Ilorin's Finest Hour

Date: 2012-12-21

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.

Source

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Tunde Kazeem     Rotimi Atere     Ahmed Dankaya     Garba Dogo     Gobir Organization Foundation     Otuka     IsDB     Ayedun     Abdulmumini Jawondo     Abdulmalik Bashir Mopelola Risikatullahi     Olateju Lukman     Bello John Olanrewaju     James Kolo     Otoge     Ibrahim Labaika     Henry Makinwa     Tunde Akanbi     Valsolar Consortium     Kamaldeen Ajibade     Aliyu Muyideen     Ekiti     Tope Daramola     Kazeem Gbolagade     Tescom.kwarastate.gov.ng     UNILORIN Alumni Association     Akeem Lawal     Geri-Alimi Split Diamond Interchange     Saliu Shola Taofeek     Oluwarotimi Boluwatife Adenike     Segun Abifarin     Babatunde Ajeigbe     National Union Of Road Transport Workers     Aliyu Muhammad Saifudeen     Abdulhakeem Amao     Shehu Adaramaja     ARMTI     Kwara-SAPZ Project     Idiagbon     Col. Adedipe     Alapansapa     Irepodun     Dar-Al-Handasah Consultants Ltd     Baba-Isale     Apaokagi     Bukola Saraki     Osuwa     Ahmed Mohammed Rifun     Yusuf A. Usman     Coalition Of Kwara North Groups     Suraj Tunji Oyewale     Sidikat Alaya     IFK     Abdulmumini Sanni Jawondo     Turaki Of Ilorin     Amusa Bello     Segun Olawoyin     John Mayokun Dada     College Of Arabic And Islamic Legal Studies     Suleiman Idris     ASMAU PLAZA     Yoonus Lawal     Muhammad Mustapha Suleiman     Hydro-electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission     Danladi     KwaraLearn     Shao     Bankole Omisore     Afeyin-Olukuta     Shuaib Abdulkadir     Micheal Imodu-Ganmo Road     AGF Abdulrazaq     Kudirat Arinola Lawal     Young Progressives Party     Adamu Ibrahim Sabi     Alabere     Code Of Conduct Tribunal     Kazeem Adekanye    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Ekweremadu     Yashikira     Kola Olota     Ubandawaki     Rice Farmers Association Of Nigeria     Suleiman Alege Kuranga     Garment Factory     Yakubu Dogara     Sheikh Ridhwanullah El-ilory     Olatunde Oyeyiola     Mohammed Saidu     Gbemisola Saraki     Eleja Taiwo Banu     Bayer Nigeria Limited     Jare Olatundun     Sanitation Exercise     Bello Abubakar     Facemasks     Baboko     Kpotum Mohammed Baba     Tsado Manman     Gbemisola Oguntimehin     Dan Iya     Offa Grammer School     Lawyers Unite Against Corruption     Mamman Saba Jibril     Offorjama     Olateju Lukman     Harrison Osauwagboe     Abiodun Oyedepo     Afonja     Awodun     Toun Okewale-Sonaiya     Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital     Quareeb Islamic Association     Abdulwahab Oba     Revenue Court     Yusuf Amuda Gobir     Col. Adedipe     Bashir Adigun     Balogun Fulani     Oba David Oyerinola Adedunmoye     Yunus Lawal     Olatunji Bamgbola     Labaeka     Apata Ajele Secondary School     David Oyerinola Adedunmoye     Ophthalmological Society Of Nigeria     MAI Akande     Abdulmumini Sanni Jawondo     Isaac Aderemi Kolawole     Elerin Of Adanla     Abubakar Atiku     Kwara United     Amada Jidda     Aliyu Sabi     Rotimi Atere     Akande Idowu Ayoola Muhammed     20 Billion Bond     Nigerian Supreme Council For Islamic Affairs     Tsaragi/Share     Abikan     Umar Saro     AIT Ilorin     Onikijipa     Amos Bajeh     Ilorin Emirate Staff Association     Shuaib Jawondo     Jide Oyinloye     Unicontinental Construction Company     Government High School (GHS), Adeta     Idris Amosa Oladipo Saidu     Kwara Metro Park     Mahee Abdulkadir     Okin Malt     Rotimi Oyedepo     Okoolowo