To ease the accommodation challenge facing its students, the University of Ilorin has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ilorin Central Juma’at Mosque to construct a 250-bed hostel on the university’s main campus.
The vice chancellor, Prof. Wahab Egbewole (SAN) signed the MoU on behalf of the university, while the chairman of the central working committee of the mosque, Alhaji Shehu AbdulGafar, signed for Ilorin Central Juma’at Mosque.
In his remarks, Prof Egbewole, expressed appreciation to the Ilorin Central Juma’at Mosque for initiating the project, stressing that the project would be used for the purpose for which it was meant and would be well maintained.
The chairman of the central working committee of Ilorin Central Juma’at Mosque, Alh Shehu AbdulGafar, explained the significance of the initiative, noting that the mosque chose to begin with the University of Ilorin because of its reputation, not only for its “Better by Far” slogan but also for its strength and impact.
He explained that the income generated from the hostel would be used for maintaining the Mosque, adding that ” since its reconstruction, the Mosque has faced challenges in maintaining the iconic structure, making the hostel project both a service to the students and a source of sustainable income for the Mosque.
The legal adviser to the Ilorin Central Juma’at Mosque, Prof. Yusuf Ali (SAN) described the project as an important humanitarian gesture.
He noted that in the current Nigerian context, government alone cannot meet the accommodation needs of students in tertiary institutions.
Ali explained that the intervention of well-meaning organisations and individuals in building hostels would not only provide comfort for students but also help address the persistent shortage of campus accommodation.
