Religion

‘Allah’ll grant you grace’ – Muslim group celebrates Pope Leo XIV

Published

2 months ago

May 11, 2025

The Ansar-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria has prayed that God will give Pope Leo XIV the grace to lead the Catholic community.

The group said the election of Robert Prevost now known as Leo XIV as the first American Pope was historic and marks a significant chapter in the history of the Catholic Church.

National President, Prince Mosediq Kazeem, said the historic moment signified not only the continuity of apostolic leadership but also reaffirmed the unity, faith, and resilience of the global Catholic Church.

The college of Cardinals had concluded its conclave and elected Pope Leo XIV following the death of Pope Francis last month.

In a statement signed by Kazeem, he said: “We commend the Catholic faithful in Nigeria for their steadfast prayers, unwavering devotion, and commitment to the spiritual well-being of the Church throughout this sacred process.

“As the Catholic community in Nigeria joins the universal Church in welcoming the new Pontiff, we pray that his papacy will be blessed with wisdom, humility, and a deep dedication to the mission of peace, justice, and service to all humanity.

“May his leadership inspire renewed hope, strengthen faith, and advance the work of the Gospel both in Nigeria and across the world.”

Kazeem said while the Ansar-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria remains committed to fostering interfaith harmony and understanding in the spirit of interfaith harmony, the group invokes the words of the Qur’an “….And you will find the nearest of them in affection to the believers are those who say, ‘We are Christians.’ That is because among them are priests and monks, and because they are not arrogant.”(Surah Al-Ma’idah, 5:82).

“May Almighty Allah continue to bless the Catholic Church in Nigeria, strengthen the bonds of peace between our communities, and grant abundant grace to Pope Leo XIV as he leads the flock of Christ with compassion and justice.”

Up Next

Why Pope Leo XIV chose Tinubu among other leaders – Bianca Ojukwu

Don't Miss

Cardinal Robert Prevost: 10 things to know about new Pope Leo XIV

Click to comment

Religion

2025 Hajj: Final batch of Kebbi pilgrims arrive from Saudi Arabia

Published

4 days ago

June 30, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The final batch of Kebbi State pilgrims has returned home following the completion of the 2025 Hajj exercise in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The return flight, carrying 418 pilgrims, landed at Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Ambursa, on Sunday evening, marking the conclusion of the state’s airlift operations.

The pilgrims were from Aleiro Local Government Area, accompanied by officials of the Kebbi State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, PWA, and other government representatives. Also onboard were the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Sama’ila Muhammadu Mera, who led this year’s delegation, and the PWA Chairman, Alhaji Faruku Musa Yaro Enabo.

Speaking shortly after arrival, Enabo described the Hajj exercise as successful, attributing the smooth coordination to the efforts of various stakeholders.

“We thank all those who played a role, both in Kebbi and in Saudi Arabia, for their cooperation and dedication throughout the pilgrimage,” he said.

He also expressed appreciation to the Governor of Kebbi State, Nasir Idris, for his continued support and commitment to ensuring the well-being of pilgrims.

With the safe return of this final group, Kebbi becomes one of the states to have concluded its 2025 Hajj return operations without any major incident.

Religion

Hardship: Pastor Adeboye plans prayer for economic restoration

Published

7 days ago

June 28, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, is set to lead a national prayer session for the restoration of Nigeria’s economy.

This comes amid worsening economic hardship in the country.

The prayer session will be held during the RCCG’s July 2025 thanksgiving service, themed “Divine Intervention,” at the church’s national headquarters in Oyingbo, Lagos.

Speaking through his Special Assistant on Administration, Pastor Dele Balogun, Adeboye said the current challenges facing Nigeria and other nations are surmountable through faith and positive action.

“Our nation, Nigeria, as well as other nations of the world, are going through a challenging time. However, the good news is that these challenges are surmountable by faith, if we do not entertain doubt,” he said.

Adeboye called on Nigerians to move away from negative confessions and embrace faith-based thinking as a pathway to progress, expressing confidence that God could reverse the country’s economic decline.

He said the prayer initiative is intended to spark national transformation and open up “divine opportunities” for the country.

Also speaking, the Assistant Pastor in Charge of Province 1, RCCG, Pastor Olusegun Macaulay, noted that divine opportunities are often activated by God and benefit those who are spiritually connected.

Macaulay added that a dedicated team is already praying for the nation throughout the second half of the year, focusing on key areas such as the economy, environment, and national stability.

Religion

Second batch of Kwara pilgrims for 2025 Hajj return from Saudi Arabia

Published

2 weeks ago

June 24, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The second batch of 548 pilgrims from Kwara State has returned to Ilorin, the state capital, after successfully performing the 2025 Hajj rites in Saudi Arabia.

The pilgrims, along with one participant from Ondo State and three accompanying officials, were conveyed by Max Airline and arrived at the Babatunde Idiagbon International Airport, Ilorin, at precisely 7:01 p.m.

Leading the group were three state officials; Alhaja Khadijat Kuburat Abtawiy, Alhaji Abdullahi Kawu-Shuaib, and Hajia Sanni Ramat from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government.

Ekwutosblog had earlier reported the return of the first batch of 558 pilgrims on Saturday, bringing the total number of Kwara pilgrims who have returned from the Holy Land to 1,106.

Meanwhile, the Max Airline aircraft that transported the pilgrims back to Nigeria departed the Tunde Idiagbon International Airport at approximately 8:52 p.m.