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An Islamic mass wedding of no fewer than 25 couples held at the Oja’ba Central Mosque, Mapo area of Ibadan, becoming the first of its kind in the state and indeed the entire Southwest region.
The event, which held over the weekend, had in attendance, the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheik Abdul-Ganiy Agbotomokekere, Chief Preacher of Ibadanland, Sheik Abdul-fatai Alaga, the Chief Ajanaasi of Ibadanland, Sheik Zakariya Ona-Ido, the Mogaji Abata Community, Alhaji Abdul-Mojeed Abata among others.
The facilitator of the event said it is their own way of tacking the menace of adultery and fornication, which is daily becoming more rampant among the youths.
A non governmental Islamic group, Al-Balag Islamic Organisation, through one of its arm, Ebi-Alayo-Happy-Home said it has observed over the years how many young persons fall into adultery and fornication as a result of challenges encountered in their bid to get a godly marital partner.
Addressing the new couples, the family members and islamic leaders who were in attendance at the holy matrimony, the General Overseer of the group, Sheik Taofeeq Akeugbagold assures that the wedding is done with the consent of the parents of the would-be couples.
He explained that since the initiative was introduced through the Ebi-Alayo-Happy-Home media outreach in January, more than one thousand applicants have showed interest in being match-make with a spouse.
The General Overseer noted that many of the applications were received from both Lagos and Ibadan but that the group decided to join the 25 couples after concluding a thorough background checks, preparations and collective agreement of the would-be-spouses.
Akeugbagold who is the Chairman of the Pilgrim Welfare Board (Muslim Wing) however stressed that the group is also making plans for an elaborate mass wedding which is targeted at 200 couples, calling on willing islamic faithful to express their interest through the official hotline: 08057818180.
The popular islamic preacher however added that his inspiration to bring about the change comes from the continued challenge and encouragement of Governor Abiola Ajimobi, whom he said had always told him to always look for how the lives of the people of the state would be impacted through his appointment to the pilgrims board.
While praying for the new couple, Sheik Agbotomokekere enjoined the new couples to always remain together irrespective of the challenges that might arise in the coming years