A former Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has urged Muslims to accept secular education as a form of acquiring more knowledge to promote Islam and its teachings. He also urged them to support one another in every way in order to be able to play significant roles towards national development. Alhaji Mahama was speaking at the annual National Muslim Achievers Awards Night and launch of a magazine, the Laurat Magazine, organised by Premium Debit Consult to reward Muslims who had excelled in various fields of endeavours. It was also to reward institutions and individuals, as well as non-Muslims, who had impacted positively on the teachings and values of Islam and Muslim communities, their livelihoods, health, education and socio-economic lives. The awards night was also used to shed off the misconceptions and negative perceptions about Islam and Muslims, hence the recognition of outstanding Muslims to serve as role models for Muslim youth in particular and society as a whole. Alhaji Mahama, who spoke on the theme, “Empowering Muslim Youth for National Development”, said the youth should do well in seeking knowledge to be able to continue and project the image of Islam. He added that the issues of the past which prevented Muslims from enjoying secular education had to be reconsidered to allow the youth to explore other kinds of education, in addition to Arabic studies. He also called on Muslim parents to do well to invest in the education of their children and support in instilling morals and social values in them. The Chief Executive Officer of Premium Debit Consult, Madam Laurat E. P. Passah, said the Muslim community, for some time now, had been relegated to the background in respect of secular activities hence the awards to appreciate their efforts. “It is the responsibility of every Muslim in the country to rally behind one another and support the changing of the perception of Islam to upgrade the significance of Muslim communities towards national and economic development,” she said. Speaking on behalf of the 17 awardees, Mr Mohammed Ahmed Nasir, the recipient of the Imam of the Year award, lauded the effort of Premium Debit Consult and called for mote support in helping to recognise the efforts of Muslims who had distinguished and dedicated their lives to promoting the teachings of Islam.