By Oluseye Ojo
Sunday November 17, 2024 was historic to the Muslim elite, under the aegis of Crescent Bearers in Lagos. It was a day that they came together to take a stock of their impacts on the society within the past 85 years.
The milestone celebration took place at the MUSON Centre in Lagos. It was attended by dignitaries from all walks of life, including, families, friends, and well-wishers in honour of a legacy that began with 16 visionary young Muslim men in the humid streets of Lagos Island in 1939.
In the early 1930s, amid the social and economic challenges of colonial Lagos, a group of privileged young men noticed the barriers facing their less fortunate compatriots, particularly underprivileged Muslim children. They understood that education was not just a privilege but a pathway to empowerment.
The group’s founders—Mobolaji Odunewu, S.M. Onigbanjo, I.A.S. Adewale, A. Fatayi-Williams, M.R.B. Ottun, M.N. Ola Aboaba, M.O. Ekunsumi, N.A. Kekere-Ekun, R.A. Gbajumo, Ade Thanni, A.W. Williams, K.B. Shomade, T.A.B. Oki, K.A. Fashola, S.A. Fashola (who died as Olorunsola) and Hamzat O. Balogun, decided to act.
They convened to discuss the pressing need for an organisation dedicated to fostering Western education, while upholding Islamic values.
Thus, on November 11, 1939, the group – Crescent Bearers, or CB39, was founded. From that fateful day, their mission has been clear: to promote education, combat discrimination and unify the Muslim community in Lagos, regardless of sectarian divides. Today, their collective resolve has transformed the lives of countless individuals and left a significant imprint on the educational landscape of Nigeria.
Fast-forward to November 17, 2024, the spirit of unity was palpable as the organisation celebrated its enduring mission and legacy. Members of the group usually add the prefix “Bearer’ before their names.
The oldest members of the group include an elder statesman, Alhaji Lateef Okunnu (SAN); founder of Caverton Offshore Support Group, Mr Aderemi Makanjuola; boardroom magnate, Mr Akin Kekere-Ekun, whose wife, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, is the current Chief Justice of Nigeria as well as an eminent scholar, Prof Adele Jinadu.
The event was graced by Justice Kekere-Ekun; Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, and Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Mrs Noimot Salako-Oyedele; as well Tajudeen Gbadamosi, a Professor of History at the University of Lagos, who chaired the event.
The evening was thoughtfully curated with speeches from notable dignitaries, AbdulWasiu Ayodele Martins, the current chairman, who welcomed guests with a reflection on their past, said the association was committed to the education of Muslim children in Lagos State. He emphasised their undying commitment to fostering an environment conducive to learning, while embracing Islamic principles.
It was stated further that the Crescent Bearers has become a trans-generational movement, evolving from its initial 16 members to a closely knit group of 28 today, including some of Nigeria’s most respected figures.
Chairman of the occasion, Prof Gbadamosi, noted that the programme was not merely an observance of years gone by; it was a robust acknowledgment of the socio-educational impact the association has made since its inception.
The Crescent Bearers, according to him, have been pivotal in establishing Nigeria’s first Muslim secondary school in 1948, promoting the first multi-purpose mosque in 1955, and integrating Islamic education within Nigeria’s curricular frameworks.
Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, who underscored the association’s historical significance, also paid homage to their vision.
“It was not easy for a Muslim child to go to school back then, yet they came together and said we will help others achieve this,” he remarked.
The keynote address was delivered by renowned Islamic motivational speaker, Mrs Maryam Lemu, who reflected on the central theme of the programme: ‘Islam and Family Values – Building a Nation of Citizens, emphasised the essence of building a nation driven by compassion and understanding.
“Every gift, whether financial or spiritual, serves mankind and is a test from Allah,” she urged the audience, and reminded them of the importance of humility and kindness.
The group’s General Secretary, Olusegun AbdulQuadri Williams, and Liasu Adele Jinadu, also said the flame of commitment to education still burns brightly within the organisation.
Williams stated: “I think it is a privilege that we are able to continue the noble work that was started by the visionary founders of Crescent Bearers. They were extremely selfless, dedicated and passionate for the education of the Muslim child in Lagos.”
Jinadu also said: “I feel very happy that I am part of it because it has had an impact on my life and on the value of strengthening the Muslim world, particularly in Lagos State.”
Okunnu, in his address, noted: “I feel over the moon. I am happy because it is like going on outer space to see an organisation of a few young boys from Lagos Island, who left school about 11 years earlier with very Muslim backgrounds. They were good friends in school, who gathered under the late Alhaji Mobolaji Odunewu to form the Crescent Bearers to help. The group has been doing that over the decades – educating the Muslim child.”
Chairman of the Organising Committee, Mustapha Abiodun Jaji, reminisced about the organisation’s history and its sustained efforts despite challenges. “We are a small number, but we are making a significant impact,” he noted.
A trustee of the group, Hakeem Olusegun Oki, spoke fondly of the founding fathers’ vision. He acknowledged the significance of education for the underprivileged Muslim community.
Another member of the group Mustapha Oshodi noted that he has been a member of group for decades. “Since 1985 when I joined, it has been a lot of progress,” he said.
The event also featured cutting of the anniversary cake, which symbolised the continuity of their mission, hopes and aspirations for the future.