Dangote, Senator Mustapha deliver ₦1.5 Billion in interventions for Ilorin central mosque

In a landmark development that signals a new era of sustainability for one of Nigeria’s most iconic religious and cultural sites, the Ilorin Central Juma’at Mosque has received over ₦1.5 billion in interventions from two prominent figures—Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, and Senator Saliu Mustapha.

The announcement was made on Sunday by Alhaji Shehu Abdulgafar, OON, secretary of the Mosque’s Board of Trustees and Danmadami of Ilorin, during a press conference held at the mosque premises. He described the interventions as historic and transformational, with long-term impacts on the mosque’s maintenance, energy independence, and financial viability.

At the heart of this support is a ₦1.1 billion ultramodern 250-bed hostel project, pledged by Alhaji Dangote. The facility will be constructed at the University of Ilorin and is designed to generate stable, long-term rental income dedicated solely to the upkeep of the mosque.

To formalize the arrangement, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the university and the mosque’s management. Under the agreement, the mosque will retain ownership and operational rights over the hostel for a period of 21 years, after which the property will revert to the university.

In addition to the future hostel income, Dangote has already begun fulfilling a commitment to provide ₦5 million monthly to the mosque. This temporary funding will cover the mosque’s maintenance needs until the hostel project becomes operational.

“On behalf of the Emir and the people of Ilorin Emirate, we sincerely thank Alhaji Dangote for this historic intervention that will rescue the mosque from financial challenges for the next two decades,” Alhaji Abdulgafar stated.

Complementing Dangote’s intervention is the contribution of Senator Saliu Mustapha, the Senator representing Kwara Central and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture.

Senator Mustapha facilitated the installation of a state-of-the-art solar-powered mini-grid system at the mosque. This multi-million naira project also extends to parts of the Emir’s palace and is expected to significantly reduce electricity costs while guaranteeing uninterrupted power supply for the first time in the mosque’s history.

According to Abdulgafar, both projects align perfectly with the vision of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR, who has long championed the idea of a self-sustaining, modern central mosque that serves not only as a house of worship but also as a cultural and historical landmark for future generations.

The press conference also included tributes to past and present leaders whose contributions have helped shape the mosque’s development over the decades. Among those acknowledged were the late Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki, former Senate President Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, former Governor Abdulfatai Ahmed, and current Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

In closing, Alhaji Abdulgafar appealed to all indigenes and well-wishers of the Ilorin Emirate to continue supporting the mosque.

“Maintenance is the oil of physical infrastructure. Without it, structures decay and deteriorate,” he said.

“The Ilorin Central Mosque belongs to all of us. It is a sacred trust we must preserve for ourselves and the generations to come.”