The management of Ilorin Central Juma’at Mosque has appealed for renewed financial support from stakeholders to sustain the upkeep and development of the world-class religious edifice.
The management said the mosque needs N5.5 million monthly for recurrent expenditure amid inflationary pressures.
The secretary of the Board of Trustees of the mosque, Alhaji Shehu AbdulGafar, expressed concerns over the increasing cost of maintenaning the edifice while presenting a progress report during the 2025/2026 annual joint meeting of the the Board of Trustees, Management Committee, Central Working Committee, and stakeholders of the Mosque in Ilorin, Kwara State.
He commended the support of the Emir of Ilorin, Alh Ibrahim Sulu- Gambari and other prominent individuals, while noting that the Mosque remains one of the most iconic religious structures in Nigeria.
He said among the major works completed during the year under review were the installation of 20 solar-powered security lights, repainting of the Mosque’s domes with golden finish, repair of solar panels, installation of a solar-powered pumping machine, and completion of utility works at the Idi-Ape Old Mosque.
Ongoing projects include the renovation of fountains, restoration of internet facilities, and replacement of damaged internal speaker systems.
On the long-standing plan to replace the Mosque’s main hall rug, the secretary disclosed that although ₦40m had been donated and preserved since 2021, the current cost now exceeds ₦100m, leaving the project stalled due to insufficient funding.
He further revealed that the Mosque has no steady source of income or investment, making it heavily dependent on donations and periodic interventions.n
” To address this, delegations were sent to Abuja and Lagos to seek support from prominent indigenes, yielding encouraging responses.
“Among proposed future projects is the development of a 250-bed student hostel at the University of Ilorin, for which a letter of intent has already been submitted.
“Despite these efforts, challenges such as epileptic power supply, electricity bills exceeding ₦1m monthly, and diesel costs nearing ₦700,000 continue to strain the Mosque’s finances,”AbdulGafar said.
He acknowledged the monthly N5m support to the Mosque from Alhaji Aliko Dangote.
