In a historic gesture of unity and spiritual reflection, the National Mosque in Abuja, has hosted the Igbo Thanksgiving and Heroes Immortalisation programme.
The event, which coincided with the Jumat Service, was convened by Hon. Cletus Amaraegbu and organised by the Diaspora Alliance in collaboration with the Association of Igbo Daughters in Nigeria and the Diaspora.
With the theme: “Gratitude, Memory and Unity,” the programme held last Friday, was used to thank God for the preservation of the Igbo nation and Nigeria as a whole, while honouring fallen heroes who contributed to the country’s progress.
The Chief Imam of the National Mosque, Prof. Ilyasu Usman, himself of Igbo descent from Enugu State, lauded the initiative as a bold step toward national reconciliation.
He said, “What brought you people here is the best way to entrench the tie of brotherhood.
“We must interact; we must embrace each other across religious divides. We must unite if we aspire to grow.”
Sheikh Usman also addressed misconceptions about Igbo Muslims, asserting: “We are Muslims by conviction. We are Muslims because it is our belief that our salvation is assured through Islam.”
During an interactive session with the mosque’s leadership, Prof. Edmund Ugwu Agbo, an Italy-based legal consultant and leader of the Diaspora Alliance, expressed optimism that the warm reception extended to the Igbo Muslim community marked the end of discrimination against them.
“The era of exclusion is over,” he declared.
Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku, secretary-general of the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI) and patron of the Alliance, described the presence of Igbo Muslims in key positions at the National Mosque as a testament to Islam’s inclusive nature.
“It is pleasing to see our brethren from the South East holding prominent positions here,” he said.
Mallam Umoru A. Safari, director of Administration of the National Mosque and a pan-Nigerian figure from Edo State, emphasised that Islam embraces Nigeria’s diversity. “In Islam, our differences are not erased- they are celebrated,” he noted.
Also, Haroun Muhammad Eze, an Imam of Igbo origin from Enugu State, who reaffirmed his faith: “I was born into Islam and I am a Muslim by conviction.”
Other notable Igbo Muslim leaders present included Dawud Oluchukwu Amuta, Yakubu Ruby Uzoma (Abia), Muhammadu Ajah (Ebonyi), Abubakar Ikechukwu (Enugu), and Tijjani Ibrahim Ukiwo (Abia).
The visiting team, which was conducted through a guided tour of the National Mosque, included Bello Abdullahi, the Local Organising Committee chairman of Africa Week, which continues in Rome in November, and Godwin Emmanuel, the North Central Coordinator of Emerging Technologies Skills Programme for Africa (ETSAP).
The event was widely praised for fostering inter-faith dialogue, promoting national unity, and immortalising the sacrifices of heroes past. It marked a significant moment in the ongoing effort to bridge cultural and religious divides in Nigeria.
