NIGERIA: World Muslim body inaugurates 4 projects for Ogun Police Command

By BASHIR ADEFAKA

“We have so many activities. As for those on scholarships, we have them from Nigeria here studying sciences, medicine in universities in Turkey, we have in Malaysia, we have in Egypt, we have in Saudi Arabia and we have in Nigeria.”

The World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY), on Friday May 23, 2025, unveiled Noor Al Huda Centre, comprising four projects critically needed by the Ogun State Police Command Muslim Community, Eleweran, Abeokuta, South West Nigeria saying the gesture were done as part of its social responsibilities to Muslims globally.

The Saudi Arabia’s organisation, headquarters in Riyadh the kingdom’s capital, is a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) operating under the watch of United Nations (UN), according to its Nigeria’s Director, Ihsham Mohammed.

The four newly constructed projects are a health centre for all sick persons across faiths in and around the state police command, an Arabic and Islamic school, a central mosque and one two-bedroom bungalow specially built and named dedicated to the community as Imam’s quarters.

Among dignitaries who attended the event were the Retired Assistant Inspector General of Police Zikrullahi Lanre Bankole, who incidentally once served as Commissioner of Police of the Ogun State Police Command, Modeerul Mahadul Arabiyy Ibadan, Oyo State, Dr. Nasir AbdulSalaam, the Onitori of Itori, Ewekoro, Ogun State, Oba AbdulFatahi Akamo, Deputy Director, Islamic Affairs, 2 Division Nigerian Army, Adekunle Fajuyu Cartonment, Ibadan, Lt. Col. Alyasau Adeleke Lawal, WAMY Nigeria Office Chief Accountant Alhaji Hussein Abubakar, representatives of Christian community led by Catholic Rev Paul Omotosho , a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), while the sitting Ogun State Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, physically attended the event as the chief host with the Command Chief Imam, Imam Omikunle Waheed, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), playing the host.

The four projects were commissioned separately by AIG Lanre Bankole (Rtd) who inaugurated the Arabic School block, the health centre commissioned by Lt. Col. AA Lawal, the Imam Quarters commissioned by Dr. Nasir AbdulSalaam of Mahadul Arabiyy and the central mosque commissioned by the Onitori of Itori, Oba AbdulFatahi Akamo.

Imam CSP Omikunle Waheed led the first Jumat service to be observed in the new mosque with glowing praises to the Saudi Arabia’s organisation, World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY), for the laudable projects started, completed and handed over to Ogun State Police Command Muslim Community on Friday.

Among the words of speakers who spoke at the event was that bothering on maintenance. One of the clerics said, “majority of us observe prayer to Allah but our handwork and character contradict the expectations of the religion we practice. We should make good use of the new Noor Al Huda Centre which consists of central mosque, Arabic school, health centre and Imam’s quarters.”

Both the Retired AIG, CP, Imam and others receivers of the projects promised ti ensure proper use of the projects.

In his Jumat sermon, Imam CSP Omikunle Waheed said, “We give our immense thanks to God almighty for his benevolence, for his mercies, for his blessings, for the retention of our lives, giving us the right guidance and for making us conscious Muslims, who are able to give their due obligation to Allah.”

In his admonition, he asked Muslims in attendance to realise that Allah did not create them for fun but to worship him and do good towards humanity. He warned that under no circumstances should any Muslim allow his wealth, children and property to deprive them from fulfilling their obligation to Allah.

Speaking to The DEFENDER in an exclusive chat after the event, Country’s Director of WAMY Isham Mohammed listed other contributions the organisation has made to humanity apart from projects. They include helping Nigerian students with scholarships to study various courses in universities abroad and in the country.

The WAMY Country told this global online newspaper that, “This is not the first project WAMY has done. The ones we did here were determined by the needs assessment of the Ogun State Police Command Muslim Community. When I visited the command, I saw that the needs they complained about was befitting mosque, school for their children and health facility for all.

“And then we said inshallah we were going to provide them with mosques school, clinic and a house to be used as their Imam’s quarters. Those were the things they lacked and alhamdulillahi (praise be to Allah) we have given those things to them today.”

On other WAMY activities and whether operating only in Nigeria or across West Africa, Ihsham AbdulSalaam said, “We are the Nigeria Office and we have Ghana, Benin Republic, Togo and Ghana under our Nigeria Office and I am the Director.

“We have so many activities like building mosques, boreholes, schools, houses for the homeless, and we have scholarships that takes care of students studying in the universities. Last year alone we gave scholarships that took care of over 200 students in universities and 300 orphans in ordinary and secondary schools.

“Feeding, also, we used to attend iftar programmes during Ramadan fasting where we provide food for fasting Muslims and, like this coming Sallah, we slaughter cows and share their meat to needy Muslims.

“We have so many activities. As for those on scholarships, we have them from Nigeria here studying sciences, medicine in universities in Turkey, we have in Malaysia, we have in Egypt, we have in Saudi Arabia and we have in Nigeria.”