••• Announces Engr. Akeem Adediji as Bobajiroro of Offa Land
The ancient town of Offa in Kwara State was enveloped in spiritual and cultural splendor on Friday as a high-profile dual celebration took place to mark the 90th birthday anniversary of the revered leader, Chief Gbobaniyi of Offa, Alhaji Ibrahim Adeagbo Adediji.
The day’s activities commenced with the commissioning of the Adediji Jumm’ah Mosque on Igbonna Road, Offa, and culminated in a grand reception at the Imperial Event Center, opposite Summit University.
The commissioning of the new mosque, described as a magnificent gift to the community by the celebrant’s children, was attended by a host of traditional and spiritual leaders, including the Olofa of Offa, His Royal Majesty, Oba Mufutau Muhammad Oloyede Gbadamosi Okikiola Esuwoye II, Ajagungbade I, the Afaaji of Faaji, HRM Oba Moshood Adeyimika Olawale Olaleke II; the Olufi of Gbonganland, HRM Oba (Dr.) Adetoyese Oyeniyi Odugbemi; the Olukotun of Ikotun-Ile Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Abdul-Razaq Adebayo Abioye, JP, GCOP (Ilufemiloye I); and the Onidun of Igbo-Idun, HRH Oba Abdulazeez Olasunkanmi Olatooye VII, among others.
The Chief Imam of Offa, Sheikh (Dr.) Muhyidin Salman Hussein Al-Imam, who made record as the first to lead the inaugural Juma’at prayer there in his sermon during the commissioning, emphasized the need for children to take good care of their parents to the best while they’re still alive.
He noted that there is no point spending huge money on burials while such gestures weren’t considered in their live time.
Imam Muhyidin emphasized on the need for people to purify their hearts towards people adding that what interests Allah most is good intentions and not how good the physical appearance.
He charged people to emulate Gbobaniyi of Offa Land who has lived a fulfilled life at 90 years with a known record of contributing immensely to the Offa land and for his loyalty to Olofa and the people of Offa.
He added that the best gift a Muslim can offer their parents in lifetime is a house built in the name of Allah, urging people to draw lessons from the Adediji’s family.
The Chief Imam of Offa was joined in the ceremony by a host of eminent Islamic scholars, including Sheikh (Dr.) Kazeem Baba, the Naibu-l-Imam of Offa; Shaykh Muhyiddin Raji Arojo, Wakilul Muslimin of Offa; and Shaykh AbdulRashid Arikewusola Funrae, Grand Muqaddam of Tijaniyyah for Offa.
Following the commissioning, the Chief Imam formally presented Mustapha Muhammad Bashir as the Imam of Adediji Jumu’ah Mosque to Olofa of Offa.
After the official turbanning of the imam, the Adediji family further honored him by gifting him a car and announcing that a designated apartment within the mosque compound would serve as his official residence.
9japarrot reports that a defining moment of the celebration was the historic installation of the celebrant’s son, Engr. Akeem Ibrahim Adediji, FNSE, as the new Bobajiroro of Offaland.
The announcement was formally made by the Chief Imam on behalf of the Olofa of Offa. Engr. Adediji, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Adediji Construction Nigeria Ltd, now holds the prestigious traditional title previously held by the late Chief Olabanji Omoniyi Olawoyin, thereby affirming his status as a second-generation traditional titleholder in Offa.
By conferring this title on the son of the Gbobaniyi during the 90th birthday celebration, the Olofa of Offa publicly recognizes and honors the legacy of the entire Adediji family for their long-standing dedication and contribution to the progress of Offaland.
The reception, a historic and dazzling affair, saw crème de la crème, friends, and well-wishers converge to celebrate the nonagenarian leader.
The celebrant, Chief Gbobaniyi of Offa, Alhaji Ibrahim Adeagbo Adediji expressed gratitude to God for granting a healthy and a purposeful live of witnessing the uncommon age of 90th at a time where it has been globally recognised that the expectant lifetime for humans is 60 years.
He thanked Olofa of Offa for his all time supports while given glory to God for blessing him with good family and offsprings.
Pa Adediji stated that it is a thing of joy to witness a day like this which also coincident with appointment of his son as Bobajiroro of Offa Land by HRH Olofa of Offa.
During the reception, the Olofa of Offa congratulated the revered leader, showering his Royal encomiums, He prayed that God will grant the celebrant more longlife as they celebrate 95, 100 years in many more years to come.
The revered monarch commended the celebrant for his support to Offa land and his uncommon achievements as Gbobaniyi of Offa Land.
The colorful reception compered by Alhaji AbdulAzeez Babatunde Yusuf (Babatunde Odidere), the Special Assistant on Media to Olofa of Offa had in attendance great personalities, sons and daughters of Offa Land across the globe who graced the lifetime celebration of the revered leader.
More pictures from the dual event;
