AN ABUJA-BASED business management expert, visionary leader and philanthropist, Alhaji Aminu Baba-Kusa, has donated a 3.25 hactares of land housing the famous Al-Noor Masjid (Mosque) and another edifice as Waqf (endowment) to the International Centre for Islamic Culture and Education (ICICE) in Abuja.
Waqf is an alienable charitable endowment under Islamic law which typically involves donating a building, plot of land, a sum of money and other assets for Muslim religious or charitable purposes with no intention of reclaiming the assets. The donated assets will be held by a charitable trust.
According to a statement signed by Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to the Director General/CEO of ICICE, Abdulkadir Ahmed Ibrahim, FNGE, Sunday, Alhaji Aminu Baba-Kusa presented the legal documents of the land, including the mosque and the edifice, to the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the ICICE, Professor Ibrahim Sulaiman, on Saturday at the administrative complex of the centre at Wuse 2, Abuja.
In 2015 while on Umrah (lesser hajj) in Saudi Arabia, the donor prayed for Allah’s blessings and guidance in his quest to establish an endowment fund to assist the poor, a charity to help the needy and a public mosque for worship and learning.
Back home, he eventually acquired a land along IBB Way at Wuse 2 in Abuja, constructed and completed the mosque while prayer started in July 2012 and the International Centre for Islamic Culture and Education, ICICE, was also established at the same time to promote inter-faith dialogue, steadfast in trainings to diffuse misconceptions about the Islamic Finance Industry, teaching the Science of Qur’an and Arabic language and carry out charitable activities and programmes aimed at enhancing the lives of Muslims and humanity.
Alhaji Aminu Baba-Kusa said he decided to donate the property for the sake of the Almighty Allah and his commitment to the advancement of Islam and Muslim community in the country.
“I thank God for giving me the opportunity to be here personally because I have been down for over two years, but to God be the glory, I’m healthy today.
“On behalf of myself and family that we decided to give half of the entire land housing the Al-Noor mosque to the International Centre for Islamic Culture and Education (ICICE) for the benefits of Muslim ummah. “So half of it is about 3.25 hectares of land, which is here 3.25 hactares”.
“These include the building we are in now, the mosque expansion and the proposed parking lots which we have at the tip end of the plots.
He expressed optimism that the centre would continue to be a reference point and platform for the propagation of Islam and charitable activities.
“I am happy that I’m part of it today and part of this ceremony to handover all these documents to Prof. Ibrahim Sulaman, who has being the Chairman, Board of Trustees of Al-Noor Mosque and the ICICE since 2012, when we started operating.
“And this is about 11 years and to God be the glory, it is done and that is a great day. I am happy really to see that I’m donating for the sake of Allah for the use of Islam.”
He noted that the remaining portion of the land was curved out for his Al-Noor Education Ltd. “This is our company, so we will take this part of the land for other uses that will help bring in lots of activities to the centre,” Baba-Kusa said.
Responding, Professor Ibrahim Sulaiman, who commended Alhaji Aminu Baba-Kusa for donating for the sake of Allah, challenged him to strive to give more charity.
“Today is historical and momentous for each and every one of us. Anybody who doubt before about what Alhaji Aminu Baba-Kusa can do, that doubt is gone.
“We have been together all our lives and we never cease being together: now this is the culmination of being together and I am happy is for a good course, for the sake of Muslim Ummah, for the sake of humanity.
Also, the Director-General of the ICICE, Dr Kabir Kabo Usman, said the centre with support from the Islamic Development Bank and Public Private Partnership will build offices and residential shops.
“And that will enable us to have our vision fulfilled by establishing Al-Noor University in Abuja.”
He thanked the donor and his entire family for their courage to support and give the donation.
He said Nigeria needs people like Baba-Kusa, saying that if many people emulate the kind gesture of the donor Nigerian society will definitely be a better place.
The Director General assured that the centre would continue to initiate quality educational and humanitarian programmes to help the needy, widows, orphans and conduct medical outreach to improve health condition of the poor and the destitutes.
“We are grateful to him for donating a land with a building that is worth billions and also the mosque that he built himself that is worth billions and even the fencing of the land.
The members of the Board of Trustees of the ICICE who witnessed the historic event are Professor Mohammed Nasiruddeen Maiturare and Alhaji Attahiru Muhammad Maccido.
Others are Directors of Finance and Accounts, Malam Mustapha Badamasi Atiku and that of ICT, Learning and Development, Malam Salisu Abdullahi.