I read a publication by the online medium, Ilorin Info, titled "Ethnic Pluralism in Ilorin", dated 28th May, 2021. It was culled from the book "ILORIN - THE JOURNEY SO FAR" by the erudite historian, Alhaji L.A.K. Jimoh.

I write this intervention not out of sentiment, ego, or bias, but from a sense of duty to record history accurately. No one can narrate the story of a house better than those who live in it.

It is important to note that the publication stated that the Oniyangi family originated from Adanla.

While I hold Alhaji Jimoh's work in high regard and do not seek to diminish his contribution to Ilorin historiography, the particular assertion is not accurate. Adanla was only a place of temporary settlement for our forebear, Mallam Mahmud Ahmad, and not our ancestral origin. The purpose of this write-up, therefore, is to set the record straight for students of history and to present the correct lineage for generations yet unborn.

Who We Are

The Oniyangi family of Ilorin stands as one of the most prominent, respected, and widely educated lineages in Kwara State, Nigeria. For decades, the name has been associated with excellence in medicine, law, public administration, and national politics.

Our story is not just about titles or positions held. It is about migration, resilience, integration, and the contribution of one family to the growth of Ilorin as a cosmopolitan Emirate. To understand the present, we must return to the root.

The Journey To Ilorin

Over a century ago, Mallam Mahmud Ahmad set out from Sudan. He was a herder, a farmer, and a man of faith and learning. His early movement took him to a settlement in what is today Gombe State. From there, he journeyed westward and found temporary refuge in Adanla, a village in present-day Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.

Mallam Mahmud was multilingual. He spoke Arabic, Fulfulde, and French with ease before he learned Yoruba and fully integrated into his new environment.

He arrived in Adanla with his first wife, Aminah, and their young son, Salman. Salman would later become the father of the late Dr. Abdulkadir Oniyangi, one of the earliest indigenous medical doctors of Northern Nigerian extraction.

Life in Adanla was cut short by hostility. Out of envy, some members of the community poisoned Mallam Mahmud's cattle. Faced with this, he made the difficult decision to leave and seek peace elsewhere. His next destination was Ilorin.

The Birth of the Name "Oniyangi"

On arriving in Ilorin, custom demanded that a stranger present himself at the Emir's palace. Mallam Mahmud did so, and in recognition of his peaceful disposition, he was allocated land on a hill characterized by red rock/laterite soil. The Yoruba called the soil "yangi". The location is today known as Emir's Road.

Using mud from the "yangi", Mallam Mahmud built his home. Because the soil was strong and suitable for building, he began to sell it to other settlers who wanted to construct their own houses. As more people came to buy from him, the place became known as "the house where yangi is sold." Over time, that description evolved into a household name. That is how Oniyangi came into being.

The name therefore carries geography, occupation, and history in one word. It is a reminder of how early settlers earned their place in Ilorin through enterprise and community service.

The Oniyangi Descendants

Mallam Mahmud Ahmad spent the rest of his life in Ilorin and was buried here. He left behind six sons: Mallam Salman Mahmud Oniyangi, Mallam Ahmadu Mahmud Oniyangi, Mallam Nasir Mahmud Oniyangi, Mallam Akanbi Mahmud Oniyangi, Mallam Hamidu Mahmud Oniyangi, and myself, Mallam Ashiru Muhammad Mahmud Oniyangi, the only surviving son.

From that single household on the "yangi" hill, the family has grown into a lineage known for scholarship, public service, and commitment to the development of Ilorin and Nigeria at large.

The Oniyangi story is therefore part of the larger Ilorin story. A story of Fulani lineage, who came, settled, adopted the culture, embraced Islam as a unifying faith, and contributed to building a pluralistic society.

We remain proud of our roots, and committed to preserving the truth of our history for generations to come.

Ashiru Muhammed Mahmud Oniyangi,
Oniyangi compound, Ilorin.