The lawmaker representing Ede North, Ede South, Egbedore and Ejigbo federal constituency in the National Assembly, Hon. Bamidele Salam, has commissioned the newly reconstructed Mubarakah Arabic and Islamic School, Awo, in Osun.
The commissioning was held on Saturday alongside an annual Ramadan lecture organised by Rep Salam and his siblings in honour of their late father, Imam Olapade Salami, who founded the school.
Speaking at the lecture, the guest speaker Sheikh Abdulazeez Onike, chief missioner of NASFAT, addressed the topic of family harmony in modern times, outlining how modern technology has affected family cohesion.
Represented by Dr. Marufdeen Ajibade, Onike said that guidance from the Quran and Hadith provides solutions to contemporary family challenges and emphasises the importance of strong communication and unity within families.
Dr. Ajibade described the reconstruction of the mosque school as beneficial for the Muslim community, noting that modernising the facility will expand access to Islamic knowledge for students in Awo and neighbouring areas.
Addressing Journalists, Salam explained that reconstructing the school was intended to honour and uphold the legacy of his late father, whom he described as a spiritually rooted Muslim scholar and founder of Islamic charitable works in the state.
He added that the school has historically served as a source of religious education for children in the community.
According to him, “My father was a very spiritual man, an Imam and founder of several Islamic charities across Osun state. He was instrumental to the construction of the first and the only mosque in at the Osun State Police Command while serving as STO.
“So, my siblings and I decided to uphold his legacy by reconstructing this school. He founded this school here and it served as a source of knowledge for children in Awo and its environs.
“My father ensured we have sound spiritual and western education. This ensured that we’ve good quality of life. I want to encourage parents to ensure their children have access to quality education across board – one should not disturb another.”
Traditional rulers present, including the Timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal, and Alawo of Awo, Oba Taiwo Abdulrasaq, commended the lawmaker for preserving his father’s legacy.
They also encouraged community members to make good use of the renovated school and to continue prioritising educational and community development.
The event was attended by Muslim scholars, traditional rulers and members of the Islamic community.
