By Bola Badmus

Copyright tribuneonlineng

… as Lagos deputy gov, Hazmat, Oloyede hail Muslim Ummah

The Emir of Kano, Muhammad Lamido Sanusi II, has commended the British Government and the British people for the high level of tolerance, maturity, and diversity demonstrated in allowing people of different faiths to thrive in peace and harmony in the United Kingdom (UK).

The revered monarch gave the commendation in London at an international conference and a fundraising event for the rebuilding of Old Kent Road Mosque and Islamic Cultural Center, themed: ‘The Mosque as a Beacon of Light: Promoting Positive Integration for a Brighter Future’, held at East London Mosque, 82–92 Whitechapel Road, and organised by the Muslim Association of Nigeria UK (MAN UK).

Emir Sanusi, in his opening address as chairman of the event, congratulated the Muslim Association of Nigeria UK (MAN UK) brothers and sisters for their vision of hope for the Muslim Ummah and humanity in the global space of London.

He said the British Government and UK citizens had shown the Muslim Ummah what Islam stands for as a religion of peace, creating an enabling environment for diversity, tolerance, love, respect, and harmonious coexistence regardless of religion or race.

This was just as he noted that the mosque project stands as a symbol of hope for the Muslim Ummah and humanity in the heart of London, inspiring generations yet unborn, saying that “mosques are not only built for prayers but also for fostering social values, knowledge, and morals that benefit future generations and contribute to a better society where people are reminded of Almighty Allah’s words of peace, love, and harmony.”

Emir Sanusi emphasised that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) welcomed Christian brothers and sisters into the mosque, describing the mosque as a place of tolerance and unity where the values of Muslims were preserved, even as he expressed joy that the mosque was designed to accommodate other purposes such as schools, symposia, a business hub, social programmes, and to promote the use of solar power.

“This mosque is built in the true spirit of how the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) enjoined us to build mosques at the heart of communities where people of different nationalities gather together. I have no doubt that this mission of rebuilding the mosque will be achieved, and we shall encourage all those who need to be encouraged to see its completion,” he said.

Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, who is the Special Guest of Honour, in his address, expressed gratitude to Muslim brothers and sisters for the Old Kent Road Mosque project, even as he equally thanked the organisers, the Muslim Association of Nigeria UK (MAN UK), for putting the programme together.

“I am very happy and my heart is full of gratitude to our Muslim brothers and sisters for this Old Kent Road Mosque project. I must thank the organisers, the Muslim Association of Nigeria UK (MAN UK), for putting this together,” the deputy governor said.

Hamzat stressed that over the past three decades, the Old Kent Road Mosque had become not just a place of worship for Nigerian Muslims and other Muslims in London, but also a beacon of hope, unity, and social interaction at the heart of the city.

He described the event as marking 30 years of an institution embodying the true spirit of Islam, fostering community cohesion, nurturing faith, and serving humanity, noting that the mosque’s roles extended beyond prayers.

According to him, they include services such as Islamic counselling, savings advice, youth and elders’ engagement, and educational programmes that nurture the knowledge and values of future generations.

He emphasised that the decision to rebuild and expand the mosque into a modern 6-storey facility reflects a grand vision creating more space for spiritual growth and community development, saying that this represented the global arm of the Muslim Ummah in the United Kingdom in addressing the needs of a growing congregation.

The deputy governor described the project as a testament to Nigerian Muslims in the diaspora and a call for solidarity, adding: “This is an opportunity for all Muslims to demonstrate unity, charity, and brotherhood in uplifting our faith, spirit, and community.”

Also speaking, the Guest Speaker at the event, Registrar of the Nigerian Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, represented by Dr. Hassan Oloyede also congratulated the Muslim Association of Nigeria UK (MAN UK) for the vision of rebuilding the Old Kent Road Mosque and Islamic Cultural Centre in London.

The JAMB register expressed gratitude for the invitation, reaffirming his commitment to the mission and vision of the project, noting that the mosque was not merely a building of brick and mortar but a profound symbol of faith, identity, and community.

Oloyede further stated that the mosque had always served as a premier centre for education and knowledge, recalling that its educational role, in the contemporary era, was more critical than ever, just as he urged that mosques must reclaim this legacy by establishing structured educational programmes for all ages.

He recommended Quranic and Arabic classes for children, study circles (Halaqas) for youth and adults on Islamic jurisprudence, theology and history, as well as pre-marital and family counselling workshops, saying that by doing so, the mosque would remain the primary source of authentic religious knowledge, while protecting the community from ignorance and misinformation.

Earlier, the Chief Host and President of the Muslim Association of Nigeria UK (MAN UK), Alhaji Abdul Jeleel Oladejo, also welcomed everyone to the historic gathering.

Oladejo also noted that the mosque is not just a structure but a legacy of transformation, emphasizing that the Old Kent Road Mosque project was about building a future where children can thrive, youths can find purpose, elders feel honoured, and the entire community is spiritually and socially uplifted for the sake of Almighty Allah, with benefits in this life and the hereafter.

Other notable speakers at the gathering included Prof. Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad, Founder and Dean of the Cambridge Muslim College; Councilor Yasmine Dar, former Lord Mayor of Manchester City Council; Dr. Muhammad Wajid Akhter, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB); Dr. Taofeeq Abdul Salam; Shaykh Yusuf Kamara; and Alhaja Ramatalahi Faruq Onikijipa, who all lent their voices in support of this beacon of hope in the cause of Almighty Allah, and to see the completion of the Mosque before 2026 Ramadan.

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