Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has today organised its monthly Inspiring Leadership Interactive Reflection Series (ILERIS) which took place today 28th November at the head office in Kano. The organization hosted the well-known Islamic scholar as well as politician, Sheik Ibrahim Khalil who is also the Chairman Council of Ulama, Kano branch.

In his opening speech, the Senior Training Officer, Malam Ahmad Yakasai who represented CITAD’s Executive Director, Dr. Yunusa Ya’u, explained to the guest the purpose of the ILERIS which was to go beyond the classroom trainings, to invite successful persons who attained achievements from their own struggles, to tell youths how they made it, to share challenges they have experienced and how they overcome it. He further explained to the participants that CITAD has been inviting inspiring mentors from the Civil Society members, academicians, civil servants, politicians as well as from private sectors. However, CITAD in this case invited a mentor with unique personality of being an Islamic scholar, a politician and at the same time a businessman. He urged the participants to listen carefully and tap from the knowledge of the Sheik.

Sharing his life story with the participants, the Islamic scholar who addressed himself simply as Ibrahim Khalil explained that during his childhood, he had a conflict of interest between what he chose to study (Islamic education) and his family’s choice (western education). This has however, delayed his completion of study as he had to study Islam before going back to school to acquire the western education. As a result, Malam Ibrahim has acquired a lot of Islamic knowledge and is popularly known across Nigeria as one of social Islamic scholar.

During his school time at BUK where he studied at the faculty of Education, he had always been the oldest among all his colleagues as well as lecturers, but his lecturers always treated him with utmost respect as he happened to be lecturer’s teacher in terms of Islamic religion learning. The sheik also respected each one of his lecturers and never did anything to undermine them or make them feel uncomfortable with his presence. Similarly, whenever he wanted to correct one of them, he used a case study politely and indirectly in such a way that they wouldn’t feel uncomfortable especially in the presence of their other students.

Inspiring the participants, the sheik further explained that our destinies are written by ourselves and therefore, we have the sole responsibility of remaining either rich or poor and good or bad. This was because everything that will facilitate self fulfilment and achievement has been provided by the Almighty God and humans are capable of achieving whatever they desired for. He stressed that “Time Management” and appropriate “Plan” make a better life.

Speaking about his self-principles, the sheik explained that he does nothing without having a good understanding on it, adding that knowledge and philosophy has always been his guide even in his daily life and has respect for persons with sound knowledge and philosophy.

When asked about his politics, the explained that he’s in politics to make a positive impact in people’s lives as most politicians go into politics to enrich themselves.

The sheik described himself as a scholar, a farmer, a politician and a businessman.