Lucknow: The National NGOs Conference 2025 commenced on Saturday at the Islamic Centre of India, bringing together over 1,000 representatives from social organisations, educational trusts, welfare networks and community development institutions across India.
The two-day conference, organised by the Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP) in partnership with the Islamic Centre of India, seeks to strengthen the NGO ecosystem through coordinated action in education, healthcare, livelihood support and skill development.
AMP Uttar Pradesh State Head Shaheen Islam anchored the inaugural session, which opened with Quranic recitation by Qari Qamruddin. AMP NGOConnect Head Mobin Beg welcomed participants and called for stronger linkages between organisations. Farooq Siddiqui, Head of AMP’s National Coordination Committee, emphasised the need for district-level networks, shared resources and structured collaboration. He noted welfare work requires institutional leadership and long-term planning for meaningful impact.
Uttar Pradesh Minister of State for Minority Affairs and Waqf, Danish Azad Ansari, urged greater cooperation between NGOs and government agencies. He highlighted the importance of skills development, entrepreneurship and improved access to welfare schemes. AMP President Aamir Edresy responded by reaffirming the organisation’s commitment to community-led and self-sustained development models.
Prof. Amitabh Kundu of the Institute for Human Development presented data mapping the socio-economic and educational status of Indian Muslims. He stressed removing systemic barriers related to gender, caste and religion, noting education and healthcare remain central to national development goals.
Dr Syed Zafar Mahmood, Chairman of Zakat Foundation of India, called for increased Muslim participation in governance at all levels, stating good representation in the governance apparatus benefits the community.
Education Foundation General Secretary Suhail Azani shared examples of coordinated community-giving, including AMP’s Sadqa Box initiative that supported over 5,000 families last year. Abdul Ahad, conference Organising Secretary, highlighted the extremely low Muslim representation in IITs, IIMs, AIIMS and NITs at less than one percent. He emphasised the need for robust academic preparation and leadership development.
Javed Mirza, Founder of the New Equitable and Innovative Education Association, presented a low-cost digital learning model offering over 60 online courses with strong participation from female learners, madrasa students and out-of-school children. Rural educator Sajid Husain and Jamia Millia Islamia’s Prof. Abdul Qaiyum Ansari proposed a South-North collaboration framework involving shared faculty resources, mentoring and student support networks.
Najmul Hasan Rizvi Najmi stressed the need for educational quality enhancement alongside holistic development, including career counselling and self-employment pathways. He urged NGOs and educators to adopt career-oriented guidance models matching youth aspirations with economic trends.
Participants engaged in discussions on collaboration, transparency, teacher training, resource sharing and structured community financing. The day concluded with an award ceremony honouring speakers, contributors and partner organisations.
Delegates expressed commitment to strengthening NGO networks ahead of the presentation of AMP’s 25-Year Roadmap for Educational and Economic Empowerment (2025-2050).
