Historical Background of Obafemi Awolowo University Central Mosque The need for a mosque
The frequency of worship in Islam demands that Muslims should have easy access to mosques. Muslims have always taken care of this by building mosques in public places such as schools, parks, markets, factories and the premises of government ministries. It has not been different with Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Community. Right from the inception of the University, there have been serious efforts to erect a structure. The struggle to have a mosque, albeit simple but decent, has been long and bitter. Between 1962 and 1966 when the University was quartered in Ibadan , a shed made out of palm fronds served as the mosque. When the University moved to its permanent site in Ife in January 1967, there arose a fresh need to establish a mosque. The authorities were approached for a piece of land for the building of a mosque. None could be allocated for this purpose as the University's Master plan had no provision in it for a mosque. The situation then warranted that any available space be improvised for a mosque. A narrow space which could take only three rows of worshippers was found behind Fajuyi Hall common room and was converted to a mosque. In a short time, the space became inadequate and the mosque had to be moved to the internal part of the common room. Soon after, the common room was converted to a reading room and a quit notice was served to the Muslims. The search for a mosque space continued. Our plight drove us to the University Sports Centre where one of the parvilions was prepared for service on Fridays. The place was least convenient. Worshippers bore scorching heat during the dry season, made their 'sajdah' on a messy floor when it rained. As if this was not enough, the Muslims were again ejected because our Friday services were clashing with sporting activities! Out of frustration, we had to settle for a most abominable place for our Jumat prayers i.e. the students' buttery at Fajuyi Hall Annexe which was essentially a beer parlour where students relaxed. This imposed on us additional burden of scrubbing and mopping the floor every Friday before Jumat prayer could hold. In 1981, after 19 years of struggle, a parcel of land was allocated to the Muslim Community along with two others allocated to the Catholics and the Protestants for their churches and one to the traditional religionists for their shrine. Just immediately after the allocation had been made, we were barred from holding our prayers in the buttery. To avoid the ignominy of forcible ejection, we hurriedly put up a structure on the land allocated to us. This now serves as our Temporary Mosque. Certainly, a mosque is the nerve-centre of activities in a Muslim Community. Our present temporary mosque had to be built hurriedly. It is neither suitable nor befitting for a number of reasons:
- The steady growth in the population of Mulsims on the campus calls for a spacious place of worship.
- Substantial numbers of worshippers attend Jumat service on campus on Fridays.
- To match the University record of being the most beautiful campus in Africa , A condition set for us was that our mosque has to be a masterpiece
Although, we only desired a simple and modest mosque, the Obafemi Awolowo University authority insisted that we should meet their own architectural standard. To press this point, the University donated to the community free, a design of a mosque which at 1985 was estimated to cost =N=3.5million. The Central Mosque Complex
The proposed mosque was designed to accommodate 4,000 male and female worshippers and to meet the architectural standard of the University. Initially (in 1985) the mosque was estimated to cost =N=3.5million to built to completion. But when re-estimated in March 1991, the mosque was estimated at =N= 15million to completion and further re-estimation, in 2004, brought the cost to =N=50million. At first launch in 1986, a total sum of =N=557,305.28 was realised which later rose to =N=685,007.28 in December 1990. The actual construction commenced on 4 th July, 1989 by Messrs. Kramer Italo Limited to construct only the Main Jamiu and the Minaret but only 15% of the first phase of the project was completed because all the money realised in 1986 was expended on the project. In 2001, the Lagos State Chapter of Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates Association (UNIFEMGA) set a target of =N=10million for themselves towards the completion of the mosque project. In 4 years, they were able to raise =N=5million. Through direct labour, this changed significantly the dormant nature of the mosque project, which had been abandoned for almost 15 years. Also, During 2005 Ramdhan, Efforts were made to raise a set target of =N=1million among recently graduated Brothers and sisters, this effort was really successful with the raising of =N=1.175 million within the Glorious month. Dear Brothers and Sisters, After : Twenty five (25) years of taking ownership of the land, Fourty Years (44) of struggling for a befitting mosque all we can really proud of is an uncompleted project. How long will it take us to complete this mosque ? A visit to this mosque during Friday Salat shows how people pray in the sun, how rain battered them during sermon and how the make shift mosque have been too small to even accomodate the females alone. (view pictures)
After considering all these, we felt that we should put all our little contributions together and complete the mosque in the shortest possible time, maybe in Two years time. To this, we are hopeful of raising a set target of =N=10 million within the Muslims communities both within and outside Nigeria ( OAU Graduates and Non Graduates inclusive). What do we need from you.
Dear Ibn Adam, We need your financial contribution, no matter how small it might be, thoguh the minimum contribution per individual is --------; we want you provide us with the names and contact details of other UNIFEMGA members and Muslim Graduates, we want you to donate your time and energy to this project by assisting us in approaching those whom you think can be of help to the completion of this mosque, all these are part of what we expect from you. You can go to our website and fill your contact details or mail it to any of the following address: Bro. (Dr.) Bello Musodiq : mobello2@yahoo.com ,+18326208555, USA
Bro. Obayopo Sirajudeen ; sirajolanre@yahoo.com , +2348056719577 ,Nigeria
Bro. Aibinu Musa ; maibinu@yahoo.com , +46737215899, Sweden,
Bro. Sulaimon Yahya Sulaiman.yahya@total.com +2348037078445 ,Nigeria
Bro. Aregbesola Mayowa, maregbesola@gmail.com , +966501493223 ,Saudi Arabia
Bro. Tiamiyu (Please Provide his surname) , USA
Bro. Ismael Leasu leasut@yahoo.com , or ileasu@slb.com +234 8024659865 of visit our secretariat in Lagos , Nigeria : National Secretariat, 63 Simpson Street ,
Ebute Meta Lagos. During the next few weeks , we shall get across to you in informing you on how to pay for this mosque Project and we shall also keep you inform of the progress of the mosque. Maa sallam. |
