Date: 2017-02-06

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammed Sa'ad Abubakar III, has advised parents to monitor their wards on social media use.

The Sultan spoke at the weekend in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, at the N508 million foundation-laying ceremony of the proposed University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) Centre for Qur'an Memorisation.

The monarch, represented by the Emir of Tshonga, Dr. Haliru Yahayah, said Islam was a religion of peace and urged ummah to live in harmony with their neighbours.

He admonished Nigerians, particularly parents, to be careful and regulate the usage of social media by youths, noting that it is responsible for most of the crisis confronting the world.

"Let us be careful about the use of social media, we must regulate and sanction its usage at home. We must develop strategies on how to manipulate that space to our advantage because their reality is different from ours," the monarch said.

The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, described the day as historic, being the first time he prayed at the mosque.

According to him, the centre will facilitate the learning and memorisation of the Quran.

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, who was represented by Commissioner for Water Resources, AbdulRasaq Akorede, noted that memorisation of the Quran is a noble course of Allah. He urged Muslims to always reflect on its meaning.

Ahmed promised that his government will support the teaching of Islamic education to correct most misconceptions about the religion.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, said performance of students, who participated in the last competition at Al-Hikmah University prompted the Muslim community to establish the centre.

Chief Imam Prof Abdulganiyu Oladosu noted that only those who contributed generously to the cause of Allah will attain "piety, righteousness and Allah's consciousness".