There have been many questions about why Nigerian Muslim Donated a Modern 400-seater Assembly Hall to Nigeria’s Oyo Catholic Diocese. This is almost the first of its kind in this WEST African country where Christians and Muslims seem to live in perpetual enmity.
Gasping for a likely answer to this riddle, the official Correspondent of RECOWACERAO NEWS AGENCY, RECONA based in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria narrated that the Catholic Church’s centuries of humble service to humanity and her development record to society are among the reasons Alhaji Ahmed Raji, a Nigerian Muslim, has given for donating a modern 400-seater assembly hall to Nigeria’s Catholic Diocese of Oyo in the Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province. Recall that a few days back a prominent daughter of this same country Reverend Sister Francisca Ngozi Uti won a 1.2 million dollars OPUS noble prize in far away USA.
Speaking during the event of the blessing and commissioning of the assembly hall that is named after Archbishop Gabriel ‘Leke Abegunrin, the Local Ordinary of Ibadan Catholic Archdiocese, Alhaji also said he donated the hall because of the impact of the Catholic Church to the Iseyin community, where the hall is located, this is according to a report shared with ACI Africa, which the Nigeria Catholic Network (NCN) published on November 18.
The report by Fr. Martin Badejo, who participated in the November 17 blessing and commissioning of the donated hall indicates that in his speech, Alhaji, a “devout Muslim”, cited the Catholic “Church’s long-standing tradition of humble service which has endured for centuries (and) its remarkable strides in the development of the society and humanity at large” as reasons for donating the hall.
Alhaji, described in Fr. Martin’s report as “a Senior Advocate of Nigeria” said that “the unparalleled foresight of the Church in the service of humanity and especially of the Iseyin community” also informed his decision to donate the modern assembly hall.
Alhaji highlighted his earlier donation in 2022 of a state-of-the-art operating theater and equipment to Our Lady Catholic Hospital, Iseyin, describing the hospital as “a real beacon of grassroots healthcare” since his childhood.
He praised the Church for saving lives and offering assistance through its medical and educational institutions, emphasizing that its grassroots efforts “do not discriminate against anyone.”
Raji urged Catholics, especially the youth, not to abandon the Church or succumb to the “japa” trend of emigration, which he described as a “scourge to the grassroots and our society at large,” depleting the manpower essential for societal growth.
He encouraged them to remain steadfast in their faith, value what they have, and “do as much good as they should,” spreading these values to others.
In his homily during the Mass which was celebrated after the blessing of the hall at St John the Baptist Catholic Church Isalu of Oyo Diocese, Bishop Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo is said to have termed the donation as an application of faith, urging believers to demonstrate their faith through actions that benefit “others.”
According to the report, Bishop Badejo also described the donation as a gesture for “interfaith relations” in the West African nation that is grappling with religious persecutions.
“While instructing others in virtue demands living a righteous life as good examples for others to see, it is as well important to help contribute to the progress of the society, to provide the resources needed for development and righteous living,” the report indicates.
According to Bishop Badejo, living righteously demands that faith be “brought to practical action, to help others to grow.” He says that this works even better when the relationship between different faiths “bears such positive fruits” like what Mr. Alhaji “has done for the Catholic community of Iseyin.”
The Bishop likened Mr. Alhaji’s kind donation to the biblical story of the Centurion whose kindness to the Jews in helping to build their synagogue, despite not being a Jew, “won him the favor of Jesus as a legitimizing episode.”
As Jesus healed the centurion’s servant, the Vatican Dicastery for Communication member since his appointment in December 2021 is said to have “prayed that God bless Mr. Alhaji and his family and all such people of goodwill.”
He noted that the Nigerian lawyer’s kind gestures toward the Catholic Church show his appreciation of the Church’s sacrifice and dedication to integral human development, solidarity, and the common good.
The Catholic Bishop of Oyo Diocese, who also serves as the President of the Pan African Episcopal Committee for Social Communications (CEPACS), an entity of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), is said to have challenged “all present to keep working for the good of their neighbors and society without caring about race, creed or status.”
On his part, Archbishop Abegunrin, having earlier received the keys to the hall named after him, is said to have expressed delight at the honor done to him.
He recalled the warm reception he has consistently experienced in the Iseyin community, dating back to his days as a seminarian. He shared how, along with fellow seminarians, he would stop by to report to their Priests while traveling to his hometown of Iwere Ile in Iwajowa Local Government, Oyo State.
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