The National Mosque, Abuja, on Friday, September 26, 2025, hosted the Igbo Thanksgiving and Heroes Immortalisation programme in a landmark gesture of unity, gratitude, and reflection.
The event, convened by Hon. Cletus Amaraegbu and organised by the Diaspora Alliance in collaboration with the Association of Igbo Daughters in Nigeria & the Diaspora, coincided with the Jumat Service. With the theme “Gratitude, Memory and Unity,” it aimed at thanking God for the preservation of the Igbo nation and Nigeria while honouring fallen heroes who contributed to the country’s progress.
Chief Imam of the National Mosque, Sheikh (Professor) Ilyasu Usman, an indigene of Enugu State, described the programme as a bold step toward reconciliation. “We must interact; we must embrace each other across religious divides. We must unite if we aspire to grow,” he said, while also clarifying misconceptions about Igbo Muslims.
Professor Edmund Ugwu Agbo, an Italy-based legal consultant and leader of the Diaspora Alliance, said the warm reception extended to the Igbo Muslim community signified the end of discrimination against them.
Similarly, Professor Theophilus Ndubuaku, Secretary General of ASURI, described the presence of Igbo Muslims in key mosque positions as a testament to Islam’s inclusive spirit.
Other notable speakers, including Mallam Umoru A. Safari, Director of Administration of the National Mosque; Barrister Haroun Muhammad Eze, an Imam from Enugu State; and several Igbo Muslim leaders reaffirmed their conviction in Islam and the need for Nigeria to celebrate its diversity.
The visiting delegation, which included Bello Abdullahi, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee of Africa Week, and Godwin Emmanuel, ETSAP North Central Coordinator, was conducted on a guided tour of the mosque.
The thanksgiving was widely praised for fostering interfaith dialogue, strengthening national cohesion, and immortalising the sacrifices of heroes past—marking a milestone in bridging cultural and religious divides in Nigeria.
