Hamzat Urges Religious Leaders to Balance Technological Advancements with Spiritual Values
Kehinde Adeleye
During the fourth Annual Ramadan Lecture and Iftar, Lagos State Deputy Governor Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat emphasized the importance of religious leaders guiding their congregations to balance technology adoption with spiritual values.
Hamzat encouraged religious leaders to promote understanding of Artificial Intelligence (AI) advancements in a religious context and maintain a God-centered perspective.
The Deputy Governor’s remarks highlighted the potential influence of AI on society and the need for religious communities to acknowledge its impact while upholding their spiritual beliefs.
He acknowledged the rapid progress of AI and advised clerics to explore ways to communicate its implications and reinforce the idea that humans are guided by faith in God rather than by technological advancements.
Hamzat also underscored the importance of preserving the legacy of parents, particularly those who have passed away, highlighting that remembering and honouring parents maintains continuity and connection in the family structure.
In conclusion, the Lagos State Deputy Governor urged religious leaders to embrace technological progress while fostering a balance between innovation and spirituality, ensuring that faith remains central in the lives of their congregations.
Earlier in his speech, the Organiser of the Special Prayer, a Member of the Federal House of Representatives, Mushin Constituency II, Hon. Oluwatoyin Fayinka urged the Muslim faithful to coexist peacefully and extend love and affection to everyone, irrespective of their faiths.
He noted that Islam teaches that all humans are created by Allah and belong to one family. Speaking further, he stated that he is motivated to sustain the programme as the Ramadan period is a time to seek forgiveness and appreciate the love and goodness of God to mankind.
He described the late Oba Mufutau Olatunji Hamzat as not only a leader but also a beacon of hope and a champion of unity, adding that his unwavering commitment to serving others, irrespective of their background and beliefs, left an indelible mark on all who knew him. He added that organising a special prayer in his memory annually is to remember his good deeds and to let God know that he delivered His message appropriately.
In his lecture titled Justice, Sheikh Almudeen Mubarak stated that justice means equality and charges everyone in the country to treat every individual equally and fairly.
