On Wednesday, 12 March 2025, all roads led to Tutu Event Place, Samonda, Opposite Ventura Mall, Sango, Ibadan where the 1st Memorial Annual Ramadan Lecture was held in honour of Late Alhaji Boladale Adanla.
Alhaji Karheem Boladale Alade Adanla, the father of the CEO of Afia Construction and Building Engineering Consultancy Services Ltd., Engr. Abduljelyl Adekunle Karheem MCIArb, MCIOB, МСАВ, passed away on Sunday, 9 March 2025, and was buried the next day according to Islamic rites.
The family, however, launched an annual Ramadan lecture to immortalise his name, rather than having 3, 8 or 40 days of Fidau prayers a decision which many people, including top Islamic scholars, have largely lauded.
To say the event was successful despite the ongoing Ramadan would be an understatement. It attracted a good numbers of who-is-who across Islamic, business, corporate, social and political circles.
Amongst top dignitaries who graced the history-making occasion included the Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomosoland, Sheikh Yunus Taliat Ayilara, the Onpetu of Ijeruland, Oba Sunday Oladapo Oyediran; Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta states, Alhaji Dawud Akinola (De-Damak); former SSG to late former Oyo governor, Abiola Ajimobi, Alhaji Akin Olajide; Alhaji Kolawole Olayiwola (K.K Motors); Chairman, Oyo State Housing Corporation, Hon. Demola Omotosho; Hon. Abideen Adeaga; Chairman of Oluyole Local Government, Hon. Akeem Olatunji, and Governor Makinde’s right-hand man, Otunba Seye Famojuro, who had in his entourage the Director-General and Oyo State Agency Living with Disabilities, Barrister Ayodele Adekanmbi.
Others are Alhaji Mustapha Oyero, Chairman of Ibadan Muslim Community; the Head of Mogajis of Ibadanland, Mogaji Ariori; Alhaji Akeem Azeez, Personal Assistant to Governor Makinde; CEO of QuickBorn Nig. Ltd., Alhaji Babatunde Ologburo; Hon. William Akin-Funmilayo, Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Lands, Housing, Survey, and Urban Development; Grand Mufti of Ibadanland is Sheik Abdul Bari Adetunji; as well as Sheikh Muhyideen Onihantu, and Dr. Akin Fagbemi (PhD), Chairman Oyo State Hospital Management Board.
Sheikh Ayilara, the Guest Lecturer of the occasion, in a short but powerful lecture, emphasized the importance of prayer and giving. The two key factors, according to him, are part of the major determinants of whether one would go to Aljannah or Jahannam on the judgement day.
Ayilara also enjoined parents to teach their children in the way of Allah. He thanked Allah for having given Engr. Karheem and the family the wisdom to immortalise the memories of their late father with the annual memorial Ramadan lecture rather than holding 3-day, 8-day or 40-day Fidau prayers.
Another Islamic scholar, Sheikh Soliu Afelele, in his lecture, admonished those whose parents are still alive to take good care of them, citing as an example how the deceased enjoyed till the end of his life. Having lived with son till he breathed his last.
Other speakers at the occasion, including Sheik Habeeb Agbaji (ijoba), also delivered their strong lectures before Alhaji Ishola Ibrahim of Ibadan Muslim Council crowned it up with a special prayer for the Adanla family.
Delivering the vote of thanks, Engr. Karheem, the Turaki Adini of Oyo State and the Mogaji of Adanla family, expressed his profound gratitude to Allah for the grace for his father to have died in his hands. He also sends his appreciation to those who graced the occasion as well as those who couldn’t make it but were involved in one way or the other, particularly the executive governor of Oyo State, Engr. ‘Seyi Makinde.
