Senator Mustapha, Kawu, Seyi Vodi, Deji Adeyanju, Other Prominent Nigerians Attend Yahaya Seriki’s Empowerment Colloquium In Ilorin
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Production Services, and Rural Development, Senator Saliu Mustapha; former Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe; Kwara State PDP chairman, Hon Isa Adamu Bawa, the party’s governorship candidate, Engineer Kale Kawu; Kwara North PDP senate candidate, Mr. Baba Kolo Jiya; and Kwara South PDP senate candidate, Hon. Saheed Popoola, were among the political figures who attended the ‘Yahaya Seriki Empowerment & Enterprise Colloquium 2026’ at the Arca Santa Arena, Ajase-Ipo Road, Ilorin, on Saturday.
The traditional institution was also strongly represented by the four Baloguns of Ilorin at the event powered by Chairman of Kursi Investment, Alhaji Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki-Gambari, while the religious institution was led to the event by the Chief Imam of Ilorin.
Also in attendance were the Grand Mufti of Ilorin, Sheikh Sulaiman Onikijipa; Sheikh Sulaiman Dan Borno; the Malami Ubandoma of Ilorin, Sheikh Dr. Abdulkadir Jumuah Salman Sholagberu, Sheikh Hamad Labeeb; and Sheikh Abdulraheem Abdullahi Salaty.
The panelists included Mr. Seyi Vodi, Mr. Deji Adeyanju, Dr. Buoye Mumeen, Mr. Nasir Abdulqadri, Hajia Saadat Bibire, Hajia Halimah Gegele, and Dada Oluwaseun Aderonke.
Celebrated compere, Mr. Gbenga Adeyinka moderated the event, assisted by Mr. Shola Seriki.
In his opening remarks during the main session, Mr. Nasir Abdulqadri noted that entrepreneurship and ‘Islampreneurship’ have for ages been deeply entrenched in the people of Ilorin, adding that every household in the town is known for a specific business.
The panelists took turns discussing how grants can be utilized for business sustainability, as well as how beneficiaries can generate drive and remain focused.
In his short sermon, Sheikh Hamad Labeeb expressed his happiness at ‘not being among the losers’ while praising Alhaji Abdulfatahi Yahaya Seriki’s generosity.
‘I am for Seriki. He is a man of the people. He is compassionate, and he is the best man for the job. He hates to see people cry. I have received over 200 million Naira from him to support people who needed assistance. Money is useless if it is not spent’ he said.
Sheikh Sulaiman Onikijipa also in his short sermon submitted that empowering people is the highest form of worship, as anyone who does so assists God in providing for His creatures.
In his speech, Alhaji Abdulfatahi Yahaya Seriki explained that he organized the 2026 edition of the empowerment programme to give back to society and uplift the people. He said his desire is to see more wealthy men and women emerge so they, too, can join the cause of empowering others.
Affirming his continued membership of the APC, he added that ‘God knows where we will be tomorrow’ while clarifying and asserting that he remains a member of the G-15.
Alhaji Seriki who also said ‘Whoever honors you, you must respect them’, added that ‘Ilorin and Kwara ko gbudo baje’ (Ilorin and Kwara must not be destroyed).
He further declared his total commitment to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
He noted that invitations were extended to all stakeholders, and those who chose to attend did so.
‘I invited everyone. May Governor Abdulrazaq not fall; you do not abuse or curse leaders, but you can pray for an alternative. I pray for our brother and leader, Dr. Bukola Saraki. Whatever I plan to do, all our leaders in Ilorin remain in my heart. The people who are here came because of their love for Ilorin’ he said.
Noting that he was born in Kaduna over five decades ago as the ‘son of nobody’, he added that touching lives always brings him joy.
Asserting that the G-15 remains intact, he added that he is an Ilorin man 100 percent and would never want anything adverse to happen to the city or Kwara State as a whole, cautioning against politicization of issues.
Disclosing that he had spent over ₦4 billion on the empowerment programme, he emphasized that his wealth is halal and that he has never executed a government contract in his life.
Giving his speech, leader of the G-15 group, Dr. Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, noted that members of the group were well-represented at the event. He prayed that God would reward Alhaji Seriki for his philanthropy, while taking a swipe at the state APC chapter by mocking its slogan, ‘ Iwaju lan lo’.
Stating emphatically that the G-15 will work for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, he noted however that the future interests of Kwara State will be prioritized in other elections, saying, ‘What we want is for Kwara to become great. Some say ‘Iwaju lan lo’ (we are moving forward), but in our case, ‘ibi giga lanlo ki ise iwaju ti isoro wa’ (we are going to a higher place, not just forward into problems).
Submitting that all the members of G-15 including Mr Dele Belgore SAN, Alhaji Bio Ibrahim, Senator Lola Ashiru, Senator Sadiq Umar were all represented at the event , he noted that soldiers do make a detour rather than advancing when the path ahead is filled with danger, so, for them at G-15, It is ‘Ibi giga lan lo ‘ not ‘ Iwaju la nlo’.
G -15 is a prominent political bloc and aggrieved faction within the ruling APC in Kwara State.
Highlights of the event included the singing of the ‘Happy Birthday’ song for Alhaji Abdulfatahi Yahaya Seriki at 1:26 p.m. and the singing of ‘On Your Mandate We Shall Stand’ for President Bola Tinubu.
Alhaji Abdulfatahi Yahaya Seriki was also announced as the Chancellor of Lens University at the event. The popular businessman, who thanked the university for the honor, added that he will enroll in a course there, making him the first Chancellor to simultaneously be a student at the same institution.
Meanwhile, the popular businessman Alhaji Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki-Gambari, in a statement issued by his media office and made available to Team@orientactualmags.com on Saturday night, noted that the beneficiaries of the N1 billion component of the empowerment programme will begin to receive credit alerts on Monday, November 2, 2026. This, he noted, will be done during the working days and operating hours of their respective commercial banks.
The N1 billion financial intervention is part of a broader empowerment initiative, which also includes the distribution of 150 exotic vehicles and other empowerment items to beneficiaries. Organised under the Yahaya Seriki Foundation, the empowerment programme aims to provide financial support, promote enterprise development, and improve the economic conditions of beneficiaries 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 08035023079, 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com. Thank you
