By Bilkis Abdulraheem Lawal
Africa’s richest man and President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has assumed full responsibility for the construction of a 250-bed ultramodern hostel initiated by the Ilorin Central Juma’at Mosque in Kwara State.
The Secretary of the Mosque’s Board of Trustees, Alhaji Shehu AbdulGafar, made the disclosure at a press briefing in Ilorin, noting that Dangote had formally informed the Mosque of his decision to finance the ₦1.1 billion project at the University of Ilorin.
According to AbdulGafar, the state-of-the-art hostel is designed to serve students of the university while generating sustainable income for the Mosque. “The facility will provide much-needed accommodation and the rental proceeds will be dedicated to the upkeep and maintenance of the Mosque,” he explained.
He further revealed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Mosque and the University of Ilorin, giving the Mosque ownership and management rights for 21 years, after which the property will revert to the university.
Beyond funding the hostel project, Dangote has also pledged a monthly donation of ₦5 million to support the Mosque’s running costs until the project is completed—a commitment he has already begun honouring since last month.
AbdulGafar commended the billionaire industrialist for the intervention, describing it as a gesture that would not only strengthen the sustainability of the Mosque but also provide modern, affordable accommodation for students.
“This act of generosity will touch lives both spiritually and academically. It reflects the essence of service to humanity,” he added.
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