Saraki renovates 35 mosques, funds exam of 500 Arabic students

AHEAD of Ramadan, a period of fasting, the Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has sponsored the renovation of 35 mosques in Kwara Central Senatorial District of Kwara State to give them a facelift.

Senator Saraki also paid the examination fees of 500 Arabic students in the district who intend to sit for an external examination.

The renovation project, spearheaded by Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) Mandate Office, would be carried out in phases, starting with five of the selected 35 mosques from across Ilorin West, Ilorin East, Ilorin South and Asa local government areas.

The five mosques are Omoda Mosque (Ilorin West), Jagun Mosque (Ilorin East), Afanta Mosque (Ilorin South), Isalekoto Mosque (Ilorin South) and Eleran Mosque, Akalambi (Ilorin East).

Briefing journalists on Wednesday in Ilorin, the Director General of ABS Mandate Office, Alhaji Musa Abdullahi, said Saraki undertook the project as part of efforts to support the faithful as the holy month of Ramadan draws near.

He said the former governor of the state decided to shoulder the responsibility following requests from Muslims in Kwara Central Senatorial District, which Saraki is representing in the National Assembly.

“The renovation of the mosques is long overdue and the people sought the intervention of the Senate President. The first phase, which comprises five mosques, has begun,” Abdullahi said.

He said after an inspection by his team, he was impressed by the level of work so far on the mosques.

The ABS Director of Project and Empowerment, Mr Yinka Otukoko, said the renovation would cover all the necessary parts of the mosques, noting that toilet facilities would be provided, aside from plastering, flooring, tiling, roofing and painting.

Otukoko said the project would be completed before the commencement of Ramadan.

In the other development, the Senate President, during a brief ceremony at his constituency’s office in Ilorin, presented the sum of N5 million to the chairman of the Kwara State Arabic Education Board, Dr AbdulKadir Solagberu, for the purpose of registering the 500 Arabic students for the examination.

Saraki, who was represented by Alhaji Musa Abdullahi, said the gesture was in fulfilment of his promise to bankroll the examination of the students.

He said the action was also meant to encourage the students and prospective students of Arabic studies.