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Imodi-Ijebu Muslim Community Bets on 20 Chiefs to Drive Education, Economic Growth

New chiefs urged to promote unity, shun partisan politics in mosques, invest in youth, Islamic education

The ancient community of Imodi-Ijebu in Ogun State recently witnessed a blend of tradition, faith and renewed development aspirations as 20 distinguished sons and daughters were turbaned as chiefs of the Muslim community, with a ₦1bn fundraising drive launched to support education and empowerment initiatives.

Beyond the colourful ceremony and conferment of prestigious titles, the gathering presented an opportunity to redefine leadership within the community, with prominent Islamic scholars and community leaders challenging the new titleholders to translate their honours into tangible benefits for the people.

Held at the Tititlayo Agbaje Memorial Comprehensive High School, Imodi, the event brought together Islamic leaders, professionals, traditional titleholders and other stakeholders united by a common aspiration to strengthen the Muslim community and accelerate the development of the town.

At the heart of the ceremony was a strong message: the new titles must not become symbols of prestige alone but instruments for service, unity, religious advancement and social transformation.

The National Missioner of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Shaykh AbdurRahman Ahmad, set the tone with a warning against the intrusion of partisan politics into mosques, stressing that religious institutions must remain places of worship and unity rather than platforms for political mobilisation.

He reminded the newly turbaned chiefs that Muslims were entitled to support political parties of their choice, but cautioned that those occupying leadership positions must not exploit their influence to impose their political preferences on others.

“The chiefs should abstain from bringing politics into the mosque. Any Muslim is entitled to belong to whatever party he wants to belong to. A chief must not use his position to influence other members of the mosque to join his party,” he said.

Shaykh Ahmad also reminded the titleholders that their new positions came with significant responsibilities, urging them to exercise restraint, uphold exemplary conduct and deepen their knowledge of Islam.

He called on them to support the advancement of the religion by paying greater attention to the welfare of Islamic clerics, whose services remain central to the spiritual and social wellbeing of the Muslim community.

A call for accountable leadership

The Grand Mufti of the Conference of Islamic Organisations, Sheikh Dhikrullah Shafi’i, reinforced the message of responsibility, urging the new chiefs to protect the integrity of Islam, promote religious tolerance and discharge their duties with accountability.

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Citing Qur’an 33:57, he emphasised the need for the titleholders to appreciate the consequences of their actions and ensure that their conduct advanced rather than undermined the interests of the religion.

For him, the responsibilities attached to the titles demanded more than public recognition. They required a conscious commitment to protecting Islamic values and creating an environment in which Muslims could deepen their understanding of the faith.

He proposed the establishment of an Islamic library to improve access to learning resources, encourage continuous religious education and provide members of the community with opportunities to expand their knowledge.

The proposal added an educational dimension to the broader development agenda emerging from the ceremony, underscoring the importance of knowledge in sustaining religious values and preparing future generations for leadership.

Former Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan, also challenged the Muslim community to look beyond conventional religious activities and embrace a broader developmental role.

He said the mosque should serve as an institution for promoting education, economic development and youth empowerment, helping young people build confidence, acquire useful skills and prepare for the challenges of life.

His position aligned with the spirit of the ₦1bn fundraising initiative, which placed education and empowerment among the key priorities of the community.

New chiefs unveil their priorities

For some of the newly installed chiefs, the ceremony marked the beginning of a fresh commitment to community service, with promises ranging from strengthening Islamic institutions to improving social welfare and expanding economic opportunities.

Alhaji Ishaq Sanni, a retired director of NAHCON who was installed as Aare Adeen, said his immediate priority was to support the Central Mosque, promote unity among Muslim faithful and strengthen Islamic education.

He also pledged to work towards establishing a welfare system for the less privileged and widows, highlighting the need for religious leadership to respond to the everyday challenges confronting vulnerable members of society.

Sanni urged young people to take pride in their faith, pursue Western education, avoid social vices and contribute meaningfully to the development of Islam in Imodi.

His message reflected a wider concern expressed at the gathering: that religious identity, formal education and responsible citizenship should reinforce one another in preparing young people for the future.

Dr Abdulfattah Olufowobi, former Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Science at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, who was installed as Baba Adeen of Imodi, pledged to bring fresh ideas and positive change to the community.

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He said he intended to promote unity within the Muslim Ummah and address the lingering hierarchical disagreements within the Council of Imodi Muslim Chiefs.

His remarks pointed to the importance of internal cohesion in enabling the community to pursue its development objectives effectively.

Alhaji Oduwole Azeez, installed as Otun Balogun Adeen, promised to advance Islam through personal example, support for Da’wah activities and investment in the next generation.

He stressed that honesty, integrity and the fear of Allah must define the conduct of Muslim leaders, adding that children should be grounded in the Qur’an and Sunnah to preserve the values of Islam.

From farming to digital skills

For Alhaji Tajudeen Adebanjo, Chief Correspondent with The Nation, who received the title of Giwa Adeeni, the development agenda must extend beyond religious affairs to the economic and social needs of residents.

He identified infrastructure, women and youth empowerment, information and communication technology education, agriculture and healthcare as priority areas requiring attention.

Adebanjo also advocated a renewed focus on farming, urging residents to explore agriculture as a viable source of income and employment.

He said efforts should be made to improve the movement of agricultural produce from Imodi to Lagos, where farmers could access larger markets and potentially earn better returns.

According to him, stronger connections to urban markets could help residents take advantage of the relatively lower cost of living in their community while building more sustainable livelihoods.

His proposals highlighted the importance of connecting local production with wider commercial opportunities, particularly for young people and households seeking alternative sources of income.

The 20 titleholders

The 20 distinguished sons and daughters honoured at the ceremony were Dr Abdulfattah Olufowobi, Baba Adeen of Imodi; Alhaji Ishaq Sanni, Aare Adeen; Alhaji Tajudeen Adebanjo, Giwa Adeeni; Chief Abdul Waheed Sanni, Otun Asinwaju Adeen; and Chief Azeezat Sanni, Ekerin Iya Sunnah.

Others were Alhaji Oduwole Azeez, Otun Balogun Adeen; Alhaja Khadijat Onabule, Eketa Iya Sunnah; Alhaji Ibraheem Mustapha, Otun Arowosadeen; Alhaji AbdulWakeel Baoku, Alatunse Adeen; and Alhaji AbdulMojeed Agbaje, Otun Mogaji Adeen.

The remaining honourees were Chief Alimot Oresajo, Otun Osupa Adeen; Alhaji Ismaheel Yekeen, Balogun Adinni; Alhaji Musiliyu Hussaini, Otun Giwa Adeen; Prince Abdul Rasheed Lawal, Sarumi Adeen; Chief Yunus Ahmed, Otun Aare Musulumi; and Chief Salamat Adesanya, Otun Agbesinga Adeen Obinrin.

Also honoured were Chief Wosilat Oduba, Otun Iya Adeen; Chief Balikis Hassan, Otun Iyalode Adeen; Chief Jemilat Lawal, Otun Alatunse Adeen Obinrin; and Alhaja Risikat Arowolo, Otun Asiwaju Adeen Obinrin of the Imodi-Ijebu Muslim Community.

A legacy measured by service

As the celebrations gave way to the responsibilities ahead, the central challenge for the newly turbaned chiefs will be translating their promises into measurable progress.

The proposed ₦1bn fundraising initiative offers an opportunity to strengthen education, empower vulnerable groups and support community development, while calls for an Islamic library, youth engagement, agricultural investment and improved welfare point to a broad vision of progress.

The success of that vision will depend on the community’s ability to mobilise resources, sustain cooperation among its leaders and ensure that development priorities are matched by practical action.

For Imodi-Ijebu, therefore, the turbaning of 20 illustrious sons and daughters represents more than a celebration of achievement. It is a call for leadership that unites faith with service, tradition with innovation, and religious responsibility with the pursuit of a better future for the entire community.

Imodi-Ijebu Muslim Community Bets on 20 Chiefs to Drive Education, Economic Growth