About Us
At Islamic Education Faith & Initiative (IEFI), our primary aim is to serve as a hub where Islamic knowledge, spiritual growth, and social welfare are fostered. Through religious education, community service, and charitable initiatives, the Muslim community in Magodo and beyond is uplifted.
Through quality provision of Islamic Education, we envision being the leading Islamic centre of excellence, one that advances faith, education, and welfare while enriching lives through knowledge and service.
Our history
The Islamic Education & Faith Initiative (IEFI) was established in 1996 as an extension of the Islamic Mission Organisation (IMO), inspired by the need for a unified platform for Muslims in Magodo Estate Phase 2 to come together for spiritual growth and community development. What began as a modest Zikr group evolved into a full-fledged organisation dedicated to Islamic education, religious engagement, and social welfare.
IEFI was founded by a group of devout, God-conscious men and women from diverse professional and personal backgrounds, all united by a shared commitment to the propagation of Islam in Magodo G.R.A. and its environs. In the early days, meetings were hosted in members’ homes on a rotational basis. As the community expanded, gatherings moved to a nearby school within the estate, accommodating the growing number of participants.
Our Goals
Promote Islamic Education
To offer structured learning programmes, lectures, and an Arabic school to deepen religious knowledge.
Expand Outreach & Impact
Strengthen partnerships and extend our programmes to benefit a wider community.
Enhance Community Dawah
Provide consistent financial, educational, and material support to vulnerable individuals and groups.
Develop Future Leaders
Empower Muslim youth and women through dedicated training and mentorship initiatives.
How it started
When the organisation was formed in 1996, the common objective of the group was ISLAMIC EDUCATION, hence the name ISLAMIC EDUCATION FORUM.
The meeting points, initially were at members’ house being arranged in rotational form. Each member would host for a month. Later the meeting point shifted to a school premises within the Estate. Much later, one of the Muslim residents, Late Mr. Akanni Dawodu magnanimously donated the ground floor of his building at plot 24, Abdul-Qadri Adebiyi Street to the Forum to use as their mosque. The space remains a venue which the Forum uses up till today.
Thereafter, the forum applied to LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT to give them a place of worship in the Estate. The Government initially obliged them a plot in 1999 and finally gave them a re-allocation in 2001 on TOKUNBO MACAULAY STREET consisting a land size of 1,274 square meters.
The Forum then develop an ISLAMIC CENTRE to consist the following accommodation; Mosque, Clinic, Library, Bookshop, Imam’s Residence, Offices, Conference Room and a Multi-purpose Hall.
Small acts big change
In August 2021, we celebrated our silver jubilee (25 years of existence) and we had series of interesting programmes including; Yard sales, Special Jumat Service, Fitness walk, Health Talk, a Documentary Caption and a Public Lecture which in restrospect partly captured our activities in the last 25 years during which we mad tremendous contributions to the development of Islam particularly in EDUCATION and WELFARE.
A fall out of the 25th Anniversary commemoration is the establishment of three (3) additional Welfare Programmes which is to further uplift the socio-economic status of desirable Muslims. These three (3) programmes which we have started executing include:
- Establishment of a Permanent Food Bank
- Educational Sponsorship of Indigent but brilliant Muslim Students
- Empowerment of Muslim with viable businesses.
On Food bank, we have provided foodstuff to over 1050 Indigent Muslims in over 20 mosques situated within 4 local government of Lagos State ( Kosofe Local Government of Lagos State, Ikorodu local government (3 LCDA), Bariga Local Government, Mushin local government).
We intend to commit to feeding 200 Muslims per annum and to permanently feed indigent Muslims from all walks of life.
On Educational Sponsorship, we have sponsored the tertiary education of the son of one of our deceased member. We have also sponsored three Secondary school Muslim students.
On Empowerment of Muslims, we have just resuscitated a blind Muslim’s business by providing him with construction tools worth N150,000 which he would rent out to Building Artisans to generate income for his sustenance. We have also supported 3 widow’s businesses, 4 youth members and several other walk-ins
Tributes
In the historical journey of this esteemed organisation, tributes must be made to the founding fathers and mothers, including those who have passed on to the hereafter. All these people strived hard in the midst of challenges to ensure the survival of the organisation that has become a household name today.
The founding fathers include:
1). Alhaji L. A. Adebiyi ( late), who was the first president and a member of the Board of Trustees.
2). Alhaji N.K.Apatira, the present Vice President (Islamic Matters), also a member of the Board of Trustees;
3). Alhaji N.O.Osikoya the current president of the organisation, also a member of the Board of Trustees;
4). Alhaji M.A. Jaji, the erstwhile Chairman of the Ramadan Committee
5). Alhaji Bamiduro
6). Alhaji Animashaun
7). Alhaji Hakeem G. Awe
8) Alhaji G.A. Akinsanya
9). Alhaji T. G. Adesoye
10). Brother Jamiu Oloko
11.) Hon. Ganiu Oni and some few other brothers
12.) Alhaja S. A. Amodu, a member of the Board of Trustees;
13). Alhaja S. Shitta-Bey, a member of the Board of Trustees;
14). Alhaja A. Adebiyi, a member of the Board of Trustees;
15). Alhaja S.A.Osikoya, the current publicity secretary;
16). Alhaja S.F Jaji
17). Alhaja R. Shitta-Bey (Jnr.)
18). Alhaja Bamiduro;
19). Alhaja Animashaun
20). Alhaja A. Akinsanya and a few other sisters.
Mention must also be made of some other members (late and alive) who, though, joined the organisation much later, but have made significant impact towards its development and must be remembered in the annals of historical development of this great organisation.
They are, but not limited to, Alhaji M.A.T. Giwa(late), Alhaji Oriolowo(late), Alhaji Akanni(late), Alhaji M.A. Ishola, Alhaji F.K.Lawal, Alhaji Saidu Basharu, Alhaji A. Adeoye, Alhaji(Engr.) H. Ekerin, Alhaji A. Alli, Alhaja W.M. Giwa, Alhaja Olanrewaju, Alhaja R. Akanni (late), Alhaja B.F. Ajani, Alhaja Aisha Kasim, Alhaja(Dr.) M. Basharu, Alhaja Ishola, Alhaja K.A. Lawal, Alhaja M.A Onisarotu, Hajia S. Mojisola Salami, Hajia Salaudeen, Alhaja Aina, Mrs Olajide, Mrs Abdulsalam(late), Alhaja Umoru, Alhaja Momodu, Alhaja Awe(late) and a host of others
Mentioned must also be made of two distinguished members who facilitated the official process of allocating a place of worship to the organisation, namely Alhaji (Senator) B.O. Ashafa and Alhaja S.F. Jaji
The recognition can not be complete without mentioning the immense contributions of the Mission Board, which has been headed progressively by the following chief Imams and scholars, Imam Isaq Folorunsho, Imam Shefiu Majemu, Imam Ibrahim Olaniyi and currently Imam Semiu Alkilany, all of who are built of sterling qualities and good Islamic knowledge.
May Almighty Allah reward the efforts of these members and, by extension, the collective efforts of all members in general. Aameen.
A place for you
The IEFI Magodo Mosque is located at Magodo, in the heart of Lagos. It is easily accessible and easy to find from any part of Lagos. We take pride in inclusiveness and community bonding.
