The League of Imams and Alfas of Oyo State has installed the chairman of Irorun-Ni Charitable Foundation Nigeria, Ambassador Shakirullah Jimoh-Orankan, as the Aare Alaranse Adinni of Oyo State.
The turbaning ceremony was held on Thursday in Ibadan at the Central Mosque, Oja’ba. It was presided over by the chairman of the league and the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh AbdulGaniyy Abubakri Agbotomokekere.
Sheikh Agbotomokekere said the choice of Jimoh-Orankan for the title was in recognition of his contributions to the development of Islam and humanity through projects and empowerment initiatives.
The spiritual father noted that the philanthropist’s track record of humanitarian and community development efforts, especially for the benefit of the Ummah, as attested to by many Muslims, qualified him for the honour.
“We turbaned him as the Aare Alaranse Adinni of Oyo State to appreciate his good work for Islam, to spur him to do more and to encourage others to imbibe the spirit of giving to the society,” Agbotomokekere said.
He called on privileged Muslims to spend their wealth for the cause of Allah; to assist the people in order to earn eternal rewards.
The Asiwaju Adinni of Oyo State, Alhaji Mutiullah Oladejo, described Ambassador Jimoh-Orankan as “a philanthropist par excellence who is not fond of seeking public attraction,” saying his installation as the Aare Alaranse Adinni would aid the progress of Islam in Oyo State and beyond.
The Chief Imam of Ogbomosoland, Dr Yunus Taliat Ayilara, who delivered a lecture at the event, admonished Ambassador Jimoh-Orankan to deploy his intelligence, vast knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence, conviviality and wealth to further advance the cause of Islam.
According to Dr Ayilara, the Central Mosque, Oja’ba, Ibadan, as the headquarters of Muslims in Oyo State, requires a facelift “and we have confidence in the Aare Alaranse Adinni to make this a reality.”
The newly installed Aare Alaranse Adinni of Oyo State, Ambassador Jimoh-Orankan, expressed gratitude to Allah and appreciated the League of Imams and Alfas for considering him worthy of the position.
He promised to renovate the central mosque and intensify efforts at ensuring an all-round development of the Ummah through the Irorun-Ni Charitable Foundation Nigeria.
“We Muslims are in need of a training centre; the members of the Ummah deserve vocational skills to have a decent means of living,” he noted.
Jimoh-Orankan reiterated his commitment to doing more for the common good, describing the honour as an incentive in this direction.
The National Treasurer, Irorun-Ni Charitable Foundation Nigeria, Dr Muhammad-Lawal Alongbija, described the new Aare Alaranse Adinni of Oyo State as “a kind-hearted, altruistic, cheerful giver who is always desirous of bringing succour to the needy in the society, with so many giant projects to uplift humanity.”
He said, “The Aare Alaranse Adinni’s impact is feasible in all the nooks and crannies of Oyo State. He has built nosques, Islamic schools, hospitals, constructed a school of science in Iroko, Oyo and has recently secured the National Universities Commission (NUC’s) approval for the takeoff of a university.”
A highlight of the event attended by Chief Imams from all zones of Oyo State, representatives of Islamic organisations and notable Islamic figures, including the Wakil Muslimeen of Oyo State, Professor Kamil Oloso; the Mufti of Ibadanland, Sheikh Bari Adetunji; and the Director, Arabic Institute Nigeria, Elekuro, Ibadan, Dr Nasir Abdusalaam, was the presentation of an award plague and certificate of office to Jimoh-Orankan.
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