The entire Lagos Island and its environs recently stood still for the Alli-Oloko Balogun’s descendants as the wife of Caverton boss, Mr. Aderemi Makanjuola, Alhaja Lateefat Yoyinsola Makanjuola, a great great-grand daughter of the legend late Alli-Oloko Balogun was turbaned as the Iya Adini of Alli-Oloko Wasinmi Mosque, Lagos.
 
Also turbaned was a great-great-great grandson, Alhaji Monsur Kehinde Alli-Balogun as the new Imam of the mosque in an elaborate event. 
 
The grand ceremony, organised by the Alli-Oloko Balogun Descendants Union, was used to celebrate the legacy of their progenitor, whom they believe lives on after almost a century of his demise. 
 
Makanjuola, a renowned educationist who was trained in England has impacted many lives through her school, which has existed for many decades.
 
Aside impacting lives through her career exploits, Alhaja Makanjuola has also imbibed the life of a philanthropist just like her progenitor, by putting smiles on people’s faces.
 
A very loving, relatable, caring and generous woman, she has continued to be true to herself with her down-to-earth attitude, as she mixes freely with all and sundry irrespective of status, background or age.
 
It was no surprise when the descendants found her worthy for the title of Iya Adini Musulumi of Alli-Oloko Wasinmi Mosque, acknowledging her love for Islam.
 
Looking regal in a white flowing gown matched with green headgear and other clothing accessories at the occasion, the ever-smiling Alhaja Makanjuola was elated to accept the title.
 
Speaking after her turbaning, she said, “The occasion is significant because we remember our great legend. When we talk about someone that is specially chosen first by Allah and the community, we will say my great-great-great-great grandfather was a legend.
 
“It is a historic day for us as a family, which is why we put everything aside today to come and celebrate him. We are extremely excited that his offspring are being turbaned as the Imam of the mosque he built almost over 100 years ago.
 
“I am extremely excited because it has to be like that. He single-handedly built this mosque amidst no other mosque around. It’s a matter of charity beginning at home when you have your own on top of things you built to glorify and worship Allah (SWT).
 
“It is an everlasting legacy that we should have one of us to be part of ‘The League of Imams in Lagos State’, and I wish him all the very best and pray that Allah (SWT) continues to increase his knowledge, and guide him right at all times.”
 
Speaking about her turbaning, she said it came to her as a surprise as she had thought she was still young for the title, “but well I can see now, that even the Imam of Lagos and our own newly installed Imam are quite young, that is why I accepted it.
 
“So I thank God, I am so elated and I feel honoured and I pray to Allah (SWT) to continue to guide me in order to live the legacy and keep it going for our children coming behind us.”
   
Also speaking, the newly installed Imam, Alhaji Alli- Balogun, said, “Although I never expected that I would become the Imam of the family, just as a popular saying goes, ‘if you are not chosen you can never become a leader,’ I thank God that I was chosen.
 
“I give glory to Almighty God, and I give thanks to my family for giving me this opportunity, and I pray Allah (SWT) continues to be with them and watch over them in all their endeavours.”
   
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman, Alli-Balogun Descendants Union (an offspring of Alli Balogun), Otunba Nurudeen Adegboyega Ojora-Adejiyan said the family took three of Alli Balogun’s leftovers to heart, “The good name, Alli Balogun that must not be tarnished, Family Bond and the edifice named Wasinmi Mosque.”
 
According to him, “For the mosque, we saw that we do not have a choice, because the old man, fought a battle at the Lagos Central Mosque, left the place reminiscences of Sunny Ade’s song, ‘…maja, masaa, lafinmo akinkanju loju ogun.
 
“He left the battlefield, with his Imam and supporters and moved to this site to build the mosque, as well as a befitting house for the Imam by the side of the mosque….”
 
The highpoint of the event was the official turbaning of the new Imam by the Chief Imam of Lagos State, His Eminence, Sulaimon Oluwatoyin Abu-Nolla.
   
This was followed by the turbaning of other Chiefs, including Alhaja Makanjuola as the Iya Adini Musulumi and Alhaja Falilat Sanusi as the Otun Mogajia of Alli Balogun Family by the newly installed Imam.
 
The Imam also turbaned Alhaja Wasilat Ayoka Alli Balogun as the Iyalode Adini; Alhaja Riskat Abeni Alli Balogun as Majeobaje Adini; Alhaja Kuburat Shokunbi as Arowose Adini; Alhaja Sikirat Adeola Olowookere as Agbesinga Adini; and Alhaji Dawudu Omotoyosi Ibrahim as Sanmori Adini.