58th IEDPU Conference: Aliyu Uthman Wants Unilorin Renamed In Honour Of Alimi  As Gov AbdulRazaq Talks About  Ilorin Smart City, Infrastructural Upgrade

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Monday said preliminary works will begin next year on the 18,000-hectare Ilorin Smart City Satellite Town that his administration has designed for the expansion of the capital city. 

Ilorin Smart City Satellite Town is an offshoot of the Ilorin City Master Plan, the second of such blueprints for urban planning since the state was created in 1967.

Speaking during the 58th Annual National Conference of the  Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), the governor said the capital city deserves constant infrastructural upgrade, maintenance, and expansion, cognizant of its positions in the state and the central Nigeria while also  making efforts to expand infrastructure in other parts of the state.

‘Next year, we plan to commence preliminary works on the Ilorin Smart City Satellite Town, which should cover an area of 18,000 hectares . This is a beautiful adaptation from the Ilorin City Master plan that I had previously discussed  at the gathering held by the IEDPU two years ago.

I therefore invite you to support this historic milestone in the socioeconomic and physical evolution of Ilorin and Kwara state as a whole. It will usher in immeasurable growth, huge investments in real estate, and the opportunities that come with building a new city’ he submitted at the event held at the forecourt of the palace of the Emir of Ilorin, Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari (CFR).

The governor congratulated the Emir, IEDPU, and sons and daughters of Ilorin on another impressive outing this year, praying Allah to grant the Emirate many more successes in the coming years and to make the state a positive reference point in harmony, peace, and prosperity.

‘Our gathering here serves to chat for this great emirate a new agenda of development, unity, brotherhood, and general wellbeing of our people. I am excited that His Royal Highness and indeed the IEDPU have remained reliable partners for inclusive growth, continued improvement in the living standards of the people, and steady evolution of Ilorin into a mega city.

The Ilorin City Master Plan is the second comprehensive document since the 1970s that outlines how the capital city should be planned. But it is just the first phase of the master plans we are bequeathing to the state, in shaa Allaah. Other phases will be for Kwara South and Kwara North. I thank the IEDPU and other stakeholders for their contributions to it.

Your Royal Highness, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, not only does Ilorin constantly need infrastructural upgrade, maintenance, and expansion because of its positions in our state and central Nigeria, the reality is that the capital city is at the risk of becoming a slum if nothing is done to give it a befitting expansion that improves its standing and makes it a 21st century city on a sustainable basis’ he added.

The governor appreciated the people of the Emirate for their unflinching support for  his administration in the last four years, especially during the last general election.

AbdulRazaq  later announced a personal donation of N25 million to support the IEDPU’s skill acquisition centre and the Central Mosque. 

A statement made available to Team@orientactualmags.com by AbdulRazaq’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Rafiu Ajakaye noted that the socio-cultural gathering was attended by top government functionaries, and prominent individuals from within and outside the state, including Grand Kadi Kwara state Shari’a Court of Appeal, Justice Abdullateef Kamaldeen Al-Adabiy;  the governor’s Chief of Staff ,  Prince Abdulkadir Mahe; Imam Imale of Ilorin, Alhaji Abdullahi Abdulhammed; Mufty Ilorin, Sheikh Suleiman Faruq Onikijipa; former Grand Kadi and Chairman of the occasion Justice Idris Haroon (Red); Chairperson and Matron for IEDPU Western Zone Hajia Fatimah Toyin Shuaibu; Chairman, AA RANO Nig Ltd and principal launcher , Alhaji Auwalu Abdullahi Rano, who was represented by Alhaji Muhammed Bello; and the IEDPU President, Alhaji Aliyu Otta Uthman.

Emir of Ilorin and Chairman Kwara state Council of Chiefs, Dr Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, congratulated the IEDPU and all sons and daughters of the Emirate for the successful host, appealing to them to continue to love one another and work for sustainable peace, unity and progress of the Emirate.

He lauded the governor for his remarkable achievements in the state and his support for the Emirate, including his support for the ongoing construction of skill acquisition centre of the union. 

National President of IEDPU, Alhaji Aliyu Otta Uthman,  commended Governor AbdulRazaq for his laudable projects in the state, particularly the recent inauguration of the Education Trust Fund, describing this as a step in the right direction.

‘As a community, we recognize the giant strides recorded by the current administration in the state, particularly in the areas of provision of qualified personnel and infrastructures as well as renovation of some existing secondary schools into befitting standards’  he said.

The President praised the foresight of the government on the proposed Kwara state University of Education and appealed that the institution be located within Ilorin.

He has also asked that  the University of Ilorin  should be renamed in honour of  a revered and respected Islamic scholar and founder of Ilorin Emirate, Sheikh Alimi ibn Solihu ibn Janta.

‘An equally sublime request, which is long overdue, is the renaming of University of Ilorin  in honour of Sheikh Alimi ibn Solihu ibn Janta, the founder of the Alimi Dynasty just like  it was done for his contemporaries like Uthman Danfodiyo University Sokoto, named after Sheikh Uthman Danfodiyo, the founder of Sokoto caliphate and Modibo Adama University Yola, named after Adama ibn Ardo Hassana , the founder of Adamawa Emirate.

 In the light of these precedents, we fervently call on the state government to take our request for the renaming of University of Ilorin as ‘Sheikh Alimi University, Ilorin’ in honour of the founder of the southernmost Emirate in Nigeria to the National Assembly through the senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial District and his colleagues in the House of Representatives. We know our representatives are up to the task and its our hope that the state government would do the needful to actualize this noble cause’ he said.

Chairman of the occasion, Justice Haroon (OFR), acknowledged the tireless efforts of the IEDPU in fostering unity and progress of the Emirate over the years.

He advocated for the establishment of Ilorin Emirate Elders’ Forum, comprising highly respected individuals that will be assisting the Emir and his chiefs as well as IEDPU in promoting peace, development and unity in the community.

Chairperson of the occasion and Matron IEDPU Western Zone, Haija Fatimoh Shuaibu, who commended the Emir and the union for the various achievements recorded so far, also appreciated the governor for his gender inclusion policies and programmes.

Justice Kamaldeen, in his lecture, admonished all sons and daughters of the Emirate to continue to exist in peace and unity, cautioning clerics against teachings or acts that can undermine peace and unity of the state. He described Sheikh Alimi as a great reformer, and hailed the Emir, his descendant, for his uncommon love and concern for sustainable peace and cohesion of the city-Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980. Thank you