Kunle Adelabu
-To commission Central Mosque
The Ansar – Ud – Deen Society of Nigeria, Igbogbo branch, has rolled out drums in celebration of 50th anniversary of the group with record achievements.
The Ultra – Modern Mosque worth over N30million built by the Society in Igbogbo will also be commissioned during the celebration.
The occasion also presented the opportunity for remembering and honoring the founding fathers of the society in Igbogbo.
Chieftains of the society at a press conference held at the secretariat of the association along the Igbogbo/Bayeku Road on Saturday, August 13, 2022, outlined the activities put in place to celebrate the anniversary which commenced on Friday.
Alhaji Nureni Ayoade, Chairman, Ansar-Ud-Deen, lgbogbo branch, speaking at the occasion, thanked the founding fathers and others that have helped in the establishment of the society and its growth.
He commended the anniversary planning committee led by Alhaji Jamiu Shonubi for the programmes put in place for the celebrations.
The branch Chairman, while also commending the Women’s Wing of the Society which he said has been contributing greatly to the branch since inception, also charged them not to relent in their support.
The branch Missioner, Alhaji (Imam) Luqman Abdul – Rasaq, while also commending the founding fathers, said that the anniversary is about thanking those still living among them and their families and also remembering those that had departed.
“I want to join every other member to appreciate the founding fathers and mothers of this branch. They played significant roles in not just the development of Islam but also developments of Igbogbo. This anniversary is for them and we are going to celebrate them”, the religious leader said.
“They are the ones we are celebrating for their good work. We are also going to be remembering and honouring them because it is only when we remember and acknowledge the efforts of those before us that whatever what those actively engaged today are doing could also be remembered.
“We must acknowledge their foresightness in knowing that this location that we are today would serve us today and in the future”.
The Missioner, while tracing the breakaway of the society from Shams – El – Deen in Ikorodu to form the Igbogbo branch of Ansar – Ud – Deen, said that those initiators took the right decision considering the eminent standing of the branch among others.
Alhaja Titilayo Yusuf, Chairman of the Women’s Wing of the Society, in her own speech, thanked women who were part of the foundation of the society for their exemplary leadership.
She also recalled that women have been responsible for the establishment and maintenance of the children section, supporting the building of the central Mosque and the general development of the society.
Tracing the journey of the Society in the last 50 years, Alhaji Abdullateef Odeshina, said that the founding fathers were members of a Muslim Youth Team which was part of Shams – El – Deen in Ikorodu, but later returned to Igbogbo to form Ansar – Ud – Deen Society.
“Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Igbogbo Branch, was born through honesty, trust and togetherness which motivated late Alhaji Abdul-Rafiu Oyedele Adeniji and his Muslim colleagues (Youth team) founded an Islamic Organization named “Muslim Youth Movement” in 1961 to propagate, stabilize and develop Islam in Igbogbo Kingdom and its environs. The Movement strived under his leadership before his demise in 1969”, he recalled.
“In 1970 to be precise, the likes of Alhaji Wahab Afolabi Tekobo Odusanya, late Alhaji Abdullahi Adewale, late Alhaji Saidi Olatoye Idowu, late Alhaji Jimoh Idowu, Alhaji Abdul-Rasheed B. O. Aroyewun, Alhaji Tajudeen Babatunde Kadiri, Alhaji Yunusa Adesaogun and a host of others joined Shamsideen Society of Nigeria, Ikorodu Division Chapter, for more Islamic propagation in the Division of Lagos State.
“These great founders returned to Igbogbo and resolved to join the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria and founded the Igbogbo Branch between 1970 and 1971 which was formalized (inaugurated) in March, 1972.
“This was led by late Alhaji Abudu Adewale who was the 1st Branch Chairman, Sheikh Alhaji Chief (Imam) Sikirullah Tanimose Andu as the Branch Missioner, the indefatigable scribe – late Alhaji Hon. (Chief) Saidi Olatoye Idowu was the Branch Secretary, late Alhaji Jimoh Idowu was the Branch Treasurer, late Alhaja Uzamot Olounkemi Oladunni was the Chairperson Branch Women Committee and a host of others.
According to him, the Society’s achievements through its youth team includes several Islamic funfares, generation of funds and achievements of some laudable projects.
They also succeeded in the purchase of the Branch’s Permanent Site land in 1963/64, bought Branch Mosque’s Land at Demeke in 1974/75 and built the Mosque which was completed in 1977/78.
He also said that the Society sought the approval of the then Lagos State Government on the establishment of Ansar-Ud-Deen Primary School, Igbogbo, in 1980 and many other developmental projects.
In the recent time, according Secretary, the Society have:
“Held her 25th Anniversary celebrations coupled with Merit Awards for public/private individuals who had contributed to the growth of the society, and other deserved members in 1997.
“The branch embarked on the construction of an Ultra-Modern Central Mosque project”.
He said that the Mosque, which worth over N30.5m (Thirty Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira), would be commissioned as part of the 50th anniversary celebration.
“Thus, from the inception of the project (Central Mosque) in 2007 to this present stage of its completion and commissioning which is part of the commemorative events to mark the 50th Anniversary of the branch, it is important to note that over N30.5m (Thirty Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira) has been expended till date”, he added.
Some of the achievements recorded are Grouping of families at the weekly Assalatu programme, Annual Ramadan programmes which had helped the administration to attain the present development, Upliftment of the then branch Oreyo Annex to branch Division III and the proposed establishment of other Divisions in Baiyeku, Oreta, Agunfoye, Offin, Ibeshe town e.t.c, Commencement of Eid prayers at the Division 3, Oreyo in the year 2021, Staging several Waleemat Qur’an ceremonies, Successful staging of prorammes, like Last Friday of the Month Tahajud Prayer, Moulud Nabbiyy, Women Forum, Children’s Party, Harvest, Seminars/Conferences, Family Day, Welfare Day, and Vocational Training and others have also assisted the branch in her developmental programmes for members and towards the completion of the on-going Mosque project.
Aside the Special Jumat Service held last Friday and Press Conference, other activities announced for the commemoration of the anniversary are: Special Dua (prayer) for deceased members and other Muslim Umah on Sunday, August 14, Humanitarian Aids to Orphanage Homes and Widows on Wednesday, August 17, Environmental Sanitation Exercise at branch Mosques on Thursday, August 18, Royal Homage to Kabiyesi and Grand Chief Imam of Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Health Talk and Symposium on Saturday, August 20, 2022.
The grand finale would witness awards presentation, Commissioning of the branch Mosque, Aids for Summit University and Commemorative Lecture by Fadilat Sheikh Alhaji (Imam) Muyideen Ajani Bello.
