Hijrah 1446AH: Osun declares public holiday to celebrate new Islamic year

The Osun State governor Dr. Senator Ademola Nurudeen has declared Monday 8th July, 2024 as a public holiday to celebrate the new Islamic New Year Hijrah 1446AH.

This was announced in a statement by R.K Aderibigbe, the Honourable Commissioner for Home Affairs.

The statement reads “This is to inform the general public that His Excellency the Governor of Osun State Dr. Senator Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke has declared Monday 8th July, 2024 as public holiday to celebrate Islamic New year Hijirah 1446AH.

‘His Excellency,the Governor of Osun State is also using this medium to appeal to all Islamic faithfuls to use the period of the celebration to pray for peace, progress and development of the State and Nigeria as a whole.”

The announcement came following a recent appeal by the Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN) to the federal and state governments to declare Muharram 1, the first day of the Islamic calendar, a public holiday.

In a statement released on Thursday, MMPN National President Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Balogun emphasized that this declaration would be a step towards equality and justice for the millions of Muslims in Nigeria, similar to the public holiday granted to Christians on January 1 of the Gregorian calendar.

He noted that this recognition would foster a sense of inclusivity and belonging among Muslims in the country.”

“Muharram 1, is our own January 1, we want both the Federal and state governments alike to declare it as such in the interest of religious harmony in the country”, Balogun said.