Olowu of Owu succeeds late Awujale as President-General of Ogun State Muslim Council
*As Council ratifies 2 female medical students for Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar Female Medical Scholarship Scheme managed by MUSWEN
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
Two Ogun State female medical students – Adegboye Rahmat Adedayo of Olabisi Onabanjo University and Egunsola Hafsah Omolola of Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja – were ratified as beneficiaries of the Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar Female Medical Scholarship under MUSWEN.
The Ogun State Muslim Council (OMC) has appointed the Olowu of Owu, Oba (Professor) Saka Adelola Matemilola, as its new President-General.
This is coming following the demise of Council’s former leader, the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, CFR.
According to the communiqué signed by the Secretary-General of OMC, Asiwaju Kamaldeen Akintunde (Esq.), the announcement was made at the Council’s general meeting held on Sunday, November 9, 2025, at the Crescent Muslim Professionals Hall, Leme, Abeokuta, capital of Ogun State South West Nigeria.
The meeting brought together traditional rulers, scholars, and prominent Muslim leaders from across the state, including the Olu of Eleyele, Oba M. Ola Yusuf; the Chief Imam of Egba Land, Alhaji Saadallah Bamgbola; the Chief Imam of Gbagura, Emeritus Professor Kamaldeen Balogun; and the former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Alhaji Sarafa Tunji Isola, who is also the Baba Adinni of Yoruba Land.
In his acceptance speech, Oba Matemilola acknowledged the enormous responsibility of his new role as he emphasised the need for unity, brotherhood, and the elimination of ethnic rivalry among Muslims in the state.
The Olowu pledged to strengthen institutional structures within the Council to address challenges confronting the Muslim community.
In the communiqué, the Ogun State Muslim Council urged the new President-General to prioritise the unification of Muslims across the four divisions of the state – Egba, Ijebu, Yewa, and Remo – and to promote collaboration that transcends sectional or ethnic interests.
Education
On education, the OMC expressed deep concern over the dwindling state of Arabic and Islamic Studies in public schools.
It lamented the arbitrary transfer of qualified Arabic teachers to institutions where their expertise is underutilised. To address the situation, the Council resolved to partner with the Union of Arabic Teachers and engage relevant government agencies to safeguard the future of the subjects.
The meeting further urged the Ogun State government to recruit more Arabic and Islamic Studies teachers, while encouraging Muslim professionals to take up teaching roles in these fields to close the existing gap.
Infrastructure
Addressing the issues of infrastructure and religious rights, the Council welcomed the suspension of planned demolition of Ibara Housing Estate Central Mosque, following government intervention.
It noted that the mosque management had been directed to regularise its title documents to resolve the matter permanently.
Community
On welfare and community development, the OMC accepted a proposal by the Ogun Standing Committee on Musabaqah (OSCOM) to seek hosting rights for the 42nd National Qur’anic Recitation Competition in 2027.
The Council also endorsed plans to collaborate with the Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria (IMAN) for a medical outreach aimed at promoting early detection and management of ailments among residents.
Two Ogun State female medical students – Adegboye Rahmat Adedayo of Olabisi Onabanjo University and Egunsola Hafsah Omolola of Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja – were ratified as beneficiaries of the Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar Female Medical Scholarship under MUSWEN.
The communiqué reaffirmed the body’s commitment to promoting peace, unity, and the collective progress of the Muslim Ummah in Ogun State.
See the OMC’s communiqué below:
COMMUNIQUÉ Issued at the End of the General Meeting of the Ogun State Muslim Council (OMC)
Date: Sunday, November 9, 2025 / 17th Jumadal- Thanni, 1447 A.H.
Venue: Crescent Muslim Professionals Hall, Leme, Abeokuta, Ogun State.Introduction and Attendance
The Ogun State Muslim Council (OMC) convened its general meeting to deliberate on critical issues pertaining to the interests, welfare, and sustainable development of Muslims across the state.
The meeting was distinguished by the presence of revered traditional rulers, eminent scholars, and seasoned diplomats, including the Olowu of Owu, Oba Saka Matemilola; the Olu of Eleyele, Oba M. Ola Yusuf; the Chief Imam of Egbaland, Alhaji Saadallah Bamgbola; the Chief Imam of Gbagura, Emeritus Prof. Kamaldeen Balogun; and the Former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Alhaji Sarafa Tunji Isola. Representatives from all four divisions of the State, Egba, Ijebu, Yewa, and Remo were present.
I. Major Leadership Appointment
1. New President-General Appointed
The General Meeting formally concluded the process to appoint a successor to the late President- General, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, CFR (May Allah have mercy on him). The Council unanimously appointed His Royal Majesty, Oba Saka Adelola Matemilola, the Olowu of Owu, as the new President-General of the Ogun State Muslim Council (OMC).
Acceptance Message:
In his acceptance speech, Oba Matemilola acknowledged the large vacuum left by his predecessor and emphasized the paramount need for unity, brotherhood, and the eschewing of ethnic rivalry among Muslims. He urged the Council to systematically empower organizations to address specialized issues confronting the Ummah.2. Call for Cohesion
The meeting strongly enjoined the new President-General to champion the unification of the Ummah in the State. The Council stressed the importance of unity, urging Muslims from the four divisions—Egba, Ijebu, Yewa, and Remo—to speak with one voice and prioritize the collective interest of Islam over narrow ethnic considerations.
II. Education and Infrastructure
3. Extinction of Arabic and Islamic Studies
The Council expressed grave concern over the imminent extinction of Arabic and Islamic Studies in public primary and secondary schools due to the arbitrary transfer of qualified Arabic teachers to non-Islamic institutions where their specialized skills are not fully utilized.
Resolution: The meeting resolved to immediately strengthen collaboration with the Union of Arabic Teachers to schedule a crucial interface with the relevant authorities to resolve this issue decisively.
Encouragement: The Council urged the government to recruit more dedicated Arabic and Islamic Studies teachers to bridge existing gaps and encouraged Muslim professionals to pursue studies in these disciplines and make themselves available for public school postings.
4. Ibara Housing Estate Mosque Contravention Notice
The Council was updated on the status of the contravention and demolition notices served on the Ibara Housing Estate Muslim Community Central Mosque. The meeting learned that the planned demolition has been halted and the Mosque Management Committee has been directed by the government to regularize its title documents to ensure a final resolution.
III. Special Projects and Welfare
5. Hosting of National Qur’anic Recitation Competition:
The Council accepted the request from the Ogun Standing Committee on Musabaqah (OSCOM) to work assiduously with stakeholders in seeking the hosting rights for the 42nd National Qur’anic Recitation Competition in 2027. This follows a presentation of the official brochure for the State Finals by OSCOM Chairman, Engr. AbdulHameed Femi Omotayo.
6. Medical Outreach
The Council resolved to engage the Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria (IMAN), Ogun Chapter, to facilitate its proposed medical outreach aimed at promoting health and enabling the early detection and management of ailments
7. MUSWEN Medical Scholarship
The Council ratified the submission of two names to MUSWEN for the Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar Female Medical Scholarship:
(i) Adegboye Rahmat Adedayo (OOU) and (ii) Egunsola Hafsah Omolola (Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja).8. External Representation
The Council affirmed its continued diligent representation at the MUSWEN Central Working Committee (CWC) and the General-Purpose Committee (GPC) by the Secretary-General and the Assistant Secretary-General, respectively.
IV. Security and State Governance
9. National Security and Single Narrative
The OMC called for caution against a single, divisive narrative in the amplification of security challenges in Nigeria, particularly in response to recent foreign comments regarding allegations of Christian genocide.
Position: The Council stands by the position of the Federal Government that all Nigerians, irrespective of religious or ethnic affiliations, have equal rights to life.
Appeal: OMC strongly urged both the federal and state governments to further strengthen the security architecture of the country to prevent the loss of lives and property and protect the sanctity of life.10. Infrastructure Development
The meeting commended the Ogun State Government on the construction of the Gateway International (Cargo) Airport in Remo, and strongly urged the administration to ensure the equitable extension of critical infrastructure development to all parts of the State.
Signed:
Asiwaju Kamal’deen Akintunde, (Esq.)
Secretary-General
Ogun State Muslim Council (OMC)
November 9, 2025
(Contact: 0812 653 8721)
