The commissioning of the remodeled Ifetedo Central Mosque in Ife South Local Council in Osun State will hold today (Friday, December 13, 2024) at the premises of the mosque.
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The mosque, which was built between 1960 and 1966, was remodeled by the Kulyan Ngeri of Ilorin Emirate, Prof Yusuf Olaolu Ali SAN, an indigene of Ifetedo.

The occasion will be presided over by the President of Muslim Ummah of South Western Nigeria (MUSWEN) and Deputy President of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo. The Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta, Alhaji Dawud Makanjuola Akinola is expected to be the special guest of honour, and Asiwaju Musulumi of Yorubaland, Chief Khamis Tunde Badmos is the guest of honour. Sheikh Abdurahaman Adangba is the guest speaker while the royal host of the day is the Olubosin of Ifetedo, Oba Akinola Akinrera Latiri 1.

In a statement issued by the Chairman, Organising Committee, Professor Rashidi Aderinoye, other guests expected at the occasion include, the Secretary General of NSCIA and Registrar JAMB who is also Kuliyan Sokoto, Prof. Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede; Chairman, BoT MUSWEN, Dr. Wale Babalakin; Chairman, Ibadan Muslim Community, Chief Bayo Oyero among others.

The chief host is Prof Yusuf Ali SAN, while the spiritual host is the Chief Imam of Ifetedo, Alhaji Abdul Jabar Akindunni. The programme is expected to start at 10:00am prompt.
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Ifetedo is a sprawling town and the headquarters of Ife South local council in Osun State. The town came into being around 1930 when a group of people who had lived for years in Okeigbo migrated to the new settlement as a result of a little misunderstanding.

Before then, Islam as a religion, existed as far back as the 18th century in Okeigbo. At that time, there were non-natives who were Muslims in Okeigbo. The indigenes were mostly traditionalists, but with contact in with Muslim itinerary traders from towns such as Ilorin, Iwo, Ede, Ogbomosho, awareness of Islam began to spread in Okeigbo.

Some of the non-native Muslims were Alfa Audu, Alfa Mamudu, Alfa Olibi who were natives of Ilorin and were itinerary traders. Alfa Idris Aluwenya, a native of Iwo, Alfa Idris Olomoyoyo, a native of Ede among others.

History has it that Alfa Audu from Ilorin who settled at Ile-Ogunbi, was one of the early practising Muslims in Okeigbo. He made frantic efforts to convert people with moderate success. And the turning point of his efforts was the conversion of Pa Odefisayo who was among the prominent Okeigbo Muslims that migrated to Ifetedo in 1930. Others were Pa Akindunni, Ojuade and Aromoye.

In the early 60s, the Ifetedo Muslim Community took the decision to build a befitting central mosque to replace the bungalow central mosque that was in place then. After all preliminaries, the foundation of the new mosque was laid at an elaborate ceremony in 1966. The foundation was laid by the representative of the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Oba Adesoji Aderemi. The completion period (of the foundation) was put at 1968. The old mosque was demolished. But the work on the new mosque dragged on for many years. At first, the Jumu’at service was being held at Aare mosque, after awhile, Muslim community decided to rotate the weekly Jumu’at service in the then existing ratibi mosques.
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In 1972, after the construction got to the first floor and the slab had been laid, the congregation moved to the half completed mosque, even though most of the essential services and facilities were absent.

For years, the construction work went on at skeletal levels and by 2005 or thereabout, the walls of the first floor were completed, roof was installed and the female members of the congregation started to use the first floor while the ground floor was occupied by the men.

In 2007, the son of the soil, Prof Yusuf Ali SAN decided to intervene and through the help of Allah (SWT) completed all the outstanding works on the Masjid. The restoration of the mosque with modern facilities was concluded in 2009.

But again in early 2024, Allah (SWT), using Prof Yusuf Ali, decided to rehabilitate, modernize and refurbish the mosque.The outcome of this latest intervention is the ultra modern central mosque that sits magnificently at the heart of Ifetedo of which its commissioning today is drawing dignitaries from far and near to the town.
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