The National Mosque in Abuja has made history by appointing Prof. Iliyasu Usman, a renowned professor of Arabic and the first from the South East, as an Imam. This appointment marks a significant step toward inclusivity in the leadership of the mosque.
Prof. Usman, who is the first Igbo to hold this position, joins two other active Imams, Prof. Ibrahim Makari and Prof. Muhammad Kabir, in leading Juma’ah and daily congregational prayers. Sheikh Ahmad Onilewura, a fourth Imam from Southwest Nigeria, has been on extended sick leave and has not led prayers in a long time.
Usman’s appointment was announced by the South East Muslim Organisation of Nigeria (SEMON), which praised his dedication to Islamic scholarship and leadership. The organization hailed his new role as both a personal achievement and a divine responsibility to lead and serve the Muslim community.
SEMON also commended the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) under the leadership of its president-general, the Sultan of Sokoto, for promoting inclusivity in the country’s Islamic affairs.
The National Mosque, a 25,000-capacity landmark built in 1984 and opened in 1991, now has three active Imams alongside the Murshid, Prof. Shehu Ahmad Sai’d Galadanci, who serves as the overall head and spiritual guide of the mosque.
This appointment is seen as a unifying moment for Muslims across Nigeria, especially those from the South East, as it highlights the increasing diversity in Islamic leadership within the country.
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