Vice President Namadi Sambo on Friday in Ilorin urged religious leaders in the country to assist the government in tackling the security challenges facing the nation.

The vice president made the appeal at the inauguration of the Ilorin Central Mosque.

Sambo was the special guest of honour at the event which was also attended by other dignitaries, including the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal.

He urged religious leaders to preach tolerance, unity, peace and love which could create the necessary atmosphere for development in the country.

He praised the contribution of the ancient city of IIorin to the propagation of Islam and described the mosque as an edifice that was adding value to the Islamic religion.

Sambo, who described Kwara as a state of harmony, peace and progress, advised the state to continue to sustain the harmony the state had been noted for.

He stressed the need for constant maintenance of the mosque and charged the people of IIorin to sustain the aesthetics of the mosque.

In his remarks, Tambuwal urged Islamic preachers to instill good moral teaching in the younger ones so that they could become useful members of the society.

The immediate past governor of Kwara state, Dr Bukola Saraki expressed gratitude to God for the completion of the mosque.

Saraki, who is the senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial District at the senate, thanked former governors, ministers, business moguls and people from all walks of life who contributed to the realisation of the project.

Gov. AbdulFatah Ahmed of Kwara, in his remarks, described the new monument as a symbol of unity among the people of the state.

He called for its sustenance for more development to be attained.

The Sultan of Sokoto called on Nigerians to continue to exhibit character that could bring more development to the country.

The Emir of IIorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari said that the first IIorin central mosque was inaugurated in 1835, adding that the current inauguration of the mosque was the second of its type.

The vice president later joined other thousands of worshippers in observing two rakaats Jumat prayer led by the Chief Imam of IIorin, Alhaji Mohammed Bashir to inaugurate the mosque.

The mosque inauguration attracted several royal fathers, top government functionaries including Gov. Muritala Nyako of Adamawa and the representative of the Governor of Niger state, Prof. Ahmed Kuta, among other dignitaries.

It will be recalled that the Emir of IIorin, had earlier ordered the closure of Oja-Oba market on Thursday and Friday for a hitch free inauguration of the mosque.