As part of activities lined up for this year’s Ilorin Emirate annual Grand Durbar, the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman, Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Dr Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari; is to lead the procession of over 500 horsemen round the designated areas within Ilorin metropolis.
The grand durbar fiesta is slated for next week Tuesday, two days after Eid-el-Kabir festivities, at the forecourt of the Emir’s Palace.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of the state, high chiefs of Ilorin Emirate, members of the royal family and honorary title holders would be in company of the first class monarch during the procession.
The Chairman, Ilorin Emirate Grand Durbar Committee and Danmasani of Ilorin, Engr Suleiman Oba Yahaya Alapansanpa, disclosed this yesterday at a pre-Durbar media briefing held at the Palace of the Emir of Ilorin.
Alapansanpa, who addressed the briefing alongside top officials of the committee, said the annual event has become an avenue to unite people of Emirate regardless of their diverse backgrounds.
He added that the durbar is also being explored to promote fraternity and cordial relationships among the people of Ilorin Emirate.
Alapansanpa noted that this year’s durbar, which is to last seven days, will feature medical outreach, endurance trek, special Juma’ah service and special prayer for the success of the fiesta among others.
He maintained that the committee he chairs, has encouraged innovation in the organization of the event annually with a view to retaining its uniqueness and in turn attract global attention.
Alapansanpa told the briefing that security arrangement has been emplaced for a hitch free fiesta, urging the people of Ilorin and its environs to troop out en mass for the event.
The committee chairman, who pointed out that Ilorin is reputed for Islamic jurisprudence, stated that the durbar fiesta was designed to show the town’s culture, value, heritage and character.
Alapansanpa said, “The Grand Durbar festival would be staged at the forecourt of this ancient palace and across Ilorin between 9a.m and 4:00pm on Tuesday, June 17, 2024.The horse procession, which would consist of over 500 horsemen, shall be led by the Emir himself. He would be accompanied by the Executive Governor of Kwara State, the High Chiefs of the Emirate and members of the royal family as well as honorary title holders.
“I am delighted to say that the annual Ilorin Emirate Durbar festival has not been without its usefulness. It has become a programme of unity,which unifies our people from the persuasions. It has promoted fraternity and cordial relationships among our people. It serves as a relaxation point for our people who come home from far and near.
“It has also boosted local economy as more sales are recorded by traders all over Ilorin during the festival. What about the hospitality industry? The owners and operators of hotels within and around Ilorin, which provide accommodation for tourists, have gained more. The same can be said of the printing, media and transportation sub-sectors.
“They have gained tremendously as a result of the huge patronage of their businesses during successive Durbar festivals. The fame of Ilorin has also been boosted as the emirate has secured a quality space in the tourism map of Nigeria as a result of the increasingly successful and successive Durbar festivals”.
He commended Governor AbdulRazaq for the support he has accorded the annual cultural heritage fiesta.
Alapansanpa appealed to members of the public to conduct themselves peacefully and maturely throughout the ceremonies.
“Let me on behalf of His Royal Highness thanks His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kwara State, who is a distinguished son of the soil, for the support he has been rendering the Committee towards organising befitting successive Durbar festivals.
“His Royal Highness particularly appreciated the exciting participations of the Governor and members of his family in the last two editions of the festival. While the Committee notes that the participation of the Governor, which was widely reported by the media, added colour to the event, the Emir expects a repeat of that feat this year.
“The Emir also thanks the people of the Ilorin Emirate and all those who have been offering one form of support or the other to the Ilorin Emirate Durbar Committee over the years. While the Committee has recorded some meaningful supports from within and outside the State, we expect more of such as the date gets closer”, he added.
Alapansanpa explained that the Durbar is gaining global recognition with the presence of federal government agencies, UNESCO in the previous fiestas, adding that advice from them has advanced the cultural event.
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