By Ahmed Ajikobi
The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibarhim Sulu Gambari, the Kwara State Head of Service, Mrs Susan Modupe Oluwole, the Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon Mathew Okedare (Jebba) and Yusuf Ola-Olu Ali (SAN) were among the 36 recipients of commendation award courtesy the Ilorin Emirate Forum for No 1.
Speaking at the event held at the Emir’s Palace in Ilorin, yesterday, the Grand Mukadam of Ilorin, Sheikh Suleiman Danborno said the awards would spur the recipients to greater things in the future.
“The palace is a house of blessing and if you are lucky to be bestowed with an award here, your blessings will increase in multiple folds,” he said, while charging the awardees to be God fearing.
“If you are not God fearing, no matter how covered with cloth you are, you are presumed to be naked,” Dan Borno added.
He however charged Muslims to be righteous by emulating Prophet Muhammed in their daily activities.
In his remarks, the National President of the Forum who doubles as the first Makama of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Oniye charged all Kwarans and other residents of the state to work together to uplift Kwara.
“The forum does not have religious colouration; whether you are a Christian or Muslim, so far you are from the emirate, let’s build up Kwara, so that the younger ones coming will emulate us,” Makama said.
He however solicited for donation of the sum of N153million to build the secretariat of the forum, acquire bus, among other needs.
Similarly, the Chairman of the occasion and Zanna Ngeri of Ilorin, Engr. Yusuf Olanrewaju Shagaya sought the cooperation of all to move the state in the right direction.
Other recipients of the award include; Alh. Musa Abdullahi, Hon Amuda Kannike, Prof. Adedayo Abdulkareem, Alhaji Lukman Mustapha, Sheikh Suleiman Faruq Onikijipa, Amb. Abdulfatai Yahya Seriki, Hajia Habeebat Aiyelabegan and Alhaja Maryam Bolanle Yusuf.
Among the personalities that graced the occasion are; Former commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajia Ayinke Saka and Arc. Halimat Tayo Alao.
