The Perspective of Islam on Leadership, Youth Development and Nation Building
Fayokemi, Adigun Wasilat
Department of Liberal Arts (Islamic Studies Unit), School of Humanities, Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere, Nigeria
Abstract
The concepts of good governance, youth development, and nation-building stand as pivot pillars supporting the structure of prosperous, equitable, and sustainable communities. Islamic teachings offer profound insights into these areas, providing a framework that emphasizes ethical leadership, the nurturing of young, individuals, and the collective endeavor towards societal advancement. This article explores the Islamic perspective on these critical issues, highlighting the synergy between spiritual principles and practical governance that can guide the development of resilient and vibrant nations. It highlights some of the strategies of promoting good leadership as an instrument for youth development and nation building. It pointed out the evils in bad leadership and presents the principles of Islamic act of leading as an antidote to the problems of leadership, youth development and nation building.
Keywords: Perspective, Islam, Leadership, Youth development, Nation building
Impact Statement
This article presents the principles of Islamic act of leading as an antidote to the problems of leadership, youth development and nation building. As the global community faces complex challenges of governance, inequality, injustice, sycophancy and social cohesion, Islamic teachings provide not only a beacon of hope but a practical guide for creating a better world by providing a valuable blueprint for creating societies that flourish both materially and spiritually, ensuring a harmonious and dynamic progression towards a better future for all. The teachings presented in the article offer a rich tapestry of principles that, when woven into the fabric of modern governance, youth development, and nation-building, produce societies marked by justice, prosperity, and harmony. By rekindling these principles in contemporary discourse and policy-making, societies will embark on a path toward sustainable development and inclusive growth honoring the rich legacy of Islamic governance and its vision for humanity.
About The Author
Dr Wasilat Fayokemi Adigun is currently an Associate Professor of Islamic Studies (Islamic Education and Social Welfare) at the Department of Liberal Arts, School of Humanities, Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere, Nigeria. She started her career at the defunct College of Education, Ikere Ekiti as an Instructor at the School of Languages after emerging as the best NCE graduating student of the School. She received her Bachelor of Arts Education Degree in Islamic Studies from Lagos State University, Ojoo, Nigeria with 2nd Class (Hons) Upper Division. She later proceeded to University of Ibadan where she obtained her Masters of Arts in Islamic Studies and Ph.D from the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan. She has been actively involved in research, teaching and training on Islamic Studies, education, social welfare and gender studies. Her research interests are in the area of Islamic Education, Islamic Social Welfare, Islamic Theology, Gender Studies, Islamic Ethics and Morality. She served as the Head of Department of Islamic Studies in 2018 to 2020. She is presently the Chairman, Research Committee of the School of Humanities and also member of the Research Team of Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere (BOUESTI). She has conducted research and published articles in various areas of Gender Studies, Islamic education and social welfare and contemporary studies in both local and international journals. She is a fellow at International Institute for Muslim Unity (IIMU) and member of the International Council for Education, Research and Training (ICERT), and others. She received Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Global Educator Award-2022 for excellence in education, social welfare and contribution to education fraternity & society during the Indo-Global Education Summit (IGES-2022) on “Recent Transformations in Education, Health, Management, and Research” organized by International Council for Education, Research and Training (ICERT).
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