WELCOME ADDRESS BY THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF ILORIN EMIRATE DESCENDANTS PROGRESSIVE UNION, (IEDPU), ALHAJI ABDULMUMINI AYO ABDULMALIK (ACG RTD), AT THE CEREMONY FOR 2ND INDUCTION INTO ILORIN EMIRATE HALL OF FAME ON WEDNESDAY, 24TH DECEMBER, 2025

Protocols

• The Chairman and Chairperson,
• Former Leaders of the Union,
• Distinguished Honorees and Members of your Families/Friends,
• Distinguished Guests,
• Elders of the community here present,
• Gentlemen of the Press,
• Ladies and gentlemen.

Opening Prayers

AuthubiLLahi Mina Shaitoni Rojiim, BismiLLahi Rahmani Rohiim,

Assalamu Alaikum WarahmatuLlahi WabarakatuHu.

All praise is due to Almighty Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our noble Prophet Mohammed (SAW), his household, companions and all those who follow his guidance till the Day of judgement. Aamiin.

Introduction

I wish to start this address by giving immense gratitude and thanks to almighty Allah who made it possible for me to stand before you today as the National President of Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), to welcome you all to this auspicious occasion of the second admission of honorees into Ilorin Emirate Hall of Fame.

History and Significance

The Hall of Fame was established by the Union in 2015 during the 50th anniversary of its annual conference, with the induction of 21 distinguished personalities. It was introduced as a way of giving due recognition to indigenes and residents of the Emirate, from all walks of life, who made and are still making exceptional contributions towards peace and progress of the community as well as humanity, at large.

Similarly, today’s ceremony is to mark the 60th anniversary of the first opening conference of the Union, thereby making the ceremony very significant both to the honorees and the Union, in particular. This is so because as it was ten years ago, so it is this year and so it will always be forever that those chosen and those to be chosen in future would always be people who are seen as role-models in patriotism and public service within our community.

Selection Note

At this point, may I quickly, point out that those being honored today are not necessarily the only ones qualified for the honor but, because we cannot honor everybody at the same time. We, therefore, hereby appeal to others that are equally well qualified for the honor as well as their families to bear with us as their own time would soon come. Maa Sha Allah.

Honorees and Corporate Recognition

Distinguished guests, as much as possible, those being admitted into the Hall of Fame are mainly from the component local governments of the Emirate. However, this year, there is a positive variation by which few corporate bodies are also being recognized for their social and economic contributions to our community, in particular and Kwara State, at large.

Beyond the recognition being given to honorees and corporate bodies today, we believe the honor would encourage others, particularly our youth, to emulate the good deeds of those being honored to ensure that our community would not be bereft of people with good character, thereby ensuring that the Emirate maintains her lead in all ramifications.

Conclusion

Therefore, on behalf of our Royal Father, Mai Martaba, Sarkin Ilory, Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR, and every member of this Union, may I congratulate all those that are being admitted into Ilorin Emirate Hall of Fame today as well as their families.

Those that have departed to the hereafter among them, we pray Allah to continue to forgive their shortcomings and continue to accept them in Paradise. Aamiin. We also pray to Allah to continue to be pleased with the honorees that are alive and with all of us. Aamiin.

We equally congratulate and rejoice with the corporate bodies that are being recognized too.

Thank you all and God bless you.