Primate Elijah Ayodele, the leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, a Nigeria-based Christian ministry, has commissioned a newly built mosque in Lagos State, south-west Nigeria, and named it after Abibatu Mogaji, the mother of Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The ceremony took place during Ayodele’s annual thanksgiving event on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at Oke-Afa in Lagos State. The gathering attracted guests from religious groups, traditional institutions, politics, and the entertainment industry.
Organisers said attendees included Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, described as the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, a prominent market leadership title, and a daughter of President Tinubu, represented by delegates. Also listed were Doctor Agbu Kefas, Governor of Taraba State in north-east Nigeria, represented by a Special Adviser on Islamic Matters; and His Royal Highness Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, the Etsu Nupe, a traditional ruler of the Nupe people in Niger State, north-central Nigeria, represented by delegates.
Other figures named at the event included Honourable Joe Oke, a member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives representing Oshodi and Isolo Federal Constituency Two in Lagos; Sheikh Seifudeen Ademoritan Ayinla, the Chief Imam of Ikorodu Division in Lagos State; Oba Isa Abiodun Olakunle, the Osolo of Isolo, a traditional ruler in Lagos; chairmen of Egbe and Idimu Local Council Development Area and Isolo Local Council Development Area; and the Eze Ndigbo of Ejigbo, a community leader representing Igbo residents in Ejigbo, Lagos.
Ayodele said the mosque was built as a place of worship and that he would hand it over to a Muslim cleric, introduced to guests during the programme. He also said he was acting on what he described as divine instruction, adding that he had no interest in managing the mosque’s activities.
“Building this mosque isn’t because I want attention or anything from anyone; it was a divine instruction that I cannot ignore. It’s a place of worship just as we have churches, and I am not afraid of what anyone might say about this. I am only answerable to God, so whatever anyone says doesn’t matter to me as long as God is pleased with me.”
Explaining the choice of name, Ayodele said he initially planned a different name but changed it after what he described as direction from God. He also referred to public claims that he is hostile to President Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC), the ruling political party in Nigeria.
“People see me as someone who hates Tinubu or as an APC critic, and I think that’s why Governor Sanwo-Olu doesn’t respond to our letter of invitation, but it doesn’t matter. I named it not because I want Tinubu to give me an appointment or anything at all. I initially wanted to name it Folawuyo Mosque, but God said no. God chose the name. If anyone likes, they can condemn me; I don’t care. We have done it already.”
Religious leaders at the gathering spoke about unity and peaceful coexistence. A Muslim cleric who addressed guests thanked Ayodele for supporting Muslims with a dedicated prayer space and praised the gesture as a sign of shared values. The Chief Imam of Ikorodu Division, through a representative, urged people not to fight over religion and called for fear of God.
The Etsu Nupe also prayed for Ayodele and encouraged other clerics to copy what he described as good works. Traditional and community leaders, including the Osolo of Isolo Kingdom and the Eze Ndigbo, publicly praised the cleric’s charity and outreach.
Beyond the mosque, organisers said Ayodele ran empowerment support during the programme, including the donation of about five vehicles, multiple tricycles and minibuses, and free forms for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the examination body that conducts major secondary school tests in several West African countries. The support also included accommodation payments, sewing machines for tailors’ associations, and home appliances such as televisions, refrigerators, and washing machines.
The Eze Ndigbo also promised assistance to Emmanuel Udoh, described as a man battling kidney disease and due for a transplant.