The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ogun State Command, on Wednesday held its 13th Annual Hijrah Awareness Lecture at the Command’s permanent headquarters in Owu Dekudu Village, along Kobape Expressway, Abeokuta.
The event, which marked the Islamic New Year 1447 A.H, was themed “Mosque: A Strategic Place for Societal Reformation.”
The event brought together officers, dignitaries, Islamic scholars, and members of the Muslim community to reflect on the spiritual and societal importance of the mosque, while also drawing attention to the ongoing efforts to complete the Command’s Central Mosque project, which began in 2021.
The State Commandant, Commandant Remilekun Omolade Ekundayo, in her address, emphasized the transformative role of the mosque in promoting societal values such as discipline, justice, knowledge, and community development.
“We must strive to embody the virtues promoted in the mosque discipline, integrity, humility, brotherhood, and service to humanity in both our personal and professional lives,” she said.
She commended the Muslim community within the Corps for their continued efforts in organizing the Hijrah lecture annually and expressed deep concern over the incomplete mosque project.
Commandant Ekundayo passionately appealed to guests, officers, and well-wishers to contribute to the mosque’s completion, highlighting the need for a conducive space for spiritual activities.
“Rain beats them, the sun scorches them. This mosque must be completed. It is our collective duty to make this house of worship a reality,” she added.
Meanwhile, the guest lecturer, Chief Imam of Ogbomoso Land, Imam Yunus Olushina Teliat (Ayilara II), a former NSCDC officer, stressed that the mosque must be used solely for its divine purpose, worship and societal development.
“If what we do in the mosque is not religious, then we have not used it well. The mosque must be able to think and solve what affects the people spiritually and economically,” he said.
He also reminded attendees that true worth is not found in ranks or positions but in the value bestowed by Almighty Allah.
In his welcome address, Alhaji A’wahab Luqman Olanrewaju, Chief Imam and Amir of the NSCDC Muslim Community, expressed gratitude to Allah for witnessing another Hijrah year and for the privilege of holding the event at the newly commissioned permanent office of the Corps.
He thanked the Commandant, a Christian by faith, for her support toward the development of both the mosque and the chapel within the Command, describing her as an “altruistic leader” and a “pillar of support.”
He appealed to everyone present to support the completion of the mosque, stating that the estimated cost for roofing the mosque was ₦16 million as of October 2024.
“We urge you to donate generously towards the cause of Allah, to rescue us from rain during the wet season and scorching heat during the dry season,” the Chief Imam pleaded.
In his address, the Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Sulaiman Olalekan Ayinla, Head of Local Government Administration and Giwa Adeen of Egba Agura Muslims, congratulated the Corps for sustaining the spiritual tradition within a disciplined security environment.
He reminded officers and guests of the meaning of Hijrah sacrifice, resilience, and divine direction and praised the NSCDC for demonstrating that service and faith can coexist.
“Your decision to commemorate this event as uniformed men and women is commendable. It shows that even in service, we can uphold Islamic values of discipline, humility, and sacrifice,” he said.
