EXCLUSIVE: When Debola Williams Iftar with Muslim Friends went beyond breaking of fast
Iftar symbolises breaking of fast by Muslim faithfuls at sunset (often in Nigerian by 7pm or 19:00hrs) during ramadhan.
Iftar starts with taking fruits, drinking water and taking light meal. Nutritionists recommend that those who fast should take lots of water (normal temperature) or fruit juice to rehydrate the body and kidney especially.
The Prophet of Islam, Rosulilai, Muhammad (SAW) as variously narrated by his Companions in the Hadith was quoted to have said that blessed are those who fetes Muslims during Iftar in the month of ramadhan.
Perhaps this explains why, Debola Williams, a Christian and Chairman of Red Africa, a leading Brand Management and Advertising Company in Nigeria and Africa has made it a duty in the last 8 years to host his accomplished Muslim friends to Iftar in his Lekki, Lagos home every ramadhan. And that of this year, which held on Monday, April 17, 2023, was taken a notch higher.
After the Moghrib prayers in his outer compound by his guests and haven settled for the light meal at the expansive dinning table, Mr. Williams took his guests down memory lane how the annual Iftar started. The late Sound Soultan, he explained, was among the early persons who turned up and encouraged him to host Muslim friends to Iftar when he muted the idea to seat with his friends of Islamic faith during ramadhan.
The discussion later veered to how as young professionals, Mr. Williams admonished his guests to make a commitment to contribute more to the development of Nigeria by individually identifying a particular issue or project they would fund and monitor, on a consistent basis, what the outcomes and impact are. “The cumulative of our individual intervention will be the needed catalyst that will ultimately assist in the growth of Nigeria”, he asserted.
His admonition was echoed by a guest, Dr. AkinToye Akindele, Executive Chairman/Founder, Platform Capital Investment Partners spoke on the concept of People, Planet and Society. According to him, individuals, no matter their status, especially those who have, must as a matter of necessity, impact the planet and society through positive actions and interventions. He joked that those present must remind themselves that they owe the planet and society their own personal intervention for the good of the society.
The Iftar was rounded off with a spiritually-inspired sermon by the popular Nollywood Actor, Abdul Lateef Adedimeji who spoke on the need for Muslims to be of good character and emulate the perfect example of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) who according to him, had many accept Islam during his Prophethood on the strength of his impeccable character. He rounded off by praying for the host and his amiable wife, Mrs. Kehinde Williams and all his guests and Nigeria at large.
After a round of photographs, guests were seen off by the hosts with a promise to welcome them again at next ramadhan.
And the smiles on the faces of the Williams at the end of the Iftar says it all, that they indeed made a good host on these cream of Muslim friends that cut across corporate Nigeria, government, business world, entertainment and the media.
Roll call of Guests at the Iftar were: Dr. Waheed Olagunju, former MD/CEO of Bank of Industry (BOI); Dr. AkinToye Akindele, Tajudeen Ahmed, Director, Business Development, BUA Group, Rasheed Bolarinwa, President, Association of Corporate Affairs Managers of Banks (ACAMB); Tola Sunmonu;
Akintayo Sanwolu; Abdul Lateef Adedimeji, Nollywood Star; Maryam Taaoma Akapokagi, Popular Skits Maker; Moriam Bakare; Femi Bakare; Rasheed Jaiyeola; Hakeem Adeniji; Mohammed Kwajaffa; Bello Tukur; Danny Nazzal; Wale Olaleye, Editor, Thisday; Sadiq Williams and Muhammed Lawan Zanna, President/CEO, ORYO.
