Leadership reports that on Thursday, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III, bestowed the prestigious traditional title of "Kuliya of Sokoto" upon the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Is-haq Oloyede.

The Sultan made this announcement during a public lecture and special book presentation held in honour of Professor Oloyede, who celebrated his 70th birthday on Wednesday and officially retired from his role at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN).

The books are titled, “Islamics, Scholarship and Service to Society, A Festschrift for Is-haq Olarewaju Oloyede”, and “Glimpses into the Giant: A Tapestry of Tributes to Prof. Is-haq Oloyede at 70”.

The programme was organised by KU8+ Consortium of University in Kwara State.

The Sultan also used the event to appeal to Nigerians to stop the habit of cursing their leaders, urging them to rather pray for the leaders.

“Don't curse your leaders, no matter how bad they may be, but pray for them,” the Ameerul Mumini counselled.

The monarch said he was happy that the Emir of Ilorin, Alh. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, had conferred the same title of Kuliya of Ilorin Emirate on a legal luminary, Mal. Yusuf Ali (SAN).

Noting that Oloyede and Ali are close associates who have many things in common, the Sultan said: “I hereby confer on Oloyede the title of Kuliya of Sokoto. I will send the letter of appointment to him as soon as I return to Sokoto.”

The monarch, who poured enconmiums on Prof. Oloyede, added: “Whenever I come to Ilorin, I always feel so much happy. I came to Ilorin for the first time in 1974 as an Army Captain. We thank Allah for Prof. Oloyede's life and pray Allah to protect him. Though, he's retiring from the university, he will continue to be useful to Nigeria and humanity.

“I'm very pleased to make this programme. It's very important. We thank Allah for Oloyede's life. We'll continue to ask him to do more.”

The minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), chaired the well-attended event, which had many eminent personalities in attendance.

The governor of Kwara State, AbdulRazaq AbdulRazaq, was represented at the event by the chairman of Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board ( KWSUBEB), Prof. Shehu Adaramaja.