By is’haq Babatunde
…Oloyede, Sagaya, KWASU Ag. VC, others in attendance
It was a sea of heads on Friday (October 20, 2023) at the official commissioning of Deen Central Mosque located at Jooro community, off Asa Dam road, Ilorin, the kwara state capital, as people from all walks of life converged at the Mosque in their numbers to observe the Maiden Jumuah prayers at the multi million naira modern Mosque.
The Mosque was constructed by the Managing Director, DEEN Aleem General Merchant, Alhaji Muideen Bello, in loving memories of the late KWASU Vice Chancellor, Professor Muhammed Mustapha Akanbi SAN and the donor’s father, late Alhaji Alimi Atanda.
Speaking at the event, the Kwara state Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, described late KWASU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Akanbi, as a goal getter, an achiever and a highly respected administrator whose footprints in Nigeria educational system will remain indelible in the sand of time.
The Governor, who spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Religion Affairs (Islam), Ibrahim Zubair Danmaigoro, however described the transition of the ex-Vice-Chancellor as saddening and great loss.
He added that the late Professor of Law lived a good life adding the state government takes solace in the fact that his legacies are enduring.
The Chairman of the ocasion, who is the Register Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Ishaq Oloyede extolled the virtues of the late Akanbi, describing him as an upright mentee and brother who had been making him proud through his style of leadership.
The JAMB registrar betrayed emotion at the occasion, fought hard to hold back tears during his speech, as he ended his speech abruptly with an emotional ladden voice.
He disclosed that his attendance was basically to honour the wife of the late Akanbi, saying “it is against the Yoruba culture for an elder to grace the occasion of the passing on of his or her younger ones.
“But, I take solace in the fact that the event does not run foul of Islamic injunctions.”
Oloyede, who equally extolled the virtues of late Justice Muhammed Mustapha Akanbi, said the late Jurist was a man of many parts, adding that his closeness to the late him dated back to the time he was an assistant lecturer at the University of Ilorin.
The Guest Speaker and Founder, Sheikh Muhyideen Ajani Bello Islamic Foundation, Alhaji Muhyideen Ajani Bello, who described death as inevitable, admonished all to live an exemplary life worthy of emulation.
The renowned Islamic preacher, enjoined muslim faithfuls to always strive hard to live their lives the way they would want to be remembered after their demise, warning that “old age , nemesis and death are inevitable for all mankind”.
The cleric also reinterated the necessity for all to imbibe the fear of God for Nigeria and the whole world to be a better place, just as he underscored the integrity, resilience, and dedication of late Justice Akanbi, the father of Prof. Akanbi, saying that his contributions to Nigeria and Africa as a whole cannot be underestimated.
He added, “late Justice Mustapha Akanbi honesty, humility and indelible marks as the pioneer chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) were obvious for all to see.
“The late jurist also transferred and inculcated the same attributes in his children which is why we are here today extolling the virtues and legacy of late Kwara state University (KWASU) Vice Chancellor Prof Akanbi.
“I urge all of us to examine our minds and deeds as we journey this planet earth. Earthly accomplishments and achievements without the fear of God are worthless,” the renowned Islamic teacher said.”
Also in his usual short lecture, Shaykh Sulaiman Dan-Borno, identified late Professor Akanbi as an embodiment of humility, who preached integrity and piety.
Shaykh Dan-Borno however reminded the congregants to de-emphasize quest for material wealth and rely on the Almighty Allah at all times, stressing that money acquired fraudulently does not give a lasting joy.
Representing the Emir of Ilorin, Dr Ibrahim Sulu Gambari at the occasion, the Balogun Gambari of Ilorin, Alhaji Muhammed Adebayo, described the demise of late Professor Akanbi as a great loss to Emirate, kwara state and Nigeria as a whole.
In their separate comments, the KWASU Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Shaykh Luqman Jimonh and Zana of Ilorin, Engineer Lanre Sagaya described late Prof. Akanbi as a very resourceful, hardworking, God fearing and shrewd administrator, and prayed Allah to grant him eternal aljana firdous.
Also speaking, Prof Ibrahim Kayode Adam of faculty of Law, University of Ilorin, said Prof Akanbi was an embodiment of humility, self-disciplined and kind-heartedness, adding that he was a dedicated teacher to his students.
Earlier in his welcome address, the donor of the Mosque, Engineer Muhideen Bello said the rationale behind naming the Mosque after late Prof Akanbi and his father was in recognition of late Akanbi’s vital roles in his life.
He described late KWASU VC as his benefactor and brother who showed love and affection to him when he needed it, pointing out that his contributions to his life has become an indelible mark that can never be erased.
Speaking to the highPROFILE on the sideline of the event, the Chairman of the
Deen Central Mosque Management Commitee, Engineer Mutiullah Akinpelu said the Mosque has been designed for three purposes vis-a-vis five daily prayers, Arabic and Islamic Studies as well as memorisation of the Glorious Qur’an.
High point of the ceremony was the turbaning of the new imam of the Deen central Mosque, Sheik Ibraeem Al- misiri by Imam Gambari of Ilorin, Alhaji Sheikh AbdulAzeez Sulaiman supported by Balogun Gambari of Ilorin, Alhaji Mohammed Adebayo and other prominent scholars in attendance.
The Maiden two rakat Jumuah prayers of the Mosque was led by Imam Gambari of Ilorin.
