27/08/2026
FORMAL APPRECIATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF APPOINTMENT AS CHAIRMAN, FIRST THINKERS’ COMMITTEE YORUBA LAND COUNCIL FOR ISLAMIC PREACHERS (YLCIP) LAGOS STATE CHAPTER.
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
الحمد لله رب العالمين، والصلاة والسلام على أشرف الأنبياء والمرسلين، سيدنا محمد، وعلى آله وصحبه أجمعين.
With profound humility, gratitude, and a deep sense of responsibility, I, Amir Akingbade Kazeem Ayodele, National Secretary of the Yoruba Land Council for Islamic Preachers (YLCIP), hereby express my sincere appreciation to the Lagos State Amir, Shaykh Abdul Qadir Abdul Waasi‘, the State Executives, the distinguished elders, scholars, and all bona fide members of the Lagos State Chapter for the confidence reposed in me through the establishment of the First Thinkers’ Committee and my appointment as its Chairman. I consider this appointment not merely an honour, but a sacred trust (Amānah) and a call to greater service. I therefore accept the responsibility with humility, sincerity, and full recognition of the expectations attached to it. Allah ﷻ says:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَنْ تُؤَدُّوا الْأَمَانَاتِ إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهَا
“Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due.”
Qur’an 4:58.
I am deeply grateful to the State Amir and the entire membership for deeming me worthy of this responsibility. May Allah ﷻ reward the State leadership and every member who contributed to this decision, and may He place abundant barakah, wisdom, unity, and success in our collective efforts.
AN ACCEPTANCE OF SERVICE, NOT SUPERIORITY.
I wish to respectfully state that I do not accept this office because I consider myself superior, more knowledgeable, or more capable than any member of the Council. Far from it.
Rather, I accept it as an opportunity to serve Allah ﷻ, serve the Council, and contribute my modest capacity towards the growth and development of the Lagos State Chapter.
Leadership in Islam is fundamentally a responsibility before Allah, not merely a position before people.
Allah ﷻ reminds us:
وَقُلِ اعْمَلُوا فَسَيَرَى اللَّهُ عَمَلَكُمْ وَرَسُولُهُ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ
“And say, ‘Do [as you will], for Allah will see your deeds, and [so will] His Messenger and the believers.’”
Qur’an 9:105.
This verse shall remain a reminder that whatever we do in this committee must be undertaken with Allah-consciousness, sincerity, accountability, and excellence.
In shā’ Allāh, I shall discharge this responsibility to the best of my ability and shall continually seek the counsel, cooperation, and constructive contributions of members. I pray that Allah prevents me from abusing the trust placed in me and grants me the wisdom to lead with fairness and humility.
THE VISION OF THE FIRST THINKERS’ COMMITTEE.
The establishment of this committee should be understood as an avenue for strategic thinking, consultation, constructive ideas, intellectual contribution, innovation, and purposeful planning for the advancement of YLCIP Lagos State Chapter.
Our committee is not established to compete with the State Executive Council, existing committees, individuals, caucuses, or any other structure within the organisation.
We are not a competing authority; we are a thinking and advisory platform.
Our objective is to think beyond the present, identify areas requiring improvement, propose realistic solutions, develop beneficial programmes, and contribute ideas capable of strengthening the Council and promoting its objectives.
Allah ﷻ says:
وَأَمْرُهُمْ شُورَىٰ بَيْنَهُمْ
“And whose affair is [determined by] consultation among themselves.”
Qur’an 42:38.
This shall be one of the foundational principles of our committee: consultation without domination, contribution without discrimination, and disagreement without hostility.
Allah ﷻ also says:
وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَىٰ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ
“And cooperate in righteousness and piety, and do not cooperate in sin and transgression.”
Qur’an 5:2.
Accordingly, our ideas, discussions, recommendations, and activities must always be directed towards what is beneficial, constructive, lawful, and capable of strengthening the Islamic preaching mission of the Council.
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
To every brother who has been selected to serve on this committee, I extend my sincere appreciation and welcome you to this important responsibility.
I urge us to approach this assignment with trustworthiness, courage, sincerity, discipline, intellectual maturity, mutual respect, and a genuine desire to serve.
Let us create an atmosphere where every constructive idea is given fair consideration, irrespective of who presents it. Let us disagree intelligently, deliberate respectfully, and reach conclusions through consultation and evidence.
Allah ﷻ says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَقُولُوا قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا
“O you who believe, fear Allah and speak words that are straight and just.”
Qur’an 33:70.
Therefore, our meetings must be characterised by truthfulness, purposeful dialogue, and sincere counsel—not personal attacks, unnecessary rivalry, or the promotion of individual interests.
A HUMBLE APPEAL TO OUR ELDERS AND LEADERS.
To our respected elders, scholars, senior members, and leaders within YLCIP Lagos State Chapter, I humbly appeal for your continuous prayers, guidance, counsel, encouragement, and institutional support.
We acknowledge that experience cannot be replaced by enthusiasm alone. The wisdom of our elders remains an invaluable asset to the younger generation.
We therefore seek your guidance and constructive criticism whenever necessary. Where we are right, encourage us; where we are mistaken, correct us; and where we lack understanding, educate us.
Allah ﷻ says:
فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
“So ask the people of knowledge if you do not know.”
Qur’an 16:43.
Your knowledge, experience, wisdom, and prayers will be essential to the success of this committee.
UNITY AS OUR FOUNDATION.
Our success cannot be measured merely by the number of meetings we hold or proposals we produce. True success will be reflected in the unity, development, effectiveness, and positive impact that our collective efforts bring to the Council.
Allah ﷻ commands:
وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا
“And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided.”
Qur’an 3:103.
This must remain a permanent principle in all our dealings. We must never allow personal differences, sectional interests, competition, or misunderstanding to undermine the unity of the Council.
Allah ﷻ further says:
إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَ أَخَوَيْكُمْ
“The believers are but brothers, so make settlement between your brothers.”
Qur’an 49:10.
May Allah make us instruments of reconciliation, progress, cooperation, and unity.
OUR STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE.
I believe that if we combine sincerity with knowledge, vision with consultation, courage with wisdom, and commitment with discipline, the First Thinkers’ Committee can become a meaningful instrument for the development of YLCIP Lagos State Chapter.
Allah ﷻ says:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا مَا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ
“Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is within themselves.”
Qur’an 13:11.
Therefore, let us not merely speak about progress. Let us think, plan, implement, evaluate, improve, and remain accountable.
Our aspiration should be to leave behind measurable and beneficial contributions that future generations of the Council will appreciate.
FINAL APPRECIATION AND PRAYER.
Once again, I sincerely appreciate the Lagos State Amir, Shaykh Abdul Qadir Abdul Waasi‘, the State Executives, our respected elders, scholars, and every bona fide member for the confidence and responsibility entrusted to me.
I humbly request your prayers and continued support as we embark upon this journey.
May Allah ﷻ grant us Ikhlās in our intentions, Ḥikmah in our decisions, Shajā‘ah in our responsibilities, Ṣabr in our challenges, and Tawfīq in our endeavours.
May He protect this Council from division, rancour, hypocrisy, unhealthy rivalry, and every matter that can weaken our collective mission.
May Allah ﷻ unite our hearts upon righteousness and make our organisation a means of spreading beneficial knowledge, strengthening Islamic brotherhood, promoting peaceful coexistence, and serving humanity.
As Allah ﷻ says:
وَالَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا ۚ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمَعَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
“And those who strive for Us—We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good.”
Qur’an 29:69.
May this appointment become a means through which we attain the pleasure of Allah ﷻ, contribute meaningfully to the development of YLCIP, and earn lasting reward in this world and the Hereafter.
رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَتَوَفَّنَا مُسْلِمِينَ.
“Our Lord, pour upon us patience and let us die as Muslims [in submission to You]." Qur’an 7:126.
رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
“Our Lord, accept this from us. Indeed, You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.”
Qur’an 2:127.
Āmīn Yā Rabbal-‘Ālamīn.
Amir Akingbade Kazeem Ayodele
Chairman, First Thinkers’ Committee
Yoruba Land Council for Islamic Preachers (YLCIP)
Lagos State Chapter.
