According to him, the course focused on issues of change management, leadership in Islam, the role of women in community development, and the re-interpretation of selected Qur’anic verses that have historically been misunderstood and, in some cases, hindered development efforts.

“We introduced participants to strategies for bringing about change in their communities, drawing from Islamic principles. We also examined leadership in Islam, including how the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) led his community,” Dr. Zagun explained.

He noted that Muslim chiefs were deliberately included in the programme due to their influential roles at the community level, adding that their participation would help strengthen efforts to promote socio-economic development.

Dr. Zagun expressed gratitude for the successful completion of the course and announced plans to institutionalise the initiative. He revealed that the department has agreed to organise similar short courses every three months to continually update Imams and Muslim chiefs on emerging issues and effective leadership models.

“We expect that from this course, Imams will adopt new ways of mobilising their communities and re-engineer their approaches to development to enhance rapid socio-economic growth,” he added.

On his part, the Municipal Chief Imam of Adentan, Sheikh Mohammed Mutawakil Abubakar, described the programme as an eye-opener, noting that it underscored the importance of personal transformation as a foundation for community change.

“One of the key lessons we learned is that change starts from within the leader. Before you can change your community, you must first change yourself,” he said.

Sheikh Mutawakil Abubakar explained that participants were taken through the stages of change, the challenges associated with it, and how to manage and sustain transformation in the face of modern societal problems.

He emphasised that Imams must go beyond the confines of the mosque and actively engage in the developmental needs of their communities.

“As Muslims, we should be agents of change and serve as the compass of transformation in our societies,” he stated.

While acknowledging that many Imams are already making efforts in their own capacities, the Chief Imam admitted that much more needs to be done to achieve meaningful impact.

“This course has opened our eyes to new ideas and practical ways of confronting the challenges in our communities,” he said.

He used the opportunity to encourage Imams who did not participate in the programme to continuously seek knowledge and skills that go beyond spiritual guidance.

“An Imam’s role is not only to lead people spiritually but also to contribute to the development of the community. Our society is evolving, and we must keep learning to effectively respond to its challenges,” he urged.

The organisers expressed hope that the knowledge and strategies shared during the programme would translate into tangible development outcomes across Muslim communities in the country.