• Engr. Muftau Open Salawu
The Deputy Governorship candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) in Oyo State, Engr. Muftau Open Salawu, has donated N16 million to support the 2026 Rabitatul Aimmat Wal Ulamai Fi Bilaadi Yoruba (League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland) conference in Ibadan.
The sum of N15 million is for the three-day conference, while another N1million for the delegation of Islamic scholars as personal pocket money.
Open Salawu, who is the Giwa Adinni of Oyo State and Babalaje of Ogbomosoland, announced the donations on Tuesday when the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Imam Abdul-Ganiyy Abubakry Agbotomokekere, led prominent Imams, Alfas and Islamic scholars from across Yorubaland on a courtesy visit to him.
The visit was part of activities preparatory to the Yorubaland Muslim Conference, tagged Ibadan 2026, scheduled to hold from November 13 to 16 at the Jogor Centre, Ibadan. The organisers promised an intellectually engaging and spiritually uplifting gathering.
According to the delegation, the conference will provide a platform for Muslim leaders, community leaders, government officials and other stakeholders to deliberate on peace, unity, education, moral leadership, youth development and the strengthening of religious and community institutions.
They said the programme would also examine the role of Imams in purifying Islamic pulpits and the duties of political leaders ahead of the forthcoming elections, among other issues affecting the Muslim Ummah and the nation.
The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; Deputy Governor, Abdul-Raheem Adebayo Lawal; and Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, are among dignitaries expected at the conference.
The scholars described Open Salawu as the pride of Islam in Oyo State, citing his longstanding contributions to the development and propagation of Islam.
They recalled that he facilitated the construction of the Central Mosques in Ilajue, Surulere Local Government Area, and Olokoto, Orire Local Government Area, as well as single-handedly built mosques in Ile-Ogiri and Tara in Ogbomoso.
His interventions, they added, included supporting the foundation of Ikoyi Central Mosque and roofing several Jumat mosques.
They also listed his initiation of Itikaf at Ogbomoso Central Mosque and funding of feeding for 100 participants annually since 2023.
The delegation further credited him with feeding 9,000 people every Ramadan for the past eight years and sponsoring Muslim and Christian programmes on Parrot FM, Ogbomoso, for more than 10 years.
Open Salawu, while assuring the delegation of his presence at the conference, commended the League of Imams and Alfas for sustaining the initiative and creating a platform for dialogue and reflection on issues affecting the Muslim community and society.
He reaffirmed his commitment to supporting Islamic development and initiatives promoting environmental sanitation, unity, peaceful coexistence, education, youth empowerment and the wellbeing of the people.
He prayed that Allah grants the organisers wisdom, rewards their efforts and makes the conference a success.
The delegation, in turn, offered special prayers and spiritual blessings for Open Salawu, his family and his political aspirations.