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.

Yomi Adeboye     Omupo     Musa Alhassan Buge     Shero     Ita-Nmo Market     Abdulrauf Aliyu     Ethical College     Durosinlohun Kawu     Balogun Fulani     Babs Iwarere     Yahaya Dumoye     Sarkin Malamai     Yetunde Balogun     Labaeka     Igbomina     SGBN     Toyosi Thomas     Sardauna Of Ilorin     Jamiu Oyawoye     Saidu Yaro Musa     Muslimah Entrepreneurship Forum     Firdaos Amasa     Olabode George Towoju     Kwara State Sports Commission     Kwara Teaching Service Commission     Ilesha-Baruba     Jaigbade Alao     Siddiq Adebayo Idowu Salawu     Olayinka Olaogun     Idris Garba     Salihu Ajibola Ajia     Wakilin Mata Lafiagi     Rebecca Olanrewaju     Centre For Peace And Strategic Studies     Oluronke Adeyemi     Convocation Ceremonies     Dairo Kunle Paul     Azeez Salawu     High Court     Sobi Hill     Abdulwahab Oba     Idiagbon     Babata     Kwara State Football Association     Roheemat Hammed     Goodluck Jonathan     Aishatu Ahmed Gobir     Ganiyu Abolarin     Olaoye B. Felix     Toun Okewale-Sonaiya     Assayomo     T And K FOODS     Salau Kabiru Abdullahi     Salake     Amosa     Amule     Kawu Baraje     Fatimah Abdulkadir     Babaita     Kwara State Polytechnic     Balogun Gambari     Sabitiyu Grillo     Bolaji Gambari     Hassan Oyeleke     Usman Yunusa     Kazeem Gbolagade     Shonga     Sa\'adu Gambari     Yoonus Kola Olatinwo     EndSARS     Nigerian Army     Agbarere     Okin Malt     Ilesha-Baruba-Gwanara     Olusegun Adeniyi     Sabi     Titus Suberu-Ajibola    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Balogin Alanamu     Dankaka     Muftau Akanbi Oke     Kannike     Abdulrasaq Alaro     Alaiye     Isiaka Rafiu Mope     Sunday Fagbemi     Bureau Of Lands     Okala Baba     Galland Marcias     Baba Issa     ASMAU PLAZA     High Court     Amule Elementary School     SWAN     Ilorin Anchor Men And Women     Simeon Sayomi     Kwara Central     Sa\'adu Gambari     George Funsho Adebayo     N-Power     Olokoba Sulyman     Magaji Erubu     Ishola Moses Abiodun     David Oyepinola Adedumoye     April 11     Eghe Igbinehin     Nigerian Supreme Council For Islamic Affairs     Onilupeju Of Ilupeju     CCEPE     Barakat Community Secondary School     United Nigeria Congress Party     KWASSIP     Dauda Adeniran Adeshola     Tanke Road     Ope Saraki     Wakilin Mata Lafiagi     Gbenga Adebayo     Elerinjare     Isaac Aderemi Kolawole     Ajibola Saliu Ajia     Javed Khan     Kwara State Branch Of The National Library     Guber Aspirant     Kisira     Oba Abu     National Information Technology Development Agency     Ayo Salami     Charles Ibitoye     Standard Organization Of Nigeria     Academic Staff Union Of Universities     Akeem Lawal     Bashirat Bola Bello     Michael Imoudu National Institute For Labour Studies     Undergraduate Bursary     National Pilot     Yahaya Abdulkareem     Chief Imam Of Lafiagi     Goodluck Jonathan     Ajasse-Ipo     Jumoke F. Ajao     Gabriel Fashanu     Edret Sabi Abel     Yusuf Abubakar     State Bureau Of Internal Revenue     Bayo Mohammed Onimode     Haashim Initiative For Community Advancement     Peculiar Allowance     Awili Pedro     RTEAN     Ita-Nmo Market     Ahmad Uthman     Tanke Flyover Bridge     Omoniyi     Moses Salami     Clara Nwachukwu