Emulate Ilorin people for peace to reign, Unilorin VC urges Nigerians
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.
Just Law Forum Fatai Olodo National Pilot Royal FM Zara Umar Babajide Ajayi Teachers Specific Allowance Kudirat Arinola Lawal CACOVID Palliatives Alfa Yahaya Road Ridwan Agboola Ahmed Alhasssan Imodoye Writer’s Enclave Kwara Teaching Service Commission Raheem Adaramaja Pilgrims Board Muhammadu Gobir Aremu Bose Deborah College Of Arabic And Islamic Legal Studies Adebayo Mohammed Kamaldeen Park Wakilin Mata Lafiagi SSA Youth Engagement Aisha Gobir NURTW Oba Mogaji Abdulkadir Tinubu Agboola Abdulraheem Temi Kolawole Salihu Jibril Garbi Oko-Erin Yoruba Hassan Abdulazeez Elewu Shehu Alimi Foundation Yakubu Shaaba Okin Group Ohoro Of Shao CACOVID Lateef Ademola Olatunji Kwara State Pension Board Orisun Igbomina Press Release FERMA Obuh Shaaba Lafiagi Police Commissioner Muritala Awodun Ilorin Likeminds Foundation TIIDELab Ahmed Idris Mohammed Isiaka Gold Aso Ofi Mogaji Aare Apaola Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Adanla-Irese Abdulrasheed Akogun Chikanda Saidu Kawu John Olobayo Vasolar Balogun Ajikobi Iyabo Adisa Ibiyeye Emir Of Ilorin Olosi Of Osi Ibrahim Bio Alapansapa Salihu Yahaya Sabitiyu Grillo Ilorin Olokoba Sulyman Abraysports FC Coalition Of Kwara North Groups Omotoso Isin Oye Tinuoye Gurei

