The programme which was held at the Emir’s palace, Ilorin was at the instance of the Ilorin Emirate Youth Development Association, (IEYDA).

Speaking at the event, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari called on the association to intensify more efforts on other programmes and activities that would further accelerate socio-economic growth of the Ilorin Emirate and the state in general.

Alhaji Sulu Gambari who was represented by the Balogun Agba of Ilorin, Alhaji Aliu Adebayo urged the members of the association to be more united advised the executives to see their position a rotational towards serving the interest of the people.

Earlier, the National President of the Association, Alhaji Abdullahi Babatunde Salaudeen, said IEYDA was established to assist the less privileged in the Ilorin Emirate and beyond.

He added that the group has continued to embarke on projects that would inspire the lives of people positively.

The National President however mentioned the establishment of primary school, modern block industries, rental service and other vocational engagement to address the unemployment problem amongst the youth.

In a remark, the chairman of the event, Professor Saka Nuhu urged the political office holders to involve community development associations and traditional rulers in their empowerment programmes to actually reach the needy.

The Don, who is also the first Professor of Veterinary Medicine in Ilorin emirate decried the increasing rate of unemployment in the country and commended the association for the programme to reduce the unemployment rate in the society.

In his lecture, an Abuja based Islamic scholar, Alhaji Sarafadeen Abdulsalam Aliagan called on leaders in the society to alleviate the suffering of the masses through empowerment programmes.

Alhaji Abdulsalam Aliagan, who is chief Imam of NASFAT central mosque remained public office holders to see their position as strategies opportunities to serve humanity by contributing positively to the society.

Also speaking on “Participatory government: The way out of effects of democratic deficit in Nigeria”, the Acting Director, Centre for Community Development, Kwara State University, Malete, Mr Lawal Olohungbebe stressed the need for community based organizations to always be involved in any empowerment programmes.

ROYAL NEWS reports that Olohungbebe further urged community development associations like IEYDA to distribute any empowerment items collected on behalf of the people without fear or favour.

While advising the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the items received to better their lots, he urged well-to-do individuals to assist the needy and the less-privileged in the society.

Speaking with journalist, the National Publicity of the Association, Alhaji Muhammad Uthman Jagunma, praised the donors for their continued support at all time, stressing that the yearly empowerment Programme was meant to support potential youth within the emirate to be self reliance in order to reduce poverty and hardship in the community.

Highlight of the occasion was distribution of empowerment items such as tricycles, sewing machines, generators, clippers, grinding machines and payment of NABTEB fees for intending candidates.
Source: https://www.royalnews.com.ng/2018/02/22/emir-of-ilorin-to-groups-emulate-ilorin-emirate-youths-development-association/

The Justice Yusuf, who retired after two years on the seat died at the age of 85.

The burial of the late chief judge took place on Tuesday at his residence in the Government Reservation Area (GRA) of Ilorin after the Janazah prayer was led by the chief Imam of Ilorin, Alhaji Mohammed Bashir Salihu.

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara state in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Abdulwahab Oba, described the death of the former Chief Judge as an exit of a fearless but God-fearing legendary legal luminary.

The governor said he was deeply saddened to receive the news of the demise of Justice Yusuf, said that, “the late Justice Saka contributed his quota to the state and humanity within the opportunities available to him as a Chief Judge of the state and former National President of the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU). No doubt, the exit of this legal icon will be missed by his family in particular and the state in general”.

Dr Ahmed prayed God to grant the deceased eternal rest and the families, friends and the entire Emirate the fortitude to bear the loss.

The Ilorin-born Jurist was appointed the Chief Judge of the state in 2005 after the retirement of Justice Timothy Oyeyipo who held the post for 21 years.

Yusuf who was serving at the Kano state judiciary until his appointment as the Kwara state Chief Judge in 2005 retired from service in 2007.

After his retirement, he became the national president of the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), a post he held until about five years ago when his tenure expired.

The burial programme was attended by the state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed who was represented by the secretary to the state government, Alhaji Isiaka Gold.
Source: http://www.tribuneonlineng.com/kwara-ex-chief-judge-dies/

A Fulani group, Fulani Ilorin Emirates Youths Vanguard has protested what it termed “hasty generalisation of Fulanis as terrorists and as a criminally minded ethnic group in Nigeria.”
The Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government chapter, in a statement issued by its Chairman Usman Garba and Public Relations Officer, Oorelope Folarin and made available to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti expressed concern over an alleged blanket tagging of all Fulanis as mindless killers.

It also claimed that the media, as well as members of the public, had little or no knowledge about Cattle Rearing in Nigeria.

They claimed to have been part and parcel of Yoruba community, and Ekiti, having been living there well over 50 yesrs.
“This is our home because many of us and even our fathers were born here. So, we have no reason to cause trouble for anybody because, where to live is not where to destroy”, they said.
They group called on the media to always crosscheck their facts on any issue involving their members, farmers or their host communities before publishing same.

“It is very sad and most unfortunate that each time there was violent clash between herders and farmers, the media always look in the direction of Fulani as culprits.What the media fails to recognize is that there are number of tribes involved in this business.
“Among the tribes are: Hausa, Fulani, Bororo, and Bakolo. Others are Kaje and Tivs from the Northern part of the country,” the statement read in part.
“We are therefore calling on government as well as security agencies to conduct full investigation into renewed hostilities between farmers and herders in the State with a view to apprehending the culprits”, it added.

They, however pledged to cooperate with the security agents in the task.

Source: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/03/union-decries-poverty-rate-youth-unemployment-ilorin-emirate/

Uthman, who spoke in Ilorin, Kwara State, after the inauguration of the new executives of the union, said that Ilorin needed development and expansion of itYs infrastructure as it grows daily.

He said his team would work together with all stakeholders, including government at all levels, in their avowed determination to attract development to Ilorin emirate.

While pledging to be fair to everybody in the discharge of his duties, Uthman said effective service delivery, financial prudence, transparency and accountability would be the hallmark of his administration.

The IEDPU president added, “We shall at all times follow due process, and laid -down rules and regulations in running the affairs of our great union.

“We shall make deliberate efforts to unite our people and carry everyone along in our efforts to attract the desired development to our emirate. We shall also do everything humanly possible to safeguard the much- cherished peace and harmony which Ilorin is known for, and as well ensure that Ilorin continues to be relevant on the national scene.”

Uthman praised his predecessor, Alhaj Abdulhamid Adi, and his team for taking IEDPU to an enviable height, and promised to build upon his legacies.

In a brief remark, the outgone IEDPU president, Adi thanked God that the convention that brought in the new executives was peaceful and advised the new excecutives to manage the resources of the union well.

The oath of office was administered on the new executives by Barrister Abdul Oba.
Source: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/ilorin-emirate-new-exco-to-pursue-development-agenda.html

The councils include Ilorin West, Ilorin South, Ilorin East, Moro and Asa had recently witnessed an upsurge in cultism activities, predominantly among students and artisans like bricklayers, commercial motorcycle/tricycle operators, vulcanizers, panel beaters, mechanics and the likes, where many lives and property had been lost.
Representative of the elders, who is also the coordinator of a youth welfare foundation, Engineer Kamil Dauda, called on parents, community leaders, law enforcement agents and governments in the state to join hand to curtail the development.

Dauda, who bemoaned attitude of some community leaders in the metropolis that allegedly mount pressure on law enforcement agencies for release of arrested cultists, charged them to desist.
He said that such attitude of the influential people could encourage the menace in the society.

The philanthropist, who said that habits like hemp smoking, illicit drug use and drug abuse among the youths had led to antisocial behaviour and criminal activities in the emirate, added that such act could tarnish image of the ancient town.

Alhaji Dauda also charged patent medicine dealers who are in the habit of dispensing psychotropic, substances among other illicit drugs, to desist for societal well-being.

He said that his foundation, had in the past 10 years, organised series of youth empowerment programmes, extra mural classes, payment of school fees and award of scholarship to indigent students, adding that financial assistance had been provided widows and needy in the Ilorin metropolis.

He also said that the foundation planned to organize student sensitization programme and youth empowerment programme during end of year festive period in the emirate.
Source: http://thenationonlineng.net/ilorin-elders-decry-rise-cultism/

The monarch made the call in his message at the presentation of the award of excellence to the National Commandant of the Nigeria Peace Corps, Mr Dickson Akoh in llorin.

The award, which was at the Instance of the Ilorin Emirate Youths Integrity Vanguard, was received by the Commandant of the Nigeria Peace Corps in Kwara, Mr Lukman Yekinni on behalf of the National Commandant.

Sulu-Gambari, represented by the Balogun Afin of llorin, Alhaji Mohammed Nuhu, noted that no meaningful development could be attained in an atmosphere of chaos and acrimony.

The emir urged the Nigerian Peace Corps to ensure peace and unity.

He advised the corps to play a complementary role with other security outfits in the state so that peace will always reign supreme in all parts of Kwara and Nigeria in general.

Sulu-Gambari advocated for more enlistment of the indigenes into the Nigeria Peace Corps as a way of minimising unemployment among youths.

The emir praised the foresight of the llorin emirate youths vanguard for initiating the award and advised other social organisations to emulate them.

Alhaji Ahmed Ayinla, Guest speaker and a Lecturer at the Kwara State College of Education, emphasized the relevance of peace as one of the indices needed in any society for economic growth and development.

Ayinla charged the Nigeria Peace Corps to further complement on the peace and harmony for development to be attained.

One of the founders of the llorin youth vanguard, Alhaji Abdulwaheed Aiyelabegan, urged the Commandant of the Nigeria Peace Corps in Kwara to abide with norms and traditions of the state and ensure that peace reigns at all times

The state Commandant of the Nigeria Peace Corps, Mr Lukman Yekinni, pledged to intensify efforts toward ensuring peaceful co-existence among the people in the state.

Source: https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2017/10/28/emir-tasks-peace-corps-security/

A former Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Mr. Sadik Ismaila, is dead. He died in the early hours of Friday during a brief illness.

Ismaila, who occupied the position between October and December 31, 1983, was elected on the platform of the defunct National Party of Nigeria and represented Ilorin West Constituency.

The late politician, who was 80 at the time of his demise, was buried according to Islamic rites at the Omoda area of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

Incumbent Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Dr. Ali Ahmad, in a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulrahman Sanni, lamented Ismaila’s death, describing it as a huge loss to the people of the state and the country in general.

He said the deceased would be remembered for his principle, tenacity of purpose, humility and modest contributions to parliamentary proceedings in the country.

Ahmad enjoined Nigerians to emulate the sterling qualities of the former speaker to further strengthen the nation’s parliamentary democracy.

According to him, Ismaila passed on when his wealth of experience and wisdom were greatly needed to fashion a new constitution that would further stabilise Nigeria’s hard won democracy.

Ahmad consoled the Emir of Ilorin, Dr. Ibrahim Zulu-Gambari, his immediate family and the entire people of Ilorin Emirate over the incident.

He enjoined them to take solace in the fact that the former speaker lived a life worthy of emulation.
Source: http://punchng.com/kwara-loses-former-speaker/

Some leaders of Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State have petitioned the Presidency, National Assembly, the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, and security agencies, claiming that no part of Moro LGA belongs to the Ilorin Emirate led by the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari.

The members under Moro Concerned Elders Movement spoke about the petition during a media briefing in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital on Wednesday.

The President of the group, Ayinde Jimoh, in an address read by its Director of Publicity, Theophilus Oyebiyi, said its argument that Moro LGA did not belong to Ilorin Emirate was confirmed by the judgment of a competent court of jurisdiction delivered by Justice J.A. Ibiwoye on October 22, 1997.

Jimoh demanded immediate recognition and grading of some traditional rulers in Moro LGA.

According to him, the traditional ruler include Okutala Lanwa, Bielesin, Ejidongari, Olooru Bode-Saadu, Budo-Are, Malete, Elemere, Oloworu, and Babaloke.

He also demanded the immediate return of the pre-1984 third class grading of both Ohoro of Shao and Oba of Jebba, and the immediate upgrading of the duo to the first class status.

Jimoh on behalf of the Moro group further demanded immediate stoppage of the five per cent deduction from the Moro LGA federal allocation allegedly remitted to the Ilorin Emirate.
Source: http://punchng.com/moro-elders-petition-fg-say-our-lg-not-under-ilorin-emirate/

The union lamented that over 30 persons had so far been killed in the last six months in various brutal attacks carried out by rival cult groups in various parts of the state.

The union also asked the communities to name those involved in the sales of liquor and those involved in smoking of cannabis sativa and other prohibited substances as one of the steps towards eradicating the societal vices.

Addressing a security stakeholders meeting held at the union’s national secretariat in Ilorin, its national president, Alhaji Abdulhamid Adi, expressed sadness that Ilorin emirate which was hitherto known for peace and harmony had been turned into theatre of war.

“Level of criminality is getting worrisome within the metropolis .In the last 6 months more than 30 lives were lost due to cult activites.

“Notorious areas include Agbo -Oba, Gada, Edun,Gambari, and Ajikobi. The latest ones about two weeks ago were at Okesuna, Stadium etc”, he said.

Adi, spoke further that the union conveyed the stakeholders meeting to rub minds with stakeholders on how to nip the alarming trend in the bud.

As a step toward addressing the menace, Chairman, IEDPU Security committee, Ambassador Usman Abduazeez, said unless members of every community volunteer to purge their areas of crimes the anti-cult war and other prevailing security challenges might be difficult to win.

He urged every community to come up with the lists of suspected cult members and criminal for security agencies to act upon.

Abdulazeez, however, warned people against taking laws into their hands, stressing that they must, at all times, act within the confines of the law.

The meeting was attended by Divisional Police Officers, representatives of Department of State Security Services, vigilante and Metro security initiatives set up by the IEDPU in various communities.
Source: http://www.tribuneonlineng.com/lets-save-ilorin-criminals-iedpu-president/

The police in Kwara have arrested 11 suspects over cult-related killings and clashes in the state, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

NAN gathered that the suspects were arrested by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (CIID).

A police source told NAN in Ilorin on Monday that those arrested were suspected members of the Eiye and Aiye confraternities.

According to the source, the suspects were arrested at their hide out in Kulende area of Ilorin following a marching order for their arrest by the Police Commissioner, Ado Lawan.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Ajayi Okasanmi, confirmed the arrest of the 11 suspects.

He said the police would not relent until the state was rid of cultism and other crimes.

NAN recalls that the Ilorin Emirate Descendant Union (IEDPU) had revealed that nearly 30 people had been killed by cultists within the last six months.

The National President of the union, Alhaji Abdulhammed Adi, who spoke at a stakeholders meeting in Ilorin, expressed concern on the rise in cult-related killings in the state.
Source: https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2017/08/21/11-arrested-kwara-cult-related-killings/