Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has received an award as the “Best Supportive Governor in the South” in the just concluded 204 Hajj exercise.
The Governor was recognized alongside others by Independent Hajj Reporters of Nigeria on Wednesday, an independent media organisation that monitors and reports activities of Hajj exercise in Nigeria.
The national coordinator of Independent Hajj Reporters, Malam Ibrahim Muhammed announced this at the 2024 Hajj Lecture and Award ceremony which was held at the National Mosque auditorium in Abuja with the theme: “Stimulating Accomplishment, Evaluating Challenges”.
He said the Oyo State Governor was specially recognised for providing outstanding support to the state’s pilgrims to Saudi Arabia and ensuring efficient Hajj management and service delivery for the Hajj operation in 2024.
Recall that Governor Makinde had in July commended the chairman of the Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim Wing), Sheik Hashim Olamide Ateere, on the 2024 Hajj operations, stating that the smoothness of the operations was remarkable.
The Governor, who gave the commendation on Wednesday at the Hijrah 1446 luncheon organised by the state government and held at the Presidential Lodge, Secretariat, Ibadan, encouraged the chairman to let next year operations be even better.
According to him, this is the first time that none of the pilgrims criticized or complained about food shortages, accommodation, or anything related to their welfare.
The Governor expressed his gratitude to the hajj chairman for ensuring that the pilgrims had a pleasant stay in Makkah and arrived on schedule, noting that there was no delay in the arrival of the pilgrims’ flight.
He added that the chairman performed creditably well despite being his first task as a political office holder.
Receiving the award on behalf of the Governor, the chairman of the Hajj commission, Sheikh ateere thanked Governor Makinde for entrusting him with the position, noting that the governor deserves all commendation.
He equally thanked the Governor for providing all necessary support to the pilgrims for the seamless hajj operation, noting that his support had earned him the recognition by the National Hajj commission.
