The prototype of the Islamic Centre
For years, the dream of a dedicated sanctuary for Muslim media professionals in Oyo State remained a noble aspiration.
It is a vision shared by founding fathers of the organisation and whispered in newsrooms.
But some days ago, the dream transitioned from blueprint to brick and mortar.
Under the clear skies of Arisekola Alao Estate, the Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN), Oyo State Chapter, performed the turning of the sod for its ultra-modern Islamic Centre, signaling a new era for faith-based journalism in the Pacesetter State.
The story of the project is as much about the future as it is about honouring the past. The land, situated along the Olorunsogo–Akanran Road, was a gift from the legendary late Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta State, Alhaji Arisekola Alao.
Alhaji Balogun, the MMPN National President, addressing participants during the programme.
Performing the official foundation laying, Engineer Muftau Open-Salawu, the Giwa Adinni of Oyo State and Director General of the State Project Monitoring Agency, delivered a stirring charge to the practitioners.
”We are not just starting construction on a building; we are laying the foundation for breakthroughs. This state-of-the-art centre will be a place where neighbours become friends and where ideas take root.
“To the media practitioners, who will call this home, the work you do here will push the boundaries of what’s possible.”
Open-Salawu emphasised that the centre is designed to be more than a mosque; it is envisioned as a hub of intellectual engagement, where the rigors of journalism meet the spiritual grounding of Islam.
Alhaji Kola Bolomope, a founding member of MMPN and President of the Ona-Ara Development Forum, reflected on this legacy with nostalgia.
Engineer Open-Salawu (right) and Alhaji Balogun exchanging greetings on the occasion
He noted that while the land was donated years ago, the timing for the project is perfect, coinciding with a massive infrastructural face-lift in the area, including the dualisation of the Olorunsogo–Akanran–Dagbolu Road and the ambitious Ibadan Circular Road.
The National President of MMPN, Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Balogun, in a goodwill message, didn’t mince words. He challenged other state chapters across Nigeria to stop sitting on the fence and emulate Oyo’s proactive approach to community-based projects.
Engineer Open-Salawu presenting his address
Supporting voices echoed throughout the event, Alhaji Abdur-Rasheed Abdul-Azeez, Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Islamic Affair urged members to stay committed to the propagation of Islam.
The Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Akeem Abas, represented by the vice chairman, Comrade Abiodun Atilola, stated that the project signaled the solidarity of the wider journalistic fraternity.
Mr. Tilewa Folami, Director-General of the Oyo State Investment and Public-Private Partnership Agency (OYSIPPA), stressed the project’s role in local development.
He added that once the project is completed, the MMPN Islamic Centre would serve as a multipurpose facility for religious worship, professional training, and community dialogue. It stands at a strategic intersection of faith and the ‘fourth estate’, promising to produce media practitioners who are as ethically sound as they are professionally birthed.
The Chairman of MMPN Oyo State, Alhaji Adebayo Abdur-Rofih, described the milestone as a fulfillment of a long-standing vision to strengthen professional bonds.