Nigeria’s international broadcasting Station, Voice of Nigeria (VON), along with the Federal Radio Corporation (FRCN), the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the nation’s media regulator, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) will on Saturday, April 8 host the annual Ramadan lecture in Kaduna State North West geopolitical zone.
The annual lecture, 17th edition with the topic, “Divorce And Its Consequences,“ will be delivered by Associate Professor, Bashir Aliyu Umar, the Chief Imam, Alfurqan mosque in Kano State, North West Nigeria.
The choice of the topic and the lecturer was apt going by the prevalent rate of divorce in the country, with Kano having the highest number, as one of the foremost Islamic centres with a high population of Muslims within and outside Nigeria.
Global Phenomenon
Divorce rate is a global phenomenon. The United Nations Gender Inequality Index, GNI, Divorce rate by country, 2023, rated the Maldives on top of the chart.
In Africa, Liberia, Central Africa Republic, Congo Brazzaville, Libya, Egypt and Algeria are countries with 40 per cent divorce rate.
Sri- Lanka has the lowest rate of divorce at 0.15 per cent of 1000 people, followed by Vietnam and Guatemala, with 0.2 per cent per 1000 residents. Saint Vincent and Grenadines, as well as South Africa were in the lower chart of the world population review on the divorce rate.
The month of Ramadan was quite auspicious for the topic as a period for spiritual rejuvenation, forgiveness and steadfastness.
Islam treats divorce as something permitted but not laudable hence, the holy book of Muslims- the Quran provides for reconciliation, through negotiated settlements between spouses themselves or the use of arbitrators from their families.
Roll Call
The Director General of VON, Mr Osita Okechukwu, and his counterpart from NTA, FRCN and NBC will welcome guests including the Vice President-Elect, Senator Kashim Shettima, the Governor Kaduna state, Nasir El Rufai, the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli at the event.
PIAK
