The people of Ilorin Emirate have been called upon to always cooperate with one another and speak with one voice in order to collectively move the community forward.
This call was made in Ilorin on Wednesday (February 28, 2018) by the National President of the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), Ambassador Shaykh Usman AbdulAzeez while speaking at the 27th Anniversary celebration of an Ilorin-based socio-cultural organization, the Pakata Patriots, Ilorin, held at the premises of the Barakat Community Secondary School, Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
Ambassador AbdulAzeez, who commended members of the Pakata Patriots for their foresight and commitment towards moving the community forward, charged the organization not to relent in her developmental efforts just as he assured that the IEDPU would always associate herself with forward thinking association like Pakata Patriots in her drive at activating the progress of the Emirate.
Also speaking on the occasion, the Chairman of the event, who is a retired Deputy Director of JAMB, Alhaji AbdulAzeez Saleeman commended the association for always embarking on meaningful projects and programmes that have direct positive impact on the lives of the residents.
He was particularly happy that the association has been in the forefront of the intellectual progress of the Pakata Community through granting of scholarship, bursary award and publication of a book of high-value.
In his address, the President of the Association, Mallam Shehu Ahmad Aliyu gave assurance that his organization would not relent on its oars in working for the progress of the Pakata Community.
He recalled that his association fulfilled the pledge it made by sinking of two Motorized Boreholes at strategic locations within the community among other significant interventions in the areas of community development over the years.
Aliyu, who is the HOD of Primary Education Department, Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin, said project was executed in fulfilment of the pledges made at the public presentation of the book that money raised from book launch and subsequent earnings would be expended on community development oriented projects.
Eight teachers and 21 students were also honoured at the event with most outstanding awards in recognition of their academic excellence through the presentation of cash donation, certificate of recognition and books to them.
The Vice Principal Special Duties for Barakat community secondary school, Mr Oyaleke Owolabi was specifically awarded with the “Teacher of the decade”.
According to Aliyu, “today’s event is a confirmation of our resolve at not only promoting intellectualism and glittering character development among the youth, but also our realization of the fact that we cannot have brilliant students without outstanding teachers”.
Meanwhile, the Government Girls Day Secondary School (GGDSS), Pakata, Ilorin emerged overall winner in the school debate competition organised by the Pakata Patriots as part of the activities to mark the 27th anniversary of the association
GGDSS clinched the first position with 85.6%, while Barakat Community Secondary School, Ilorin came second with 84%.
The keenly contested debate competition with the topic “Economic recession has no significant effect on students performance in Nigerian schools” was well attended by eminent personalities across the country.
Dignitaries in attendance included the Ubandawaki of Pakata, Alhaji Baba Pakata, the Ologbin of Adewole, Alhaji Oseni Adewole, the Ilorin West L.G.E.A Secretary, Professor Medinat Salman of the University of Ilorin, Alhaji Uthman Animasahun as well as a retired Assistant Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Alhaji AbdulMumini Abdulmalik among others.
End.
