By joshua 
Nigerians from all walks of life have been asked to develop good intentions towards propagating the Islamic religion.
The Grand Kadi of Kogi State Sharia Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Abdulkareem Aruwa
made the call at the official commisioning of Ofejiji Masjid built by Kogi State Chapter of Jama’atu Nasril Islam at Ofejiji, along Ochadamu-Ejule road in Ofu LGA.
It was unprecedented and a beehive of activities, with excitement and Alhamdulillah, as thousands of people converged in Ofejiji as the Kogi State Chapter of Jama’atu Nasril Islam today Sunday, 26th September, 2021, made history when it officially Commissioned the Ofejiji Masjid it single handedly built for the Community.
The Grand Kadi urged Nigerians to always have good intentions, insisting that the reward of planting good seeds far outweighs the initial planting.
He disclosed that no good work is small urged Moslems not to despair in doing good, assuring that the society would be a better place if people cultivate the habit of doing good.
The Grand Kadi urged Moslems to live peaceful with their neighbors, said no meaningful development can be achieved in an atmosphere of rancour
Speaking at the occasion, Alhaji Inuwa Iyodo, Former Director, PENCOM, Abuja, who doubled as the Chairman at the Commissioning, thanked the leadership of JNI for the historic feat achieved.
The Chairman described the conceptualization of Allah’s commandments in the building of the Ofejiji Masjid as laudable, maintained that with the completion of the Masjid, it shows that Allah is able to do all things, urged for more individuals to embrace the building of Mosques across the State.
He called on JNI to place emphasis on the Orthodox and Islamic educational needs of the Moslem ummah in the State, insisting that instituting the need to acquire educational attainment using Ofejiji community as a pilot and in the State should be encouraged.
The Member Representing Idah, Ibaji, Igalamela/Odolu and Ofu Federal Constituency who was the Special Guest of Honour, Hon. David Idris Zacharias, commended the religious harmony existing in the Constituency and the State in general, assured that he would continue to support and encourage religious harmony in the Constituency.
In their separate remarks, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Dr. Usman Obaje, Ejeh Dekina and Acting Chairman Igala Area Traditional Council who was the Royal father of the day, and Alhaji Akwu Obaje, Eje Ofu, Chairman Ofu LGA Traditional Council who was the Chief Host, all lauded the efforts of Kogi State Chapter of JNI for building the Ofejiji Community Masjid and the promise to build more across the three Senatorial District as worthy of emulation.
Earlier in a remarks, the Kogi State Chairman of JNI, Ambassador Usman Bello, described the Commissioning as historic, said the gesture of building more Mosques would be done in all the Senatorial District of the State.
He congratulated the Moslem ummah in Ofejiji Community, urged them to guide the Mosque building jealously by rededicating themselves to the services of Allah in love and in fellowship.
He urged the Ofejiji Moslem Community to see the completion of the Masjid as a place of Unity and for worship, urged for the promotion of inter and intra religious harmony in the State, called for support from the Moslem ummah in helping to propagate Islamic religion in the State.
Presenting a report, Chairman, Organizing Committee on the Commisioning of the Masjid, Alhaji Isa Adeboye and Secretary of JNI, said the JNI has under the present leadership built a befitting Secretariat Complex, a modern Masjid/Conference Hall, provided boreholes with overhead tanks which was reticulated within and outside the JNI Secretariat.
He added too that the JNI has also acquired a 7.677 hectares of land along Okene/Abuja road for the building of an Islamic center, promotion of religious harmony and peaceful coexistence in conjunction with Christian Association of Nigeria, by Organizing Seminars/Workshop and Annual Interfaith Iftar.
Similarly, the Secretary listed the employment of Arabic/Islamic Studies Teachers for College of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Olofu Anyigba in the East, College of Arabic and Studies, Okene and visitations to hospitals and prisons amongst several other achievements, urged for the continued support of the Moslem ummah in supporting Program of JNI in the area of Da’awah.
As part of the ceremony, a Chief Imam, Mallam Zakariya Suleiman was appointed for the Masjid. He was turbaned by HRH, Eje Ofu, Alhaji Akwu Obaje, Chairman, Ofu LGA Traditional Council to be leading the Juma’a prayers.
The Ofejiji Masjid was envisioned by late Mallam Ibrahim Adams while alive urged that people should not be taxed to build the Masjid, Alhamdulillah. His dream came through when JNI vehicle had a flat tyre, stopped at Ofejiji for repairs leading to the conceptualization and completion of the Masjid.
It would be recalled that at the coronation of His Royal, Highness, Alhaji Akwu Obaje as the Eje Ofu and Chairman, Ofu LGA Traditional Council on the 20th, while the JNI delegation led by Amb. Usman Bello while returning from Ugwolawo to Lokoja, suddenly noticed that the left rear tyre of the Chairman’s vehicle of JNI went flat. While it was time for prayers, conscious of a place to pray, the delegation was directed to one ramshackle mud structure to pray, which led to the building of the befitting place of worship for the Ofejiji Community.
Aside a place of worship, the Masjid would not only be a Juma’a Mosque but would also serve as Madrasa for pupils/children learning Qur’an.
The official commisioning of the Ofejiji Masjid was well attended by eminent Jurists from the High Court and other Courts, by Islamic Clerics, heads of Islamic organizations and people from all works of life from across the state who graced the occasion.
Highlights of the occasion was the cutting of the tape by The Grand Kadi of Kogi State, Hon. Justice Abdulkareem Aruwa, recitation from the Glorious Qua’ran by Arabic Teacher, Olofu, Abdulrahim Abubakar, with an admonition by Imam, JNI Masjid, Alhaji Usman Taoheed who tasked people to live behind a mosque that would live after them as there is a reward for individuals while alive and after death if they build a Masjid. Also one Faith now Fatima and another Hauwawu at the Commissioning embraced the Islamic faith while Special prayers were offered for Nigeria, Kogi State and Gov. Yahaya Bello.