By Alabi Olawale(From Makkah)
The Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke, has gifted 100 Saudi Riyals each to all 980 Osun State pilgrims currently in Makkah for the 2026 Hajj exercise, fulfilling a promise he had made to the state’s pilgrim contingent before they depart for Saudi Arabia.
The distribution took place on Saturday at Osun State Pilgrims House in Makkah, where the State Amir’l Hajj and Chairman of the Osun State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board, Sheikh Dr. Abdul Maruf Olawale Ishola, addressed the pilgrims on behalf of the governor.
He described the gesture as a deliberate effort to provide financial support to the pilgrims as they prepared for their return journey to Nigeria.
Conveying the governor’s message, Sheikh Ishola disclosed that Governor Adeleke expressed deep satisfaction with the conduct of Osun State pilgrims throughout their stay in the holy land, stressing that not a single pilgrim was found to have violated Saudi Arabian laws.
According to him, the governor commended the pilgrims for being good ambassadors of Osun State, expressing pride in their maturity and strong sense of responsibility during the Hajj rituals.
Governor Adeleke also urged the pilgrims to intensify prayers for Osun State and Nigeria, particularly for divine intervention in addressing the country’s numerous challenges, with special emphasis on insecurity.
“Regardless of human efforts at tackling insecurity, prayer remains the most potent weapon against the menace that has continued to hamper national development,”he said.
Governor Adeleke reassured the pilgrims of his administration’s continued commitment to their welfare and that of all residents of Osun State.
He,however commended the State Amir’l Hajj, Sheikh Dr. Abdul Maruf Olawale Ishola, for his tireless efforts in ensuring the success of this year’s Hajj operations, and appreciated the officials and staff of the Osun State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board for their dedication and professionalism throughout the exercise.
Responding,Sheikh Dr. Ishola expressed profound gratitude to Governor Adeleke for his unwavering support, which he said significantly contributed to the smooth conduct of this year’s Hajj.Re-emphasized that all board members and staff worked with commitment and diligence to deliver a successful pilgrimage for Osun State.
Information Officer,
Osun State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board
Reporting from Makkah
