THE Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN), Oyo State Chapter, has performed the turning of the sod for its proposed Islamic Centre in Ibadan.
The project is aimed at promoting unity, professional development, and religious propagation among members and the wider community.
The groundbreaking ceremony, held at Arisekola Alao Estate along the Olorunsogo-Akanran Road in Ibadan, marked a significant step toward the realisation of the MMPN Islamic Centre.
The foundation laying was performed by the Giwa Adinni of Oyo State and Director-General of the Oyo State Project Monitoring Agency, Alhaji Muftau Open-Salawu.
Speaking at the event, Open-Salawu highlighted the importance of the centre as a platform for fostering unity, intellectual engagement, and knowledge sharing among the Muslim faithful.
He also noted that the ongoing dualisation of the Olorunsogo-Akanran Road is already attracting development to the area, expressing optimism that more infrastructure projects will follow.
A founding member of MMPN and President of the Ona-Ara Development Forum, Alhaji Kola Bolomope, commended the Oyo State government for ongoing infrastructure projects, including the dualisation of the Olorunsogo-Akanran-Dagbolu Road and the Ibadan Circular Road.
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He recalled that the land for the project was donated by the late Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdul Azeez Arisekola Alao, adding that the area has since witnessed remarkable transformation.
Delivering a goodwill message, the National President of MMPN, Alhaji AbdurRahman Balogun, charged other state chapters to emulate the Oyo branch by initiating impactful, community-based projects.
Dignitaries at the event, including the Director-General of the Oyo State Investment and Public Private Partnership Agency (OYSIPA), Mr. Tilewa Folami, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Abdur-Rasheed Abdul-Azeez, urged members to remain committed to the propagation of Islam and community development.
Earlier, in his welcome remarks, the chairman of MMPN in Oyo State, Alhaji Abdur-Rofih Adebayo, described the project as a milestone in the association’s efforts to promote Islamic values and strengthen professional bonds among media practitioners.
He appealed to stakeholders and well-meaning individuals to support the completion of the centre, noting that the project fulfils a long-standing vision of the association’s founding fathers.
Prayers were offered for the founding fathers of the association, the late Alhaji Arisekola Alao, as well as for the successful completion of the Islamic Centre project.
The chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, Mr Akeem Abas, was represented at the occasion by his deputy, Mr Abiodun Atilola.
The MMPN Islamic Centre, when completed, is expected to serve as a hub for religious, intellectual, and professional activities within and beyond the media community.
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