The management of the Ilorin Central Juma’at Mosque on Friday said it needs N150m for the maintenance and provision of some facilities in the mosque and the old central mosque at Idi- Ape, Ilorin, Kwara State.
The chairman of the mosque’s central working committee, Alh Shehu AbdulGafar stated this at the 2023 meeting of the board of trustees and stakeholders of the mosque held in Ilorin on Friday.
Declaring the meeting open, the chairman of the board of trustees of the mosque Hon. Justice Salihu Modibo Alfa Belgore, decried inadequate financial support for the maintenance of the ultra-modern mosque.
“I need not over flog the fact that the Ilorin Central Juma’at Mosque undoubtedly remains the best of its kind in Africa South of the Sahara.
“Sustaining this standard without allowing it to suffer degradation in any form lies in the maintenance. We still relied heavily on financial support from individuals and corporate bodies.”
In his presentation of the progress report and financial statement of the central working committee, the secretary of the board of trustees, Alh Shehu AbdulGafar said the committee got improved financial support compared to the previous years.
“It is pleasing to note that the majority of the pledges made were redeemed and we also acknowledge the contributions of new donors, all that tally N79,782,181.66k, as against the 2021/2022 donations of N62,166,869” he stated.
AbdulGafar appealed to well-to-do Muslims to donate generously towards sustainable maintenance of the mosque.
“I wish to end this report with this reminder for all of us that the Ilorin Central Jummat Mosque has no investment of its own and that only a few individuals among our blessed brethren have taken it upon themselves to see to its maintenance thus far.
“I have always reiterated that this mode of sourcing funds is not likely to stand the test of time. So, in order to avert a repeat of the mistakes of the past, the time is now to yield to the call for sustainable investment for the mosque.
“As we continue to bask in the euphoria of having yet another iconic edifice as our mosque in Ilorin, we should as a Ummah, be prepared to surmount the challenges posed by its continued sustenance vis-a-vis, it’s sorry past that seems to have been lost on us,” he said.
He listed the challenges facing the mosque as general maintenance, adequate power and water supply.
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