The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has appointed five new Imams for the Abuja National Mosque, marking a significant step towards promoting inclusivity and reflecting regional diversity within the Muslim Ummah.
Significantly, two of the newly appointed Imams hail from the Southeast, highlighting the Council’s dedication to promoting unity among Nigeria’s diverse ethnic and regional groups.
The announcement was made on Tuesday during a press conference held at the NSCIA Boardroom in the National Mosque Complex, Abuja.
Addressing the gathering, the Secretary-General of the NSCIA, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, underscored the significance of the appointments and detailed the selection process.
The President-General of the NSCIA, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, was commended for his leadership and commitment to ensuring equitable representation in the mosque’s administration.
The newly appointed Imams are: Prof. Ilyasu Usman (visiting), Prof. Luqman Zakariyah (resident), Sheikh Abdulkadir Salman, PhD (visiting), Barr. Haroun Muhammad Eze (resident), and Prof. Khalid Aliyu Abubakar (visiting).
Their appointments, endorsed by the General Purpose Committee (GPC) and the Expanded General Purpose Committee (EGPC), followed clearance by the National Fatwa Committee.
Oloyede explained that this appointment is part of the broader effort to enhance the Abuja National Mosque, which plays a vital role as a hub for worship, education, and Islamic scholarship.
He highlighted that appointing Imams from various regions, including the Southeast, demonstrates a merit-based selection process while fostering unity within the Muslim community and ensuring representation from all parts of Nigeria.
Oloyede explained, “The Council has completed the process of appointing five additional residents and visiting imams for the mosque.
“The five volunteers have been considered by the General Purpose Committee (GPC) of the NSCIA and subsequently recommended for the endorsement of the Expanded General Purpose Committee (EGPC).
“The EGPC, at its meeting held on Sunday, 1 December 2024, endorsed, on behalf of the General Assembly, their appointments, subject to the endorsement of the National Fatwa Committee, which has also cleared the five Imams as qualified to be Imams of the National Mosque.
“I am honoured to, on behalf of the President-General of the Council, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alh. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, present to you the newly appointed Imams of the Abuja National Mosque.
“Look at what Islam in Nigeria was before the appointment of the current Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III. There was a lot of suspicion. Remember when he was appointed and went to Ansar-u-deen to pray? Many sensationalised it by saying the Sultan prayed behind a Yoruba Imam because we came from a culture where people didn’t understand Islam. In this short period, look at what this Sultan has done in unifying people. His accommodating nature is evident.
“Now, we have a deputy president general from the south. In appointments, we ensure everyone is considered. Out of five new imams, two have come from the southeast because they are qualified, not because of where they come from. We aim to take the best from all sections of the country.”
He also highlighted the compatibility of culture with Islamic principles.
The NSCIA scribe stated, “In Islam, everyone who identifies as a Muslim prioritises Islam above all else. I am a Yoruba man to the extent that my Yoruba identity aligns with Islam. For Muslims, any culture or group you belong to comes second to Islam, and there’s no apology for that.
“I’m Yoruba, but my participation in cultural activities is limited by Islam. For example, Yoruba culture may allow marrying five wives, but Islam permits only four. These limitations are set by Islam.
“Being a Muslim doesn’t make you any less a part of your tribe. No one has the authority to claim ownership of Igbo land and say you’re not Igbo because you’re a Muslim. I can also say, ‘I’m an Igbo man; you’re not Igbo because you’re not a Muslim.’ This isn’t an issue. We should discourage those who play such divisive games. Almighty Allah will judge us by our actions, not by superficial labels.”
Imam Prof. Ilyasu Usman, a new appointee from the Southeast, further spoke on the need to align cultural practices with Islamic teachings.
He explained that while every culture has both positive and negative aspects, Islam encourages Muslims to uphold the good within their cultures while rejecting practices that contradict Islamic teachings.
He pointed out that cultural traditions such as idol worship or alcohol consumption conflict with Islam, but cultural values promoting brotherhood and community support are embraced.
Usman’s words, “I want to say this unapologetically: every tribe and individual has a culture. Whether you’re Muslim or a Christian, you have a culture. In every culture, there are positives and negatives. For example, there was a time when twins were killed because they were seen as an abomination. A practicing Christian wouldn’t accept this, and as a Muslim, my religion prohibits indulgence in alcohol.
“In my culture, alcohol is consumed during festivals, but as a Muslim, I find this unacceptable. Every tribe has good and bad cultural practices. I accept good Igbo culture because it promotes brotherhood. When my brother has a problem and I can assist, I do so because it’s a good cultural value. I don’t support idol worship, and our Christian counterparts don’t either.”
The new appointments are part of the NSCIA’s broader strategy to continue evolving the leadership of the Abuja National Mosque, which has been managed by the Council since its establishment in 1984.
This initiative follows previous leadership reforms, including the appointment of Prof. Shehu Ahmad Sa’id Galadanci as the Murshid in 2017.
The NSCIA’s leadership emphasised that Islam should unite people, transcending regional, ethnic, and cultural divides, and reaffirmed the importance of prioritising Islamic values over any divisive identity labels.
