THE Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has taken a significant step towards promoting inclusivity by appointing five new Imams for the Abuja National Mosque. Notably, two of the new appointees hail from the Southeast, emphasizing the Council’s commitment to unity across Nigeria’s diverse regions.
The new Imams were appointed through a merit-based selection process, endorsed by the General-Purpose Committee and the Expanded General-Purpose Committee. The NSCIA Secretary-General, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, highlighted the importance of these appointments in strengthening the Abuja National Mosque as a center for worship, education, and Islamic scholarship.
Oloyede explained, “The Council has completed the process of appointing five additional resident and visiting Imams for the Mosque.
“The five volunteers have been considered by the General Purpose Committee (GPC) of the NSCIA and subsequently recommended for the endorsement of the Expanded General Purpose Committee (EGPC).
“The EGPC, at its meeting held on Sunday, 1 December 2024, endorsed, on behalf of the General Assembly, their appointments, subject to the endorsement of the National Fatwa Committee which has also cleared the five Imams as qualified to be Imams of the National Mosque.
“I am honoured to, on behalf of the President-General of the Council, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alh. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, present to you the newly appointed Imams of the Abuja National Mosque.
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“Look at what Islam in Nigeria was before the appointment of the current Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III. There was a lot of suspicion. Remember when he was appointed and went to Ansar-u-deen to pray? Many sensationalised it by saying the Sultan prayed behind a Yoruba Imam because we came from a culture where people didn’t understand Islam. In this short period, look at what this Sultan has done in unifying people. His accommodating nature is evident.
“Now, we have a deputy president general from the south. In appointments, we ensure everyone is considered. Out of five new Imams, two have come from the southeast because they are qualified, not because of where they come from. We aim to take the best from all sections of the country.”
The appointments aim to unite the Muslim community and represent all sections of Nigeria. Oloyede emphasized that Islam prioritizes unity and encourages Muslims to uphold good cultural values while rejecting practices that contradict Islamic teachings.
The new Imams are: Prof. Ilyasu Usman (visiting), Prof. Luqman Zakariyah (resident), Sheikh Abdulkadir Salman, PhD (visiting), Barr. Haroun Muhammad Eze (resident), and Prof. Khalid Aliyu Abubakar (visiting). Their appointments reflect the NSCIA’s broader strategy to evolve the leadership of the Abuja National Mosque, promoting Islamic values and unity across regional and cultural divides.
