The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has announced the appointment of five additional imams to serve at the Abuja National Mosque, with the possibility of more appointments in the near future.
This announcement was made on Tuesday in Abuja after the General Purpose Committee (GPC) reviewed the candidates and their selection was endorsed by the National Fatwa Committee (NFC).
The newly appointed imams include:
- Prof. Ilyasu Usman (Enugu State – visiting)
- Prof. Luqman Zakariyah (Osun State – resident)
- Dr. Abdulkadir Salman (Kwara State – visiting)
- Barrister Haroun Muhammad Eze (Enugu State – resident)
- Prof. Khalid Aliyu Abubakar (Plateau State – visiting)
At the event, NSCIA Secretary-General Prof. Is-haq Oloyede highlighted that these appointments aim to enhance the Religious Affairs Unit of the mosque and to position it as a hub for worship, education, and scholarship. He also mentioned plans to appoint more imams, particularly from the South-South region, which has not yet been represented.
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“Certainly, there will be at least one imam from the South-South in the future. Additional appointments are in consideration, but I cannot specify the total number of imams at the moment,” Oloyede stated.
He emphasized that the selection process prioritized merit and competency over geographical considerations. Resident imams will serve from Abuja, while visiting imams will travel to fulfill their roles periodically.
Oloyede also revealed an innovative plan to modernize the mosque’s Friday sermons (khutbah). Instead of allocating time for translations, worshippers will be able to use headsets or earpieces to listen to real-time translations in their preferred languages while the sermon is delivered in Arabic.
Reflecting on NSCIA’s commitment to inclusivity, Oloyede recalled a similar announcement in 2017 regarding administrative and management changes at the mosque. He reiterated that these developments align with Islam’s values of unity and accommodation.
Since the mosque’s establishment in 1984, the NSCIA has consistently appointed qualified and reputable Islamic scholars to oversee spiritual activities. The creation of the Abuja National Mosque Management Board (ANMMB) further underscores efforts to streamline the mosque’s operations and management.
To promote inclusivity, the mosque continues to provide translations of the khutbah in Hausa, English, Igbo, and Yoruba. This initiative ensures that the spiritual message is accessible to worshippers from diverse linguistic backgrounds, fostering a sense of belonging among the faithful.
