Brief History

The need for unity among the Muslims in South West Nigeria with a credible leadership was felt for a long time. But the most significant and most successful of attempts towards achieving the objective was an initiative by The Companion, an organisation of Muslim men in Business and the Professions, who invited Muslim Organisations and Leaders to a Leadership Roundtable Session in 2004 (1425 AH).

The get-together was meant to provide a forum for deliberating on the need to have a formidable unity and leadership among Muslims in the South West region. The session was well attended by many notable Muslim Leaders and Royal Fathers.

Wider consultations were further held involving three Summits over a period of four years which were attended by large numbers of stakeholders including royal fathers. A Coordinating Committee headed by Late Professor Aliu Babatunde Fafunwa which was appointed at one of the Summits worked very hard towards establishing the new umbrella body on a sound footing. Barrister Y. K. O. Abdulkareem was General Secretary of the Committee. The former Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Late Alhaji Abdul Azeez Arisekola Alao, had played a vital role in facilitating the various Summits.

At a very impressive gathering on Sunday, 10th August, 2008, the new umbrella body was inaugurated by His Excellency, Prince Bola Abdul Jabbar Ajibola under the name of Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN). His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of NSCIA, Alhaji (Dr) Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, mni, CFR, was the Special Guest of Honour. On that occasion, he made an offer of recurrent scholarships to any three deserving female Muslim medical students of South West origin. (Meanwhile, MUSWEN has increased the number to six, so that each of the states in the zone may share in the benefit).

Also present at the occasion were HRM Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, the Alaafin of Oyo, HRM Oba Rilwan Akiolu, Oba of Lagos, among other royals, leaders of Muslim organisations and eminent Muslims in the region.

MUSWEN is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as a Faith-Based Non-Governmental Organisation.