The event, held during the holy month of Ramadan, featured Qur’anic recitations, supplications, and insightful spiritual guidance from Islamic scholars, drawing attendees who came to pray for the repose of the soul of the deceased patriarch and to reflect on enduring Islamic values.
Delivering the keynote lecture titled “Reliance on God”, guest speaker Sheikh Alhaji Abdul Lateef Salaudeen stressed the importance of complete trust in Allah in all endeavors and expectations. He emphasized that those who truly rely on God will never face disgrace, urging Muslims to exercise patience and await divine timing when seeking favors.
Citing references from the Holy Qur’an, the cleric described reliance on God—placing Him first in everything—as a core virtue in Islam. He encouraged adherents to cultivate this quality in their daily lives.
Sheikh Salaudeen commended the late Alhaji Soliu Noibi Bakre for the exemplary legacy he left for his children and the Ago-Iwoye community, a legacy that continues to inspire pride. He advised the Bakre family to steadfastly uphold and build upon their father's good name.
The Ebumawe of Ago-Iwoye, His Royal Highness Oba Abdul-Razaq Adesina Adenugba, praised Dr. Femi Bakre and his siblings for sustaining the annual Ramadan lecture in honor of their father, whom he described as one of the foremost Islamic leaders in Ago-Iwoye during his lifetime.
The royal father prayed for continued unity within the Bakre family and called on local Islamic clerics to avoid bitterness, foster peaceful coexistence, and persist in praying for the peace, progress, and development of the town.
In his remarks, Dr. Olufemi Nojeemdeen Bakre—Managing Director/CEO of Parallex Bank—expressed profound gratitude to Almighty Allah for his father's life and lasting impact. He portrayed the late Alhaji Soliu Noibi Bakre as a man defined by service, humility, and unwavering dedication to family and community.
“This Ramadan lecture is not only a tribute to our father's memory but also a plea for Allah’s mercy, forgiveness of his shortcomings, and the granting of Aljanah Firdaus,” Dr. Bakre said. “We thank everyone who joined us in remembering him. May Allah continue to guide the family he left behind.”
Dr. Bakre credited his father with providing a strong foundation in Islamic education for him and his siblings. He appealed to Muslim parents to enroll their children in Islamic studies alongside Western education, and echoed calls for unity and peaceful relations among Islamic leaders in Ago-Iwoye.
Participating clerics urged attendees to make the most of the remaining days of Ramadan through deeper reflection, increased charity, and fervent prayers. They offered supplications for peace, unity, and progress in Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, and Nigeria as a whole.
The gathering concluded with special prayers for the Bakre family and the broader Ago-Iwoye community, as participants reflected on the enduring contributions and values of the late Alhaji Soliu Noibi Bakre, whose memory the annual event seeks to perpetually honor.
