News

Hangha, Tongo Mosque in Sierra Leone wear a new look courtesy of Pa Salami Family

Published

5 years ago

October 28, 2021

By Cyril Ogar

The Sierra Leone community in Hangha and Tongo, Eastern Province, has honoured the memory of late Pa Salami Aremu Jimoh with a three-day Qur’anic recitation organised by his children.

The event brought together Islamic scholars, community members, friends, associates and others who had close relationships with Pa Salami during his lifetime.

Pa Salami, who was born in 1934 in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria, moved to Sierra Leone in search of better opportunities and eventually established a lasting connection with the country.

He was involved in the artisanal diamond trade, where he built a reputation for honesty, diligence and integrity among miners, traders and business associates.

However, members of the communities where he lived said his most enduring legacy was his generosity and concern for the welfare of others.

In Hangha and neighbouring Tongo, he was remembered as a father figure, adviser and mentor who readily offered support to people in need.

His home was reportedly open to struggling families and individuals, while young people seeking guidance on business and personal matters often relied on his counsel.

He also encouraged youths to engage in legitimate businesses and supported individuals seeking to improve their livelihoods.

The three-day Qur’anic recitation provided an opportunity for the community to remember his contributions and pray for the repose of his soul.

Islamic scholars recited verses from the Holy Qur’an and offered prayers seeking Almighty Allah’s forgiveness for his shortcomings, as well as His mercy and blessings upon him.

Prayers were also offered for Allah to illuminate and expand his grave and grant him Al-Jannatul Firdaus.

Food was prepared and shared among participants as part of the gathering, reflecting the spirit of generosity associated with Pa Salami’s memory.

His children and grandchildren said the memorial also served as a reminder of their responsibility to preserve the values he represented, including honesty, humility, compassion, generosity and service to humanity.

Although Pa Salami maintained strong ties with his Nigerian and Yoruba heritage, his years in Sierra Leone enabled him to develop deep relationships within the communities where he lived and worked.

More than a decade after his death, residents of Hangha and Tongo continue to remember him for the relationships he built and the lives he impacted.

The Qur’anic recitation therefore served not only as a religious observance but also as a tribute to a man whose legacy continues to connect his family and the Sierra Leonean communities across generations and borders.

May Almighty Allah (SWT) forgive his shortcomings, illuminate and expand his grave, and grant him Al-Jannatul Firdaus. Ameen.

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Foreign news

Algeria’s Glorious Revolution: Embassy Marks 72nd Anniversary in Abuja

Published

3 days ago

November 12, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Embassy of Algeria in Nigeria has commemorated the 72nd anniversary of the country’s Glorious Revolution of November 1, 1954, with a reception in Abuja, highlighting Algeria’s liberation struggle and strengthening diplomatic relations with Nigeria.

The event, held on November 9, 2026, at Continental Suites Hotel, attracted prominent personalities, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Tajudeen Abbas, members of the Federal Government, senior government officials, heads of diplomatic missions and other friends of Algeria.

Speaking at the reception, Algeria’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Hocine Mezoued, welcomed guests and paid tribute to the country’s freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives during the struggle for independence.

He described the November 1, 1954 revolution as the foundation of modern Algeria, noting that the sacrifices of the nation’s martyrs made it possible for the country to reclaim its sovereignty.

On Algeria’s development agenda, Mezoued said President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s administration had continued to pursue economic reforms, diversification and national development under its New Algeria vision.

He noted that the country was recording progress in non-hydrocarbon exports, while improvements in the business environment had boosted investor confidence and attracted significant foreign investments.

On foreign policy, the ambassador reaffirmed Algeria’s commitment to non-interference, respect for national sovereignty, peaceful conflict resolution and the right of peoples to self-determination.

Addressing security challenges in the Sahel, he stressed that lasting peace could not be achieved through military measures alone, insisting that economic development, inclusive dialogue and peaceful resolution of disputes remained essential.

Turning to Nigeria-Algeria relations, Mezoued described the partnership as one founded on shared values and the commitment of both countries’ leaders to advancing African development.

He identified the Trans-Saharan Highway, Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline and Trans-Saharan Fibre Optic Backbone as major strategic projects receiving attention from both countries.

The ambassador also disclosed that Algeria had continued to provide scholarships to Nigerian students to strengthen human capital development and capacity building.

He further announced that Air Algérie expanded its Nigerian operations on October 26, 2026, with the introduction of two weekly flights to Lagos, expressing confidence that the service would boost trade and tourism.

Looking ahead, Mezoued said 2027 would offer fresh opportunities to deepen bilateral cooperation, particularly through the fifth Joint High Bi-National Commission scheduled to hold in Abuja.

He expressed optimism that the meeting would provide an opportunity to assess existing partnerships, identify new areas of cooperation and move Nigeria-Algeria relations towards a more practical and results-driven phase.

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