Our Activities
Our Activities in Lagos
In recent years, the Crescent Bearers (1939), Lagos has become more intentional and
deliberate in
fostering and promoting its ideals among its members and the wider Muslim Ummah in Lagos
through religious and community-centred educational, religious and socio-cultural
activities.
These activities fall into five categories:
- Maintenance and or refurbishment of Crescent Bearers Mourners’ pavilions in some public cemeteries.
- Charitable support to improve educational facilities and infrastructure in Muslim Schools.
- Building of a Masjid and Islamic Cultural Centre.
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Research work and papers to promote the education of Muslims in Lagos
- Crescent Bearers (1939), Lagos commissioned Ninalowo/Olurode Report on Muslim Education in Lagos a landmark, 20??
- Crescent Bearers (1939), Lagos commissioned Animashaun Report on ???, 20???
- Training Muslims teachers on modern tools and method of teaching.
These activities, are wholly funded through donations or special levies imposed on Crescent Bearers, and are worthy of brief recounting.
Maintenance and or refurbishment of Crescent Bearers Mourners’ pavilions in some public cemeteries.
The activities include the reconstruction, where necessary, or the refurbishment, and maintenance of mourners’ pavilions at the Atan Cemetery, Akoka, on the Lagos Mainland, the Abari and Okesuna Cemeteries, both on the Lagos Island. The idea behind the pavilions is to provide a comfortable place for mourners to sit and relax, while awaiting funeral processions to arrive for internment; and during religious memorial / remembrance.
In recent years, the Crescent Bearers (1939), Lagos took proactive public-interest action to prevent the pavilions from being destroyed or converted to commercial use by private organizations whom the maintenance of these cemeteries were outsourced to by some local government authorities in Lagos. The Crescent Bearers also succeeded in upholding its proprietorial interest in the land on which the Atan Cemetery pavilion stands, in the face of attempts to take over the land.
More recently, the Crescent Bearers have discussed and is set to take up, with the owners of private cemeteries, the issue of proper interment of deceased Muslims to ensure they are laid down facing the qibla. This issue arose because of the disregard, or lack of sensitivity of the owners to how important it is for the peaceful repose of faithful Muslims that they are laid down in their graves facing the qibla.
Also under consideration is the pressing need to address the issue of acquiring land for the building of Muslim cemeteries, and to pursue more vigorously in concert with other stakeholders the return of the Obalende Praying Grounds, allocated by the colonial government to the Muslim Ummah in Lagos.
Charitable support to improve educational facilities and infrastructure in Muslim Schools.
Charitable support to facilities in Muslim schools, the poor, elderly and others on the margins of
society. This is actualised by annual donations to hospitals, facilities for the deaf and dumb, homes for
the elderly, and orphanages.
Periodically, the Crescent Bearers make donations of teaching materials, including ICT to Muslim Schools in Lagos, in addition to undertaking infrastructure refurbishments in the Schools
Building of a Masjid and Islamic Cultural Centre
The Crescent Bearers Masjid and Islamic Centre was built at Abijo GRA, Lekki, Lagos. The internationally acclaimed structure was handed over to the residents of the Abijo community to commemorate the 83rd Anniversary of the Association.
Research papers and training of teachers.
The support of Muslim education in Lagos is informed by the idea of education as a social catalyst for the promotion, protection and advancement of the common interest of Islam and the Muslim Ummah in Lagos.
However, the environment under which the idea is now being pursued is seriously different and markedly more challenging than when the Crescent Bearers was founded in 1939. Unlike the situation at the time and its immediate succeeding decades, Lagos society is now crassly materialistic, more culturally permissive, and characterized by weakening extended family and other solidarity ties, reflecting huge deficits of family and religious values.
To this end, the Crescent Bearers (1939), Lagos in 2005 commissioned two research consultants from the University of Lagos, the sociologists, Professor Bayo Ninalowo and Professor Lai Olurode to study the problem and provide an empirical data base to confirm the perception and proffer solutions aimed at reversing the trend. Their findings confirmed the perception of decline.
In 2022, and in furtherance to the Ninanlowo/Olurode study, the Crescent Bearers commissioned Dr Bashir. O. Animashaun of the Department of History & International Studies Lagos State University, Ojo to carry out research on the state of Muslim education in Lagos State; Trends, Challenges and Policy responses. Both research papers informed the decision of the Crescent Bearers to tackle the problem by embarking on training series of Muslim teachers across public and private Muslim primary and secondary schools in Lagos. The maiden edition took place in May 2024 and the second in the series is scheduled to come up in November 2024. It is hoped that this will strengthen Muslim education in Lagos and curb the declining enrolment of Muslim students at all levels of the educational system— primary, secondary, tertiary—in Lagos.
With the considerable changes to the economic cultural, political and social landscape of Lagos Island, comes the implication on the definition and understanding of the territorial boundaries within which to undertake any major exercise progressively. Due to increased demographic movements from Lagos Island to its conurbations, such an exercise require coverage of the five divisions of Lagos State
Download Our Education Research Report
THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
A compendium of thoughts and opinions of Bearers expounded from the timeless wisdom of the Noble Qur’an and Sunnah.
Download Our Surat
Training Muslim Teachers
THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE OF CRESCENT BEARERS (1939), LAGOS.
The education committee is saddled with the responsibility of activating interventions in the education sector to further the aims and objectives of the association. In fulfillment of its objectives, the committee's duties include organising training sessions and seminars, initiating research on topical issues, and advising the government on policy issues bordering on education.
Since its inauguration, the committee has ensured the promotion of education in the Ummah by generating ideas on educational best practices, conducting research on the education of Muslim youth, provision of well thought out solutions to the educational challenges of the Muslim Ummah in Lagos State as well as conducting training sessions and seminars for Muslim Teachers across public and private Muslim primary and secondary schools in Lagos State.
Quite recently, the Committee organised a Teachers’ Conference themed “Future Focused Education: Leading 21st Century Learners” to equip Muslim Teachers with skills that will enable them foster the common interest of Islam and the Muslim Ummah in Lagos. The Teachers’ Conference was a remarkable success and had about 200 participants from numerous schools across Lagos State, asides several virtual participants.
The training was divided into four impactful sessions of exhilarating learning experience. The first session of the training was titled “The Intentional Educator” and it was facilitated by astute researchers and educators. The second session of the training was focused on safeguarding the lives of the younger generation.
It was an interactive session moderated by an experienced educator and youth counselor, and one of the guests on the 8-man panelists for the session was from the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency. The last two sessions were tagged “Professional Standards for 21st Century Teachers” and “Integrating Technology in Classroom Activities” which were targeted at unraveling the current trends in the educational sector.
Another event is being planned with programs that speak to Safeguarding and Child Protection, the International Educator, Professional Standards for 21st Century Teachers, Integrating Technology into Classroom Activities, Developing Effective Lessons and Learning Activities.
The Committee's goal is hinged on ensuring continuity of learning through activities that are geared towards promoting education among the Ummah, thereby assisting the Lagos State Government on policy issues concerning the educational sector.
Crescent Bearers (1939), Lagos empowers teachers with modern teaching techniques.
In line with its mission to empower educators, Crescent Bearers (1939), Lagos, successfully trained 100+ teachers in the use of technology, particularly gamified learning techniques at the training session, held on Saturday, January 11, 2025.
The training session (second in the series) was a resounding success, drawing participants who actively engaged in the conference. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, highlighting a well-organized, interactive, and enriching experience for educators. Participants praised the training structure, the variety of sessions, and the practical strategies shared by the facilitators.
A key highlight was the use of technology, especially gamified learning techniques, which resulted in constructive noise and made the sessions both informative and engaging. The collaborative and innovative learning approaches fostered an atmosphere of shared knowledge, inspiring teachers to rethink traditional teaching methods.
The Chairman of the Education Committee of Crescent Bearers (1939), Lagos, Bearer Kemi Pinheiro, pledged the association’s commitment to empowering teachers while urging them to acquire more knowledge through such exercises.
Two officials from the Lagos State Government were in attendance. Mrs. Bopo Oyekan-Ismaila, Permanent Secretary of the Teaching Service Commission, presented a paper on Neurodiversity and Inclusion, while Azeez Aliu participated in a panel discussing Lagos State's strategies on Neurodiversity and Inclusion in the education system.
Participants noted several key takeaways from the training, including the implementation of online games for student engagement, the incorporation of interactive and collaborative learning techniques to foster teamwork and creativity in classrooms, and methods for blending technology with traditional teaching, emphasizing the use of Google Classroom to enhance teacher-student interaction.
The Lead Consultant/Facilitator of Brainy Oaks Education Consultants, Mrs. Oyinkan Afolabi emphasized the essence of future-focused training for teachers leading 21st-century learners. The goal was to equip educators with the knowledge, skills, and mindset to navigate the dynamic and evolving landscape of education.
“This training aimed to empower teachers to meet the needs of a diverse, tech-savvy, and globally connected generation of learners. Teachers as lifelong learners and ethical role models by developing competencies in pedagogy, classroom management, and subject expertise while embodying professionalism through ethics, adaptability, and commitment,” Afolabi stated.
She further highlighted the importance of the power-packed panel discussion on neurodiversity and inclusion at the training, which aimed to foster awareness, empathy, and strategies for embracing diverse cognitive abilities, ensuring equitable learning environments, and empowering all students to thrive.
Crescent Bearers (1939), Lagos: Pioneering Muslim Education
Scholarship Programme
For 85 years, Crescent Bearers has advanced secular education among Muslims in Lagos State, bridging the gap between Muslim and Christian students.
Addressing Educational Decline
In response to Nigeria's declining educational standards, a comprehensive scholarship program for indigenous Lagos Muslim students across various Nigerian universities was launched. This initiative promotes qualitative education and empowers the next generation of Muslim leaders.
Crescent Bearers Scholarship Endowment Fund
Established through voluntary member contributions, our fund supports deserving students of Lagos extraction. Over 450 indigenous Lagos Muslim students have benefited from our scholarship program.
Our Mission Continues
Crescent Bearers (1939), Lagos remains committed to empowering Muslim youth through education, ensuring a brighter future for Lagos State and Nigeria.
