Oyo Acting Gov Commissions New Premier Hotel Mosque

*…Commends Donor Kunle Adedigba For Honouring Late Father*

*…As Odu’a Investment Appreciates Oyo Govt For Donating Land*

Oyo State Acting Governor, Barr. Abdul-Raheem Adebayo Lawal, has commissioned a newly constructed modern Premier Hotel Muslim Community Mosque and Welfare Foundation Memorial Mosque donated in honour of late Alhaji Jimoh Atilola Adetomiwa Adedigba.

The commissioning ceremony was held on Sunday at the Premier Hotel Hill Ground, opposite the Cultural Centre, Mokola Hillside, Ibadan.

The Acting Governor described the late Adedigba as a generous man who contributed immensely to the development of his community. He commended the Adedigba family for their thoughtfulness in building and donating the mosque in honour of their late father.

Highlighting the history of the mosque, Barr. Lawal said the Premier Hotel mosque had hosted Juma’at services for over 35 years before it was marked for demolition to allow the expansion and modernisation of Premier Hotel. He said he secured a commitment from the family, particularly Mr. Kunle Adedigba, to rebuild the mosque in a modern style at a new site near the Premier Hotel.

According to him, the Oyo State Government played a prominent role in facilitating the land for the construction of the new mosque.

He commended Mr. Kunle and the Adedigba family for the project, noting that good parenting and values made the donation possible.

“Kunle, I must say you are well trained, and God is also guiding your path to have been so thoughtful to construct this modern mosque in honour of late Alhaji Adedigba. Both Islamic and Western education are very important for our children to succeed. Education is the best legacy. Without education, Kunle may not have been thoughtful enough to build a mosque for his late parent,” he said.

The guest lecturer, Chief Imam of Ansar-Ud-Deen, Sheikh Bashiru Olanrewaju, in his sermon, highlighted the importance of good deeds. He said acts of community service, righteous children, and other beneficial deeds remain a source of reward for the deceased.

According to him, Sadaqatun Jariyah includes building a mosque in remembrance of a late parent. He said those who truly believe in Allah will continue to be rewarded when their children do good deeds after them.

“You have your reward in Sadaqatun Jariyah while remembering your parents with good deeds,” the lecturer said, adding that both the children and the late parents would be rewarded.

He admonished wealthy people to spend in the cause of Islam and for the development of the people, stressing that wealth would not be taken to the grave and only good deeds would be remembered.

In his goodwill message, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Babatunde Misbahudeen, said mothers play an important role in the lives of children. He noted that Alhaja Adedigba was instrumental in the lives of her children, which made them remember their late father with the donation of a mosque.

On his part, the Group Managing Director of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Abdulrahman Yinusa, said the commissioning of the mosque is a reminder that “building is only the beginning; preserving what has been built is a collective responsibility.”

“Now that this mosque is here, we must all commit to its maintenance, sustainability and continued usefulness to the community. Let us keep it clean. Let us maintain it. Let us support its activities. Let us ensure that it remains welcoming to those who come to worship,” he said.

He added: “We spend much of our lives building careers, businesses, houses and institutions. But Islam reminds us to think beyond what we can see. What will remain after we are gone? The family of the late Alhaji Jimoh Atilola Adetomiwa has given us a beautiful answer through this mosque. They have chosen to create something whose benefit can continue beyond a single lifetime. May Allah accept it as Sadaqatun Jariyah.”

Yinusa said Odu’a Investment worked with the Oyo State Government to ensure a new site was provided for the mosque. “We are grateful that what began as a concern during the redevelopment has today resulted in this beautiful mosque, a testament to what can be achieved when we prioritise community and faith.”

He also acknowledged the Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency Engr. Seyi Makinde, for his support and approval for the provision of the new site. “His Excellency’s understanding showed his view that development should not displace communities, especially religious and faith-based communities.”

Dignitaries at the event included the Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Prof. Soliu Adelabu; Chairman, Civil Service Commission, Alhaji Qamorudeen Aderibigbe; Chairman, Muslim Pilgrims Board, Sheikh Hashim Atere; GM, Housing Corporation, Mr. Animashaun; and other stakeholders.