Vice-President Namadi Sambo led eminent personalities to commission the newly renovated Ilorin Central Juma'at Mosque, Ilorin in Kwara State on Sunday. ADEKUNLE JIMOH reports.

The big men were there in large numbers. The influential Islamic leaders and scholars gathered in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on Sunday for the grand opening of the renovated Ilorin Central Juma'at Mosque. The project cost N1.9 billion.

Human and vehicular movement around the popular Emir's Palace in the city centre came to a halt. A detachment of security personnel comprising the military, and police, official of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) maintained security. With them, officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Kwara State-owned Traffic Management Authority (KWATMA) who were at major road intersections and strategic locations attending to traffic.

The tattoos and inscriptions on the bodies of the horses stationed in conspicuous places added colour and aesthetics to the event.

Following the call for Juma'at prayers which took place 3:10pm, the main auditorium and outside of the mosque overflowed with worshippers. The shoving because of the large number of worshippers.

Vice President Namadi Sambo, Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Tambuwal and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Sa'ad urged Islamic clerics to preach the correct tenets of Islam. Sambo said the call was borne out of the current security challenges in the nation; Tambuwal said such teaching was the antidote to peace.

Sambo noted the spirit of sacrifice behind the actualisation of the project despite the downturn in the economy.

The mosque, he said, will contribute to religious tourism and enhance economic activities.

The Sultan, who noted that the project's fund was raised by Christians and Muslims, called for the replication of such attitude among Nigerians to show unity.

He said: "A project like this that was made possible by the contributions of people from different faith deserves our commendation. We must be ready to replicate the gesture in all that we do in this country for if we are able to do such then things will be better. I, therefore, call on my fellow Nigerians from all walks of life to come together in the spirit of unity and let's build the nation together."

Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, who chaired the fund- raising for the mosque in 2009, urged Nigerians to take a cue from the success of the project and contribute to the development of their communities.

Aliyu, represented by his Chief of Staff, Prof Mohammed Yahaya, said the project was completed in record time, praising the foresight of those responsible for the idea and those behind it.

They praised former Governor Bukola Saraki, now a Senator, for driving the project. They called on worshippers to ensure proper maintenance of the mosque.

Saraki expressed delight about the fulfilment of a dream.

He assured Kwarans that the project was just the beginning of good things to come to the state.

Governor AbdulFattah Ahmed described the mosque as a unifying symbol for Muslims across the country.

Ahmed said the manner of actualising the project should be a lesson to Nigerians that genuine brotherhood is possible among the people.