Nigeria: Ahmadi Muslim Students’ Association (AMSA)

At first, the activities of the association were centralized, due to the hostility (especially, that of the MSS) against Ahmadiyya.  But later, the association became fairly well established enough to operate on campuses of institutions of learning and in many states of Nigeria.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Articles
Source: Ahmadiyya Muslim Community | Nigeria
Credit: Islam in Africa Blog


It was to the credit of Ahmadiyya Jama’at that Muslim parents started taking much interest in giving their children/wards western education.  It was on these young educated Muslims that Muslims in this country placed their hope to counter the onslaught of the adherents of other religions.  They were then expected to stand on their own against any other group of educated young people anywhere.


To fulfil this yearning therefore, the secondary-school and tertiary students of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at were among the pioneers (in fact, major actors) in the founding of Muslim Students’ Society (MSS), to cater for the interest of Muslim Students.  Unfortunately, when this society became well established, with many philanthropists supporting it, its officers chose to pitch tent with some self-styled Ulama, to oppose Ahmadiyya; consequently, Ahmadi students were eventually marginalized.

As if this was not enough, the hostility against the Ahmadiyya Jama’at was carried to various institutions of learning, especially institutions of higher learning. Apprehending this situation and its possible consequences, some Ahmadi students, studying at the University of Ilorin, brockered the plan to form another body.One the victims of such persecution was Maulim M.O. Tola Kareem. He therefore spearheaded the initiative to form AMSA, entirely and solely for Ahmadi students.  This idea was therefore, discussed and ratified with some other Ahmadi students in and around Lagos, at the Jama’at’s Annual Conference of 1983.

The idea was tabled before the then Amir, Maulana F.I. Anweri, with the Draft Constitution of the proposed Association, who in turn sent it to the Huzur for ratification and blessing.  This eventually came and in 1984, the Association was formally inaugurated with the “Ahmadi Muslim Students’ Association” (AMSA).

The pioneer members of the Association included: Mallam A.O. Muhammad (its first President), Bro. Zikrullah Eniola (first Secretary General), Brothers Tahir Salman (first Financial Secretary), Muallim M. Tola. Kareem,. S.O. Lawal, Musilihu Kolawole Uthman, Musa Lakunle-Bello, Taoheed Ola. Shoboyede, A.W.A. Adeoye and Abass Iromini, Sisters A. Timehin, (the first lady President), S.I. Oresanya, Fatimo Azeez and some others.

At first, the activities of the association were centralized, due to the hostility (especially, that of the MSS) against Ahmadiyya.  But later, the association became fairly well established enough to operate on campuses of institutions of learning and in many states of Nigeria.  This association also started an annual convention on a rotational basis.  To further strengthen the missionary activities of the association, an Editorial Board was constituted and charged with the publication of the first magazine – Al-HIKMAH.

In another development, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV(r.a.), during his august visit to Nigeria in February 1988 gave the instruction to the effect that male and female members of the association should no longer operate together, as it was hitherto in practice.  In compliance with this instruction therefore, there emerged male and female chapters of the association, with separate executives.  The ‘Centenary’ National President of the Male Chapter of the Association was Brother Shakirud-Deen A. Abdus-Salaam while that of the female chapter was Sister Toyibat Durojaiye.

This piece is taken from the website of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria.

Read original article here: Islam in Africa Watch