By Abubakar Imam
“It is not what we have that will make us great; it is the way in which we use it”
Friday, January 24, 2025, wouldn’t be an ordinary day in Ilorin, the nation’s most unique traditional polity and capital of Kwara State. It is a day specifically set aside by His Royal Highesss, the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman, Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR, to celebrate one of “the rising stars and flag bearers” of the southernmost Emirate and northernmost Yoruba speaking community, Dr Abdulkadir Tunji Nagode, the first Dan Amana of Ilorin Emirate.
The Emir would, at his ancient palace and in continuation of the lofty traditions inherited from his illustrious forebears, honour Dr Nagode for his numerous contributions to the peace and prosperity of Ilorin Emirate over the years.The event would also serve as a form of recommendation for this exemplary financial technocrat for more people, particularly members of the younger generations, to find him worthy of emulation.
This trend was started by the longest-reigning Emir of Ilorin, so far, Shaykh Abdulkadir Shuaib Bawa, when he honoured two foremost indigenes of the community, Mallam Muhammadu Ajeigbe Gobir (1900-1960) and Alhaji Yahaya Abdulkadir Ori-Okoh (1907-1998).
The two illustrious heroes were conferred with the prestigious titles of Waziri and Madawaki of Ilorin, respectively, in the mid-1950s in recognition of their outstanding contributions to community and national development. The first was one of the first set of indigenes of Ilorin who received secondary school education and a pioneer educationist; while the second was the first Regional Minister produced by the Emirate.
This tradition was continued by his successor, Alhaji Sulu Gambari,CFR, who reigned from 1959 to 1992. He started with the conferment of the title of Mutawali of Ilorin on Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Folorunso AbdulRazaq, SAN, OFR (1927-2020) in 1962 and the Turaki of Ilorin on Alhaji Sanni Olanrewaju Buraimo Okin, MFR, OFR, OBE (1910-1972) in 1963. These two were followed by many others.
The tenth Emir of Ilorin, Shaykh Aliyu Babaagba Abdulkadir, who reigned from 1992 to 1995, also granted the second National Secretary of Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), Alhaji Hassan Taiwo Abdulkadir (1939-2014), who later retired from the public service as Deputy Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, the title of Danmasani of Ilorin. He equally honoured a businessman, Alhaji Adebayo Alaya, with the title of Danmadami of Ilorin. This is in addition to a few others during his short but eventful reign.
In line with this fascinating tradition, the incumbent Emir, Alhaji Sulu-Gambari, would turban Dr Nagode, who is a top management staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) PLC. This will be done in the presence of movers and shakers of the mainstay of the nation’s economy and other dignitaries from all over the country and beyond who have signed in to be part of the historic event. The headquarters of the powerful and influential NNPC will be “temporarily relocated” to Ilorin, the nation’s fastest growing traditional city.
Dr Nagode had earlier been announced as the pioneer Dan Amanan Garin of Ilorin Emirate by the Emir at a simple ceremony held at his palace. This was on Friday, September 13, 2024.
His appointment as a traditional title holder makes him one of the few personalities whose personal contributions or attributes earned them official recognitions by the palace in the two hundred years’ history of Ilorin Emirate. These individuals are less than 100 as at today!
For Dr Nagode to be singled out for this unique privilege, he undoubtedly deserves to be celebrated. This is because earning a traditional title, either hereditary or honourary, is not an easy task in Ilorin. It doesn’t happen every day and to just any person, no matter who he thinks he is. This is because, unlike many other places, Ilorin traditional titles have no price tags. They are given only to those who truly deserve them.
This prestigious title of Dan Amana seems to be peculiar or unique to Ilorin. It may not be unconnected to the uniqueness of the holder who has convinced the Emir that he is worthy of being trusted with the peace, progress, and prosperity of Ilorin and its environs.
Though Dr Nagode hails from a prominent Ilorin family with records of scintillating public and community services coupled with the fact that his name had been ringing bell in my ears for so many years, it wasn’t until Sunday, July 1, 2023 that I had the privilege of really meeting him.
He had come to the public presentation of my book, “Ilorin Emirate’s Frontliners” in company of his brothers, Alhaji Suleiman Baba Nagode, the former Secretary of Ilorin West Local Government Council; and Alhaji Ahmed Bolaji Nagode, the patriotic Director-General of the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN). His late senior sister, Honourable Justice Safiya Titi Daibu (1959-2022), would have been at the event too but for her death a few months earlier. May Allah forgive her shortcomings and favour her soul with Aljanat fridaouz. Aamin.
As soon as I was introduced to him, Dr Nagode shook hands with me. We also exchanged our telephone numbers. There and then, began a profound relationship between the two of us.
For me, the relationship has been built on mutual respect. It has also been of tremendous benefit to me. This is because he had become a consistent encourager and morale booster to yours sincerely.
My interactions with several other members of the Ilorin Emirate community at home and in Abuja confirmed to me that Dr Nagode has been very good and nice to all.
I would, therefore, not be surprised if the expansive palace of the Emir is jam-packed with people from all walks of life. They would want to witness the turbaning of the renowned financial technocrat as the first Dan Amana Gari of Ilorin Emirate. Many would want to use the privilege of the event to identify with him as others would want to use it as an avenue of giving back to a man who had made them smile.
Insha Allah, I will be there too as I was when Dr Nagode paid a thank you visit to His Royal Highesss on the conferment of the title.
This new honourary title holder hails from Edun/Ita-Kure axis of Ilorin. He is from a segment of the blessed city of Ilorin, which has produced many outstanding personalities including a popular First Republic politician, Alhaji Buhari Edun. Alhaji Edun was an influential politician who chaired the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) in the defunct Ilorin Province.The party, which had the Sarduana of Sokoto and Premier of the defunct Northern Region, Sir Ahmadu Bello, GCON, KBE (1910-1966) as the President, controlled Ilorin Province, Northern Region and the federal government headed by Sir Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa, GCFR, KBE (1912-1966) in the republic that was brutally terminated by the unfortunate military putsch of January 15, 1966.
Another prominent personality from that segment of Ilorin is the hardworking Chief of Defence Space Administration, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Air Vice Marshall Lanre Ibrahim Oluwatoyin; and a former Chairman of the Ilorin Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr AbdulGaniyu Bello. Mention must also be made of Engr. Ahmed Kola Ibrahim, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Bitto Construction Company Limited, Ilorin; and, of course, an active community leader and public servant, the late Alhaji Tijani Edun.
But is Dr Nagode new to the ancient palace. He is not new to the place at all. He was literally born there.
His father, Alhaji Saliu Alabi Nagode (1924-1983), started his public service career at the palace in the 1940s. He was one of the young bureaucrats who served in the palace as scribes to the longest reigning Emir of Ilorin, Shaykh Abdulkadir Shuaib Bawa, The father of the first Dan Amana was also a friend to the incumbent Emir’s father, the enigmatic Alhaji Sulu-Gambari. The Emir recalled that the late Alhaji Nagode was one of those who played one fatherly role or the other to him in Lagos following his return from the United Kingdom in 1968. He recalled that it was the late technocrat that led him to the preaching arena of the first Mufti of Ilorin, Shaykh Muhammad Kamalud-Deen Al-Adabiy, MFR, OFR, ORSA (1905-2005); in Lagos that same year.
The late mother of the new Dan Amana, Alhaja Hanatu Belgore (d. 2019), was also an aunt to the incumbent Emir. She was a daughter of Princess Maryam Ayoka Belgore (d.1977), who was a younger sister to both Emir Abdulkadir and Shaykh Muhammadu Laufe. The two were maternal and paternal grandfathers, respectively, of Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari. Princess Belgore, whose name was given to the late Queen mother of Kano, Hajiya Maryam Adeoti Ado Bayero, was one of the spouses of Shaykh Mahmud Belgore, the renowned cleric and jurist who built the Belgore family house in the Isale Ajanaku Quarter of Ilorin. Shaykh Mahmud Belgore was a son of Shaykh Muhammad Ahmad Belgore (d.1913), who is generally recognised in history as the second Grand Scholar of Ilorin, post Shaykh Alimi era.
In consonance with the Fulani tradition of perpetuating greatness, the first Dan Amana of Ilorin Emirate was purposefully given the names “Abdulkadir” and “Olatunji”. Abdulkadir was given to him to immortalise the 8th Emir while “Olatunji” translates to “a renewal of prestige and valour” of the families from which he hails.
But beyond his biological connections to the House of Alimi, Dr Nagode actually deserves the honour considering his numerous contributions to the peace, progress, and development of Ilorin Emirate over the years.
As an active participant in the series of projects and programmes that have to do with Ilorin Emirate, particularly in the last two decades, I can say that Dr Nagode has made his marks in virtually every of such projects.
His community development intervention is, however, different. He is doing all that has been recorded in his favour not because of any political interest or ambition.
All he wants, as he often repeats to me, is Allah’s pleasure. This is based on his conviction that patriotism is an act of worship as submitted by Prophet Muhammad.
This is alluded to by the National President of Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union, the umbrella sociocultural organisation of the people of Ilorin Emirate, Alhaji Abdulmumini Ayo Abdulmalik, who described Dr Nagode as an exemplary patriot and a man who believes so much in the greatness of Ilorin.
Alhaji Abdulmalik, who is a retired Assistant Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service and a former National President of the Ilorin Students Union (now Ilorin Emirate Students Union), believes that no one who shows the kind of commitment epitomised by Dr Nagode would be left unrecognised and unrewarded.
He enjoined other privileged compatriots to emulate the consistently kind dispositions of Dr Nagode for peace and love to always prevail.
To the President of the Third Estate Group, Alhaji Ibrahim Toyin Hassan, Dr Nagode is a fascinating patriot and a top member of the Group who has supported its programmes all through.
Alhaji Hassan is particularly grateful to Dr Nagode for facilitating the upgrade of the popular Olufadi Comprehensive Health Centre, Ilorin, for the love of the people of the community. He added that new Dan Amanan Garin has been catering for the wellbeing of the people of Ilorin Emirate and humanity at large.
Another community leader, who volunteered information on Dr Nagode is the President of Edun Development Association, Mr Ismail Ayodeji, who said that Dan Amanan stands out among his peers for his ability to create opportunities for groups and individuals.
Mr Ayodeji, who is also the Chairman of the Kwara State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) said that the title serves as a testament to Dr Nagode’s exemplary contributions to the welfare of his community and the betterment of our society.
A close friend of the new Dan Amana and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of SOYAB Engineering Limited, Engr. Yusuf Bolakale Aiyegun, described the honourary title on Dr Nagode as “a reward for his transformative impact and dedication to the welfare of the people”.
He recalled that right from his school days Dr Nagode has always demonstrated his love for Ilorin heritage as he explained that the commitment of the NNPC’s topnotch to the development of the Ilorin Emirate community “resonates deeply in the hearts of his contemporaries and compatriots”.
Engr. Aiyegun pointed out that the dispositions of Dr Nagode to all and his passionate desire to accelerate positive changes always ignite a passionate desire to give back to the Ilorin Emirate community in the hearts of others.
Dr Nagode is a well-educated technocrat. After receiving his primary education at the United Primary School, Ilorin, and post-primary education from the famous Esie-Iludun Grammar School, he obtained his first degree in Accounting from the University of Jos in 1994. The first Dan Amana of Ilorin also received two Master’s degrees from the University of Ilorin before crowning it with a doctorate degree in Business Administration from the University of Ilorin in 2023. He is a highly honoured chartered accountant whose career cut across both the private and public sectors.
This amiable and unassuming son of Ilorin, who has bagged many honours and awards, is happily married to Hajiya Hafsat Nagode, a daughter of a First Republic regional parliamentarian, Alhaji Hanafi Idiaro (1907-1983). The marriage is blessed with four children, who are also accomplished professionals.
May I, therefore, welcome Dr Nagode to the exclusive preserve of the enviable men and women of our community. Dr Nagode is well aware of his responsibilities as he has been offering them long before the recognition from the Alimi House came.
I honestly believe that Dr Nagode would raise the bar of his services to the community and ensure that he continues with his ‘no-door’ policy for more of our people to benefit from his material and mental resources.
Imam is the National Secretary, Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU).
