NSCIA Appoints Galadanchi Grand Instructor, Abuja National Mosque

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has confirmed the appointment of Prof. Shehu Ahmad Galadanci as the Murshid (General Administrator or Grand Instructor) to oversee the affairs of Abuja National Mosque.

Its Secretary-General, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, told journalists on Thursday in Abuja that the council has also appointed Alhaji Sakariyau Babalola as Deputy President-General (South); Prof. Salisu Shehu Deputy Secretary-General (North) and Haroun Muhammad Eze, a lawyer as Deputy National Legal Adviser.

He noted that the Murshid would be supported by the three Imams of the mosque and a Director of Finance and Administration.
Oloyede stressed that his duty among other things, is to see to the upliftment of the Muslim community spiritually and intellectually.

However, the appointment of Babalola brings the number of Deputy President-Generals to two after the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Garbai El-Kanemi, as Deputy President-General (North).
He stated: “Since the demise of the late Chief Imam, Sheikh Musa Muhammad, on May 2, 2015, the council undertook a number of restructuring. In line with the best practices in National Mosques all over the world, the Abuja National Mosque would now have a Murshid rather than a Chief Imam.

“Similarly, the three Deputy Chief Imams of the Mosque had recently been elevated to the position of Imams of the Mosque and one other vacancy had been declared (to be occupied by a qualified person from either the South-South or South-east geo-political zone of Nigeria), thereby bringing the total number of Imams to four,” Oloyede added.