High Divorce Rate: Clerics Call for Counselling Units In Mosques

Clerics have urged the establishment of marriage counselling units in central mosques to offer premarital guidance and post-marital support for Muslim couples. This call was made during the 2026 Ajase-Ipo Annual Imams Conference in Kwara State. The conference, themed "Imams and the Muslim Home," aimed to discuss the role of imams in sustaining Muslim marriages and crafting ideal Muslim homes.

Dr Haruna Sanusi Lafiagi, a guest lecturer and orator at Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, highlighted the alarming divorce rate in society. Lafiagi stressed that intending couples should receive extensive premarital counseling, as brief wedding talks often lack impact. He advocated for regular workshops and conferences to educate young couples about the roles, duties, and responsibilities of both parties in a marriage.

Lafiagi also suggested that imams provide post-marital counseling and encouraged couples to attend marriage seminars. Additionally, he urged imams to make their Friday khutbahs and other mosque lectures relevant to contemporary social issues, such as gambling, drug abuse, cultism, and money rituals. Furthermore, Olupo of Ajase-Ipo, Oba Ismail Bolaji Yahaya Alebiosu, supported the creation of dedicated marriage departments within central mosques to oversee premarital counseling and post-marital follow-ups.

The conference organizer, Alhaja Ramat Soliu Akonsi, emphasized that the annual event aimed to tackle challenges in Muslim homes and educate community members, with a specific session for women held during the 2026 conference.