Emulate Ilorin people for peace to reign, Unilorin VC urges Nigerians

Date: 2014-04-23

Prof Abdul-Ganiyu Ambali, Vice-Chancellor, University of Ilorin on Tuesday called on all Nigerians to learn from the harmonious relationship of people of diverse culture living in Ilorin 

Ambali made the call during the second National Conference of the Centre for Ilorin Studies (CILS) of the University, with the theme: “Language and Religious Scholarship in West Africa: The Ilorin Factor”.

He noted that that Ilorin was a conglomerate of diverse tribes and cultures, intertwined and living peacefully.

“It is my belief that we need to understand and appreciate how the Yoruba, Fulani, Hausas, Nupe, Baruba, Gobirawa and the rest of the groups that make Ilorin, were able to live together harmoniously.

“We will then appreciate that Nigeria, despite our cultural plurality, can also be a peaceful and harmonious abode for us all,” he said.

Ambali urged the Federal Government to study the Ilorin situation and apply the principle nationwide, so that the country’s diversity, would be converted to strength.

In his keynote address, Justice Saliu Belgore, former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), gave an exposition of the Ilorin city, saying the name “Ilu-Erin” meant “City of metal weapon”.

He disclosed that by the 17th century, the town was a small village and when Oyo became a powerful kingdom, it became one of the places to check the incursion of the Nupe slave traders.

According to him, the Yoruba people were to later merge with many indigenous people, to the extent that their language became influenced.

He explained that Muslims from various parts of Africa and the Sudan moving down to Yoruba land, were teachers and preachers, among them, the Islamic Scholar; Mohammmed Saleh.

He added that Saleh settled in Ilorin after his sojourn in some parts of Yoruba kingdom and became a renowned preacher nicknamed “Alimi” in Ilorin.

Belgore noted that the Islamic preacher, after aiding a warrior, named Afonja, who ran from the Oyo Empire, established an Islamic caliphate and homogenised all tribes within the city.

Prof Abdulrasheed Na’ Allah, Vice-Chancellor of Kwara State University (KWASU), who also spoke at the event, said that language was the most important endowment of human beings.

He noted that the linguistic proficiency of Ilorin had always being accorded high regards and dueattention.. (NAN)

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Sarkin Malamai     The Herald     Shuaib Olarongbe     Arca Santa     Haliru Yahaya     Bashir Badawi     Tayo Alao     Ajasse-Ipo     Women For Change And Development Initiative     Omupo     SARS     Frootify     Amos Sayo     Abdullahi G. Mohammad     Yahaya Oloriegbe     AbdulGafar Tosho     Moro     Forgo Battery Company Limited     Ogidi-Oloje     Mohammed Abduraheem     Offorjama     Bolaji Aladie     AbdulRauf Keji     Abdulrasheed Lafia     Bilikis Oladimeji     Rafiu Olasile     Sadiq Buhari     Saliu Ajia     Lai Gobir     Isiaq Khadeejah     CCT     Solomon Edojah     Arik     N-Power     Olomu Of Omu-Aran     Sarah Alade     Trade Lenda SME Fair     Kudirat Arinola Lawal     Katibi Ibraheem Adeola     Yakub Ali-Agan     Plat Technologies     Quareeb     Borgu     Ahmed Saidu Rufai     Nupe     Minister     Otuka     Samuel Adedoyin     Sheikh Alimi     Amina El-Imam     Kolo     GGDSS Pakata     Obasanjo     Taofik Abdulkareem     Moses Salami     Owode Market     Salaudeen Oyewale     Illyasu Abdullahi     Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency     Kola Bukoye     Olateju Lukman     Shehu Alimi Foundation For Peace And Development     Muyideen Ajani Bello     Olaitan Adefila     Yemi Osinbajo     Ekweremadu     Sambo Murtala     Aisha Ahman-Pategi     Sabi     Yusuf Abdulraheem     Mohammed Halidu     Oluranti Idowu     Universal Basic Education Commission     Naira Redesign     Radio Kwara     Ayodele Shittu     Ahman Pategi University    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Nigeria Foundation For Artificial Intelligence     Salman Alada     Dan Iya     Bond     Ibrahim Abdulqadir Abikan     Maigidasanma     Al-Adaby     Paul Odama     Yoonus Kola Olatinwo     Taofik Mustapha     Just Law Forum     Sheu Ndanusa Usman     Belgore     Halimat Yusuf     Jani Ibrahim     Mubarak Oladosu     Centre For Digital Economy     Trade Lenda SME Fair     Ibrahim Labaika     Aliyu Muyideen     KWTV     All Confederation Of Principals Of Secondary Schools     Hassan Oyeleke     08001000100     UNIFEMGA     Osuwa     Dar-Al-Handasah Consultants Ltd     Ibrahim Abiodun     Mohammed Yisa     Saheed Popoola     Centre For Peace And Strategic Studies     Baruba     Tsaragi/Share     Kwara State Pension Board     Islamiya Abdulraheem     Ophthalmological Society Of Nigeria     Bayer AG     Aliyu Adebayo     VADA     Ayo Opadokun     Ishola Abdullahi     General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport     Fola Consultant     Bolakale Kawu Agaka     Folashade Omoniyi     NYSC     Kwara State Infrastructure Development Fund     National Pilot     Kamaldeen Gambari     Olushola Saraki     Abdullahi Imam Abdullahi     Abdulrazaq Adebayo     Kwara Restoration Project     Ilesha-Baruba     Joseph Bamigboye     Omar Gambari     Yusuf A. Usman     Abdul-Rasheed Na\'Allah     Gaa Olobi     Yakub Ali-Agan     Reuben Paraje     Cassava Growers\' Association     Nigerian Army     Bukola Saraki     Ajibola Ademola Julius     Jide Ashonibare     Offa Metropolitan Club     Yusuf Lawal     Abdulrazaq Solihudeen     SWAN     Wale Oladepo     Baruten     Olatunde Olukoya     A.O. Belgore     Abdullahi Saadudeen Alikinla     Ayodele Kuburat Olaosebikan     Kayode Oyin Zubair