the importance of laying a solid foundation and remaining committed to community development.
Tinubu, who was represented by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, said Ansar-Ud-Deen has made invaluable contributions to national development.
According to the President, long before education became widely recognised as a catalyst for national progress, the Society understood that knowledge was the pathway to human development and societal transformation.
While commending the past and present leadership of the Society, the President said the success and longevity of any institution are not merely rooted in the vision of its founders, but in the commitment of those who preserve that vision across generations.
“I also wish to express my deep appreciation to the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria for more than one hundred years of dedicated service in education, healthcare, humanitarian intervention, and numerous other programmes that have positively impacted society,” he said.
Tinubu, however, urged other faith-based institutions and the private sector to support the government in the task of nation-building.
“The government alone cannot build the nation of our dreams. We require strong partnerships with private institutions that share the vision of building an enlightened, disciplined, compassionate, and prosperous society. The Ansar-Ud-Deen society remains an indispensable partner in the task of nation-building.
“Government under my watch will continue to guarantee freedom of religion, while we urge the Society to continue to preach religious tolerance. As this beautiful secretariat begins a new chapter in the history of the Society, may service to Allah and humanity remain the guiding principle,” he said.
Also speaking, the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, stressed the need for the religious society to continue promoting values that have distinguished it over a century of existence.
Hamzat said that with eroding societal values, the future of the nation depends on families and religious institutions like Ansar-Ud-Deen.
According to him, we must continue to educate ourselves because knowledge remains our greatest asset.
“Today, we hear our children saying that education is a scam. We hear young people saying that knowledge is no longer necessary. Our Islamic and Christian institutions must confront this challenge.
“Therefore, all of us have a responsibility to ensure that our children understand the essence and value of Almight Allah,” the Lagos deputy governor said.
In his welcome address, the society’s National President, Adeniji Kazeem, said the building represents a renewed vision for Ansar-Ud-Deen’s future.
According to him, the edifice is the fulfilment of a long-cherished dream, and a bold statement that, after one hundred and three years of distinguished service to Nigeria, Ansar-Ud-Deen is preparing for an even greater future.
Kazeem said that since the society’s establishment in 1923, it has remained one of Nigeria’s foremost faith-based organisations, promoting educational excellence, moral development, healthcare, humanitarian service, and community development.
“For over a century, we have worked alongside the government in nurturing responsible citizens and building stronger communities.
“Our contribution is measured not simply by the schools we have built or those projects we have undertaken, but by the generations of Nigerians we have helped to shape, men and women whose lives reflect scholarship, integrity, patriotism, and service,” he said.
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