DCM SPEECHES

Chargé d' Affaires Thomas P. Furey

Remarks

Al-Habibiyya Academy Nigerian Muslim Merit Award

Saturday, June 24, 2006
National Center for Women Development, Abuja
10:00 am

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Assalamu Alaikum - Peace be upon you.

Ambassador Campbell has asked me to tell you all how much he regrets that he cannot be here today. He wanted you to know how very honored and humbled he feels to be nominated for the Al-Habbibiyyah Muslim Merit Award. And he asked me to make a few remarks on his behalf.

And so, on behalf of Ambassador John Campbell, it is my privilege to receive the Al-Habbibiyyah Muslim Merit Award. And I thank you most sincerely for considering the U.S. Embassy's outreach programs towards the Muslim community as outstanding and worthy of this honor.

I am truly impressed with the efforts of the Al - Habibiyyah Academy to promote better understanding of Islam and its true teachings to both Muslims and non-Muslims to ensure peace, tolerance and a better future for the global community. I know that many on my staff were deeply touched by the Ramadan feeding program held at the Al - Habibiyyah mosque last November.

In the US, many Americans volunteer their time and money for feeding programs during religious holidays. It was indeed an honor for those that were able to contribute and participate in the Al - Habibiyyah program to serve the poor and underprivileged in Abuja - our home away from home - along side our Muslim brethren during Ramadan.

The Prophet Muhammed, Peace be Upon Him, is reported to have advised that purity is half of faith, prayer is light and charity is a proof. Americans - Christian and Muslim alike - understand the importance of charity or zakkat.

The programs cited in the award bestowed on Ambassador Campbell reflect the true nature of the American society and the values that are important parts of America's moral fiber. Americans believe that no one should be treated differently because of the color of their skin, where they were born, or what they believe. We reject all forms of religious intolerance, and we grieve when people are the victims of religious bigotry.

The American Embassy has remained engaged with Nigerian Muslims and other communities to promote mutual understanding, especially among Nigeria's youth. Just this past week, the Embassy sponsored two young Nigerian football players -- one a Muslim and one a Christian -- in a US program called the "World Cup Sports Initiative." As a part of this program, secondary-school football players from 13 countries, joined together for a week of exhibition games and training sessions before heading out to watch the US and Ghana play in Germany on Thursday.

Today's youth are not only the pride of their parents but also tomorrow's leaders. These children will bring back with them the ability to work as a team with members of many faiths and backgrounds.

Americans have had the privilege to work directly with northern Nigerian opinion leaders and we have learned much from your experience. Most notably, in July 2004 the Institute for Islamic Legal Studies at the Ahmadu Bello University co-sponsored a conference on "Implementation of Shari'a in a Democracy" with the Washington-based Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy.

And we are pleased to partner with the Muslim community, as we do with other communities, in many of our other programs. Our programs in Nigeria are aimed at empowering communities, creating jobs and building hopes for future prosperity.

For example, we have the International Visitors Leadership Program that sends up-and-coming leaders in the community to the US to exchange ideas with their colleagues in the US and from around the world; the Ambassador's Self-Help program that gives out small grants to worthwhile organizations seeking to improve the lives of the people in their communities; the Youth Exchange and Study Program that sends young Muslim students to study in the U.S.; the ACCESS Micro-Scholarship program that provides scholarships to talented needy secondary students, currently from Kano and Zaria, so that they can complete their studies; and the "Shared Futures" Program that strives to build the US relationship with Muslim and disadvantaged communities around the world. In Nigeria we have donated 10,000 education kits and 1,500 sewing machines to underprivileged communities as part of the Shared Futures Program.

Each of these programs has at its base better understanding, mutual respect and peace between people of all faiths and backgrounds. Two of these programs, the Youth Exchange and Study program, as well as the International Visitors Leadership program, have exposed many Nigerian Muslim youth, scholars, clerics and journalists to "Islam in America." Many of you have participated in these programs, including Imam Fu'ad Adeyemi. And, I am pleased to report, returning participants have confirmed that America does indeed honor your faith.
Islam is a religion that brings hope and comfort to more than a billion people around the world, including more than 7 million American Muslims. In Nigeria, home to the largest Muslim community in Africa, we have had the honor to participate in Ramadan Iftars with Muslim and Christian leaders across the country in our efforts to promote dialogue and understanding.

I want to inform the entire Muslim community through this forum that "America values your friendship." This award shows that we are making some progress, and I hope we will continue to work together to promote dialogue, understanding and tolerance for a better and more peaceful future.

Thank you

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