The Muslim Congress has explained that the decision by many Muslim organisations to hold major camping and training programmes during the Christmas and New Year holidays is driven by practicality rather than imitation of other faith traditions.
TMC said the yuletide period remains one of the few extended windows in Nigeria’s calendar when working adults, professionals, artisans and students can step away from routine obligations to focus on spiritual renewal, personal development and community building.
In a statement on Tuesday, the organisation noted that clusters of public holidays around Christmas and New Year — including Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year celebrations — have over the years provided a convenient opportunity for faith-based organisations to organise intensive programmes without disrupting work schedules or economic productivity.
According to TMC, the practice aligns with global norms where religious groups maximise officially recognised holidays to deepen spirituality, build capacity and strengthen social cohesion.
The organisation also attributed the trend to what it described as unequal recognition of Islamic holidays in Nigeria, noting that the Federal Government and most states do not declare the Islamic New Year, Muharram 1, a public holiday.
“In the absence of institutional recognition for major Islamic milestones like the Islamic New Year, Muslim organisations have had to be strategic in maximising available free periods to build capacity, reform character and reposition the Ummah,” the statement said.
TMC stressed that fixing camping programmes during the yuletide was a pragmatic response to Nigeria’s public holiday structure, not an attempt to copy other religious celebrations.
Against this backdrop, the organisation announced that it would host thousands of delegates at the 32nd edition of its National Islamic Training Programme from December 24 to 28, 2025.
The annual spiritual and capacity-building camp will hold simultaneously in several states, including Ogun, Oyo, Edo and the Federal Capital Territory.
In Ogun State, which will host the South West Zone 1 edition, the programme will take place at Vanguards Academy along the Ijebu–Epe Expressway, Odosengolu. Participants are expected to include Muslim professionals, artisans, entrepreneurs, scholars and community leaders from across the region.
With the theme, “Guidance and Direction for Today’s Muslims,” the 2025 NITP is designed to address the challenges facing Muslims who are striving to balance faith, work, family responsibilities and ethical conduct in an increasingly demanding environment.
The organisers said many Muslims struggle to prioritise acts of worship such as prayer, fasting and charity amid economic pressures, while others experience spiritual dryness regardless of material success or hardship.
They added that time management challenges, burnout and loss of inspiration for righteous living have become common, making structured guidance increasingly necessary.
According to TMC, the five-day programme will offer Qur’an- and Sunnah-based solutions through daily worship sessions, lectures on purification of the soul, Islamic law, family values, youth development, peaceful coexistence and ethical neighbourliness.
The camp will also feature health-focused sessions on the prevention and management of depression, stroke and cancer, as well as professional and artisan symposia aimed at improving career visibility and the use of modern technology.
One of the highlights of the programme is a fiqh session on “Jurisprudence of Sale: Prohibited Transactions,” to be delivered by the Grand Mufti of the Conference of Islamic Organisations, Sheikh Dhikirullahi Shafii, on December 27.
The event will culminate in TMC’s 2025 Annual National Congress, which will feature reports, awards, inauguration of new chapters, constitutional updates and the launch of the organisation’s digital portal.
Speaking ahead of the programme, the Amir of The Muslim Congress, Alhaji AbdulWasi’i Bangbala, described the NITP as a deliberate investment in the spiritual, personal and professional growth of Muslims.
He acknowledged the economic sacrifices made by participants and assured them that the programme was designed to deliver value through experienced facilitators, practical sessions and strong support networks.
Registration for the camp is ongoing, with the organisers saying participation is highly subsidised. Interested delegates have been advised to contact the local organising committee for details.
TMC is a faith-based organisation committed to societal reformation through structured education, spiritual reorientation and collaborative platforms, with the aim of repositioning the Muslim community for leadership and service to humanity.
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