The New Director General and Chief Executive of the International Center for Islamic Culture and Education (ICICE), Abuja, Dr, Muhammad Jameel Labaran, has assumed duty.
Dr. Labaran, who was appointed by the Board of Trustees of the Center in February succeeded late Dr Kabir Kabo Usman, who died in December, 2025 (29th of Jumada al-Akhir, 1447) at a Hospital in Manchester, England, after an illness.
A statement by Abdulkadir Ahmed Ibrahim, Special Assistant (Media and Publicity) to the DG/CEO of ICICE, stated that the new Director General who hailed from Dambatta in Kano State was born in Maiduguri, Borno State on 22nd December, 1987, and attended Elkanemi College of Islamic Theology Primary and Secondary Schools, University of Maiduguri (BSc Chemistry), Nile University of Nigeria (MSc Industrial Chemistry), Robert Gordon University (MSc Procurement and Supply Chain Management) and University of Strathclyde (PhD in Design, Manufacturing and Engineering Management).
A certified Project Management Professional (PMP), and Member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (MCIPS, UK), Dr. Labaran is a multidisciplinary academic and institutional leader with a distinguished record in Islamic education, strategic governance, and institutional transformation.
Labaran, who was one of the pioneer staff members of the ICICE, began his service as a Qur’an and Islamic Studies teacher and later rose to senior leadership roles, including Admin and Quality Assurance Manager and Head of Iqra’ College, where he led strategic programme development and strengthened institutional systems.
His key performances at the ICICE/Al-Noor Mosque include the provision of strategic leadership to the Iqra’ College, overseeing Tahfeez, and adult Arabic programmes, ensuring curricular coherence, instructional quality, and alignment with Islamic values.
Labaran designed and implemented new educational programmes that significantly improved enrolment, optimised staffing, and generated substantial financial savings.
He was also the head of quality assurance and compliance initiatives, including development of internal policies, quality management systems, and procurement guidelines aligned with best practices.
Labaran played a key role in drafting institutional policies to support governance and board-level decision-making as well as
recruited, mentored, and managed educators and administrative staff, fostering a culture of professionalism, accountability, and service at different times.
His other skills include strengthening community trust and stakeholder confidence through effective reporting, transparent budgeting, and consistent programme delivery.
Labarn is one of the Visiting Imams of Friday and Eid prayers at Al-Noor Mosque, and sometimes translates the Khudbah (Sermons) delivered by other Imams at the Al-Noor Mosque from Arabic to English.
He has professional experience working in the United Arab Emirates, offering a combination of faith-grounded leadership, academic rigor, and practical execution.
Hitherto, he was a Part-time Lecturer at the University of Strathclyde, in Glasgow, Scotland, with expertise in digital transformation, quality management, Industry 4.0, and sustainable supply chains.
Labaran is credited with entrepreneurial and humanitarian leadership as Co-Founder of Kawudi Perfumes Limited and Founder of the Kandea Foundation (a humanitarian foundation focused on education, women empowerment, and social welfare).
While addressing Senior Management Staff of the ICICE immediately after assuming duty on Friday (8th May) at the Aminu Baba-Kusa Administrative Building of the Centre, the new DG sought the support and cooperation of all Staff to enable him discharge the onerous responsibilities of steering the wheel of Leadership of the organization successfully.
Labaran said he would evolve digital technology in the day to day running of the Centre to conform to international best practices that facilitate efficient and effective systems of administration for optimum results.
He paid tribute to the former Director General of the ICICE, late Dr Kabir Kabo Usman, describing him as a role model in the management and development of human resources, saying the late Dr Kabir Kabo was his leader, mentor and benefactor both at the Center and in the United Kingdom.
Labaran pledged to build on the Legacies of the late Kabo by working tirelessly to the best of his abilities and with Allah’s guidance to implement the Mission, Vision and Core Values of the ICICE.
The late DG was a respected scholar, administrator, public servant and widely known for his contributions to religious education, public sector reform and human capacity development in Nigeria and beyond.
In 2018, Dr Kabir Kabo was appointed the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of ICICE and worked tirelessly to take the Centre to greater heights through successful actualisation of its policies and programmes.
Under his stewardship, the Multi Billion Naira Al-Noor Mosque Expansion which he initiated reached 75% completion. It is a project he regarded as one of his final wishes and a lasting contribution to faith and community development.
The ICICE is the Custodian of Al-Noor Mosque and superintends Al-Noor Academy, Iqra College, Tahfeez Programme and other Educational as well as Philanthropic Units all situated at IBB Way, Wuse II, Abuja.
The Center, the Mosque and the other Component units were founded by a Philanthropist and Business Development Expert, Alhaji Aminu Baba Kusa.
