The immediate past commissioner for public works and transport in Oyo State, Professor Raphael Afonja has converted to Islam.
In a trending video, the Professor of Physical Sciences now known as AbdurRahman was seen pronouncing the Kalima Shahada after the Chief Imam of Ogbomosoland, Sheikh Talihat Yunus Ayilara.
Kalima Shahada is the Islamic declaration of faith which can be translated to mean, “there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His messenger.”
The Imam, in his sermon of Friday, March 11, broke the news to the congregation, adding that Allah has blessed the ummah (the Muslim community) with the conversion of Prof. Raphael to Islam on Thursday, March 10.
“This will be my first conversion success story since I became an Imam,” said Sheikh Ayilara, who was appointed the Chief imam of the ancient Yoruba town in November 2021.
The former Commissioner who has now adopted the name AbdurRahman, is a Professor at the Department of Physical Sciences, City University of New York. He was once an Adjunct Professor at the Southern New Hampshire University.
He has won several honours, some of which include: U.S. Army National Defense Service Medal, Fort Sill, Oklahoma; U.S. Army Service Ribbon, Fort Sill, Oklahoma; U.S. Army Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Fort Sill, Oklahoma; U.S. Army Sharpshooter Qualification Badge, Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
Others are Distinguish Honor Graduate, US Army Quartermaster School; Doctoral Fellowship Award, City of Grand Forks, North Dakota.
Aside from his academic career, he has an intimidating diverse professional career having worked for various bodies. Some of these include the United States Air Force, where he served as a Program Manager/Engineer in the 27th Special Operations Civil Engineering Squadron, and Gamut Engineering and Technology Services where he was a Senior Consultant.