It was a moment of fervent prayers, celebration and thanksgiving on Friday (February 14, 2020) when Ansar Islam Society of Nigeria organised a special prayer in honour of Prof. Abdulganiyu Abdulssalam Oladosu (AGAS) over his recent retirement from the University of Ilorin.
The prayer session, which featured eminent personalities across Kwara and Osun states and beyond, held at Ansar Islam Schools, Okekere, Ilorin, the Kwara state capital.
The well attended occasion was presided over by the Khalifatul-L-Adabby, Sheikh Olayiwola Kamaldeen and supported by notable Islamic scholars and clerics across the state including University Professors, technocrats, women groups, family, friends and admirers of the celebrant among others.
The two speakers, who gave lectures on the occasion, Sheikh Olesin and Sheikh Abdulmumini Ayara, described Prof. Oladosu as a pride to Ansar Islam and thanked God for his peaceful and successful exit from service after serving University of Ilorin meritoriously.
They described him as one of the living leading students of the founder of Ansar Islam Society of Nigeria, late Sheikh Muhammad Kamaldeen Habeebullah Al-Adabby.
They prayed Allah to continue to guide and gaurd him elongate his life and grant him a peaceful and healthy life after retirement so as to continue to serve God and humanity.
In his response shortly after the prayer session, Prof. Oladosu appreciated Ansar Islam for identifying with him and particularly for remembering him with prayers and prayed God to reward every attendee with the best of rewards.
Prof. Oladosu led his farewell khutubah as the Chief Imam of the University of Ilorin on Friday (February 7, 2020) and officially bowed out of the services the following Monday (February 10, 2020) having attained the retirement age of 70 years.
Oladosu started his Arabic lessons with Shayk Jamiu Bakare Omotosho of Ilobu and became one of the most prominent students of Shyakh Kamaludeen Habeebullah Al Adabiy. He is reputed to be first Professor in Erin-Osun, Osun state, a community that was founded in 1896.
Prof. Oladosu’s journey to becoming the chief Imam of University of Ilorin began in 1983 as soon as he finished his youth service at the University’s defunct Department of Curriculum Studies and Education Technology C.S.E.T. and he became a translator to Prof Rasheed Ajani Raji at the mini campus of the University.
He was appointed Deputy Chief Imam of the University in 1992 and he was appointed Chief Imam in November 2008.
He is a graduate of the Department of Arts and Simultaneous Translation Faculty of Language and Translation Al-Azhar University in Cairo where he was the University’s best graduating student in 1979 and he obtained his masters degree at the American University in Cairo, in 1982.
Oladosu started his career as a translator and Broadcaster at the Egyptian Broadcasting House as a 22 year old Thanawiy student in Egypt in 1972 and he covered many epoch making events including the assassination of President Anwar Sadat of Egypt in 1981.
He has also preached at several places including the Government Houses across the South West of Nigeria, Ilorin, and also in American cities including Chicago and New York.
