COMMISSIONER FOR WOMEN AFFAIRS & SOCIAL INCLUSION

COMMISSIONER FOR WOMEN AFFAIRS & SOCIAL INCLUSION FELICITATES WITH MUSLIMS AND CHRISTIANS ON EID-UL-FITR AND EASTER

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Hon. (Mrs.) Toyin Balogun, has extended warm felicitations to the Muslim Ummah and Christian community in Oyo State as they celebrate the end of the holy month of Ramadan and Lenten season.

In a statement made available to Eagles Sight News, Hon. Balogun said:

“As Muslim faithful celebrate the feast of Eid ul-Fitr to mark the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan and in appreciation of the blessings and mercies showered upon us, I thank and praise the Almighty for granting us the grace to witness the end of another Ramadan/Lenten fast season.

“Every year, Muslims look forward to Ramadan to repent and piously engage in acts of Ibadah and good deeds. It is a period when we supplicate for safety and fulfillment of our desires; therefore, I pray that Allah (SWT) accepts our prayers and fulfills our positive expectations.

“Like the Muslim Ummah, the Christian community is in a similar state of devotion to prayer and worship, as they observe Lent and prepare for the feast of Easter. I pay my respects to them and pray for their wellbeing.

“As we prepare to celebrate Eid ul-Fitr/Easter, I pay tribute to the Muslim Ummah/Christian brethren. In particular, I appreciate all those who engaged in preaching, teaching, or promoting peace, piety, solidarity, good deeds, and feeding the people through breaking of fast (Iftar) dinners, particularly those who hosted the vulnerable in our midst (women, children, the elderly, the physically challenged, and the indigent in our society) whose interest I represent.

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“The religious values of both faiths, particularly during the solemn Ramadan/Lenten season, with respect to living in harmony, supporting one another, and enabling creation of platforms that will enable all to thrive, and accepting one another as having a shared humanity, perfectly dovetails with the governance ideals of the Governor Seyi Makinde-led government.

“The same values are at the core of the plans, programmes, and interventions of His Excellency Governor Makinde through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, as we collectively pitch social welfare interventions that will cushion economic shocks and support the livelihoods of our people to enable them get back on their feet and become sustainably empowered.

“It is obligatory for us as people of strong faith to work collaboratively in the service of our state and for the progress of every law-abiding citizen. The end of Ramadan must not stop us from continuing our good deeds. So, I urge all citizens, both Muslim and Christian, to steadfastly continue devoting themselves to the progress of our state and, by extension, our country.

“We live in circumstances that are strongly influenced by harsh global economic trends beyond our control. Although we might be impacted by the economic crises that affect world economies from time to time, we can rest assured that the Oyo State Government, led by His Excellency GSM, will always put in place mitigating initiatives, interventions, and programs to enable our people survive them and emerge stronger than before, like the mythical Phoenix, through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion.

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“We are indeed fortunate that the unhealthy religious intolerance that causes unrest in many states does not exist in Oyo State. I thus enjoin all our leaders of faith from the three major faiths to continue to advocate and sustain our prevailing inter-faith solidarity as a shining model for others to emulate, and to continue to work together to unite their congregations.

“This is because only under an atmosphere of interfaith harmony can the well-intentioned vision, progressive programs, and interventions of His Excellency Governor Makinde come to fruition for the collective benefit and sustainable economic flourishing of our people.

“Now that the holy month has ended, let us rededicate ourselves to the progress and flourishing of our dear state and work much harder to realize our individual and collective goals for self-development.

“Once again, I congratulate us all on successfully navigating through the fasting season, bringing us to the feast of Eid ul-Fitr and Easter. May Allah (SWT) grant the Ummah the blessings of Ramadan and the Eid. I also pray and wish the Christian community a blessed Easter. May the Almighty also keep us all even beyond the next Ramadan and Lenten season. Amin.”

Signed:

Hon. (Mrs.) Toyin Balogun
Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion

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