In anticipation of their departure to Saudi Arabia for the 2024 Hajj, the Edo State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has organized a comprehensive two-day Hajj orientation programme for intending pilgrims in Edo South at the board’s office in Benin City, the state capital which ended on Sunday April 28, 2024.
The chairman of the board, Sheikh Ibrahim Oyarekhua, lauded Mallam Harun Umar for his insightful lecture, stressing the mandatory attendance for all intending pilgrims due to its significance. He reassured attendees of the board’s commitment to providing top-notch services aligned with Allah’s prescriptions for a successful Hajj operations.
He noted: “I will personally handle the task of guiding the pilgrims in ensuring that their Hajj operations are performed excellently. As I have always done it, I will not delegate that to anyone. Inshallah, I will do again this year”
Highlighting the importance of decorum, Sheikh Ibrahim commended the intending pilgrims for their exemplary behaviour during the programme, urging them to maintain the same level of cooperation throughout the Hajj journey.
He said:”We appreciate the maximum collaboration we have had with all the stakeholders, including the Controller of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Edo State Command. We also appreciate you all the intending pilgrims, we urge you to maintain this same level of cooperation throughout the Hajj journey ”
Other distinguished speakers, including Mallam Nurudeen Asunogie, Alhaji Abdulfatah Enabulele, and Controller Uba Waziri of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Edo State Command, underscored critical aspects of the Hajj exercise and emphasized the necessity of adequate preparation.
In attendance was also the esteemed presence of the Edo State Commissioner for the Ministry of Youth and Humanitarian Affairs, Hon. Zubairu Dada Abubakar, who serves as the first Ameerul Hajj for the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage. His active participation highlighted the government’s strong commitment to ensuring the welfare and safety of all pilgrims from Edo State. Alongside him, the Chief Imam of Benin Central Mosque, Alhaji Abdulfatah Enabulele assumes the role of the second Ameerul Hajj for the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage, reinforcing the religious leadership’s dedication to guiding and supporting the pilgrims throughout their journey.
Their collective leadership, alongside the efforts of the board and other speakers, instilled confidence and reassurance among the intending pilgrims, setting the stage for a spiritually fulfilling and successful Hajj experience.
The programme concluded with a vital announcement from the Board Chairman: “Intending pilgrims in Edo South should anticipate their luggage bags on Thursday, while those in Edo North would receive theirs during the upcoming Hajj orientation programme organized specifically for them on Saturday May 4 and Sunday May 5, 2024”
With meticulous planning and collective efforts, Edo’s pilgrims are poised for a successful and spiritually enriching Hajj experience.
