The remodelled Ilorin Central Mosque is a sight to behold. UMAR BAYO ABDULWAHAB explores the aesthetics of the remodelled mosque, its significance to the people of the emirate and challenges of maintaining the edifice.
Some described it as the new Mecca in Ilorin; others say its a haven for tourists attractions. The academia call it a centre for research and knowledge. Whichever appelation anyone chooses, may not be wrong.
Above were the many ways by which visitors and admirers of the remodelled Ilorin Central Jumaat Mosque described the edife.
Located in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara state, North central Nigeria, the remodelled mosque has become a new haven of tourists attraction.
As at the last count, the management of the mosque said it has received visitors from no fewer than seven countries including Spain, United States of America, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Belgium, amongst others to catch a glimpse of the edifice.
Sitting on a large expanse of land behind the Emir’s palace, in Oja-Oba within the heart of ancient Islamic city, the Ilorin Central Jumaat Mosque is an iconic structure that not only stands as a pride to the indigenes of the emirate across five local government areas of the state, but represents the pride and rich Islamic history of the city.
Described as the best in Africa, the mosque was remodelled from its old structure to a world-class facility in 2012 through the efforts of former Senate president, Dr Bukola Saraki, during his time as governor of the state.
Following its completion and commissioning, the mosque had become a new mecca attracting muslim tourists and scholars from across the world due to its architectural design and calligraphic masterpiece.
Convergence of building experts
The remodelled mosque according to the lead Architect, Jamiu Faworaja took building experts from across 16 different part of the world to come up with the ultra modern mosque.
The remodelled mosque now has the capacity to accommodate 20,000 worshippers inside it and its surroundings per time. .The mosque has a modern day library for education and research, an administrative building for management staff, a prayer section for women and children, ablution rooms, amongsts other features
With Ilorin being the gate way between the south and northern states of Nigeria, the geographical location of the city has also positioned it as a melting pot for knowledge seekers, religoius tourists and centre for recreation.
Dire need for financial support
Regrettably, the mosque is today being confronted with the challenge of maintenance which requires a huge amount of money. For instance, the mosque gulps at least N2.5 milion monthly on maintenance according to the chairman of the mosque’s central working committee, Alh Shehu AbdulGafar.
AbdulGafar also said that the managment spent about N7.8 million on diesel in a year .
AbdulGafar revealed these at the 2023 meeting of the board of trustees and stakeholders of the mosque held in Ilorin recently.
Having recently completed its administrative building which was commissioned by the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, AbduGafar said the mosque needed at least another N150m for maintenance and provision of some facilities in the mosque and its extension-the Old Central Mosque at Idi- Ape, Ilorin.
He said that the administrative block has many units, including offices of the executive secretary and administrative staff as well as a befitting conference room.
AbduGafar disclosed that the secretariat which was built through direct labour costs N43M as against the estimated initial contractual sum of N57m.
The committee chairman expressed delight that the construction of the secretariat eventually brought the mosque complex master-plan to fulfillment and outright completion.
While declaring the BOT 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. Lets have it at the back of our minds that the mosque is not on any form of subvenrtion from any government apart from the support enjoined from the five local governments that constitute the Ilorin Emirate. Aside from the goodwill and generous donations from individuals and groups for the maintenance and these have been put judicious use as the mosque is being accorded the best attention within the limits of resources at the disposal of the management.”
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 N62,166,869.00,” he stated.
However, AbduGafar said this method of relying on receiving donation cannot stand the test of time, hence the need for the mosque to embark on a sustainable investment from where it can draw its own fund.
“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 for fund is not likely to stand the test of time .So in order to avert a repeat of the mistakes of the past, now is the time 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.
Challenges
Speaking further, AbduGafar listed the challenges facing the mosque as general maintenance, adequate power and water supply.
“The mosque is currently faced with water supply challenge which is as a result of infiltration of the dedicated water line by individual households in the township. This unfortunate development has adversely affected the pressure of water supply from Kwara Water Coporation grid into the mosque overhead tanks that are designed to work with height. Our water experts have been invited to assess the situation but there is currently no solution in sight.
“We may need to commission a powerful delegation to the state government to wade into the matter in order to address the poor water supply to the mosque especially for the Friday jumaat service.
“There is also the issue of epileptic power supply in the mosque. Despite meeting our obligations to the electricity distribution company, the management also pays exorbitantly to keep our generators running wirh as much as N650,000 per month.”
It’s a national monument – Turaki
Fielding questions from reporters on the sideline of the event, Turaki of Ilorin and sentor representing Kwara Central Senatorial District Mallam Salihu Mustapha, he said the mosque beyong its spiritual benefits has also become a national monument.
The Turaki who announced a donation of N50 million for the mosque project appealed to Muslims to donate generously for the maintenance of the mosque.
The Emir of Ilorin and custodian of the mosque, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu -Gambari also described it as rallying point for Ilorin indigenes.
