By Abubakar Imam
The Head, Department of Islamic Law, University of Ilorin, Prof. AbdulRasaq Abdulmajeed Alaro, has charged the people of Ilorin Emirate to cherish their cultural heritage in order to ensure a functional connection between their glorious past and the envisaged future.
Prof. Alaro gave the admonition while presenting a lecture at this year’s annual Ramadan programme of the Ilorin Emirate Staff Association(IESA), University of Ilorin, on Sunday (May 12, 2019) at the Multipurpose Hall of the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin.
The renowned cleric,who spoke on the theme “Ilorin Heritage: Contemporary Challenges and the Way Forward”, remarked that the culture of the people of Ilorin, as passed-down through generations, is essentially islamic-oriented, with a lot of emphasis on piety, simplicity, hardwork, erudition and courtesy, among other glittering virtues lacking nowadays.
Prof. Alaro said that it is important for the people of Ilorin Emirate to ensure that those cultural traits are not eroded by modernisation and contemporary challenges,saying that they remain essential ingredients with which every indigene of Ilorin Emirate will be evaluated, most especially, by people of other backgrounds.
While paying glowing tributes to the founding fathers of Ilorin Emirate,who though came from diversed linguistic backgrounds, but were united in the pursuit of deep islamic learning and made ernomous sacifices and tolerance, which made the Emirate a force to reckown with,Prof.Alaro noted that it was “important for the present generation of the community to preseve those worthy heritage for generations yet unborn”.
The Professor of Islamic jurispudence advised the present generations of Ilorin people to ensure that the labour of those heroes are not in vain by working hard to project and preserve the virtues of integrity,dignity and erudition for the incoming generations to sustain and build on.
The cleric also challenged Proprietors of private Arabic and Islamic Instittutions across the Emirate to repackage their curriculum in such a way that opportunities will be given to their pupils to acquire modern skills and vocational training in any field of their(pupils) choice, which will
make them productive and self-sufficient after graduation.
He also encouraged the people of Ilorin Emirate to emulate their ancestors who eschewed bigotry, idolatory, ritual killings, gambling and other odious tendencies.
Prof. Alaro urged the organisers of the event to elicit the cooperation and work in harmony with like minds, particularly the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union, towards ensuring that the dwindling glory in learning and general culture of Ilorin is restored without further delay.
He, partucularly, charged stakeholders to ensure that everything is done for their younger and incoming generations to acquire the knowledge of Quran, adding that any indigene of Ilorin who lacks the working knowledge of the Quran loses his basic cultural identity.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, who is also the immediate past Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Adedayo Yusuf Abdulkareem, commended the industry and integrity of members of the Association, which, he said, has reflected in their qualitative growth and career progression in the services of the University of Ilorin.
While acknowledging the inspirational leadership of a former Vice-Chancellor of the University and the Talba of Ilorin, Prof. Shuaib Oba AbdulRaheem OFR, Prof. Abdulkareem charged members of the Association to always be conscious of their alluring backgrounds, advising that members must always exhibit commendable traits within and outside the University.
Welcoming participants to the event,the Chairman of the Association, Prof. Suleiman Alege Kuranga, thanked members for doing the Ilorin Emirate proud in the qualitative discharge of their official responsibilities in their various units.
Prof.Kuranga, who is also a former Chief Medical Director, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, assured that the Association would not only be up and doing in its missions of uplifting the University and facilitating the development of Ilorin Emirate but always walk its talk by ensuring the full implementation of resolutions reached at the annual programme for the betterment of our society.
The event attracted several dignitaries including a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. S.O. AbdulRaheem, who was represented by the Director, School of Remedial Studies, University of Ilorin, Prof. Ibrahim Abdulkadir Abikan; the University Librarian, University of Ilorin, Prof. Abdulwahab Olarewaju Issa; the Chief Medical Director of the Ilorin General Hospital, Prof.Olokooba;the former Dean,old Faculty of Business and Social Sciences,University of Ilorin, Prof. Hassan A. Saliu; the Dean, Faculty of Education, University of Ilorin, Prof. Medinat Folorunsho Salman and a former Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin, Prof. M.M.Akanbi SAN.
Also at the event were the Dean, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences,who is also the Chairman, University of Ilorin Muslim Community, Prof.Ibraheem Adeola Katibi; the Director,Institute of Education, University of Ilorin, Prof. Lasiele Alabi Yahaya; Prof. Ibrahim Arowosaiye of the Faculty of Law,University of Ilorin;the Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities, University of Ilorin chapter, Dr. Usman Adebimpe Raheem;the Deputy Director, Physical Planinng Unit, University of Ilorin, Mr. A.T.Jimoh; the Deputy Director, SIWES, University of Ilorin,Mr.K.S. Abdulsalam and the Chief Estate Officer, University of Ilorin, Mr. Sahid Baba.
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