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It is both a profound honour and great pleasure to stand before you today as Chairman at the Opening Ceremony of the historic 60th Annual National Conference of the IEDPU. I extend to you the warmest of greetings — the timeless and universal greeting of peace: Assalamu alaykum, Peace be upon you all. I am especially grateful for this moment, and I give gratitude to Almighty Allah for bringing us together in this noble gathering. I also wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to the IEDPU for their kind invitation, and for the trust they have placed in me to share this occasion with you.
As we gather here today, I am reminded of the prayer of Prophet Ibrahim (ASW), who called upon Allah to make this a city of peace and prosperity (Q.2:126) It is a prayer that resonates deeply within my heart, for I have, since my childhood, carried a profound love for this city — Ilorin. It is a love that runs through the generations of my family, passed down by our noble father, Sheikh Abdulwahab bin Yaqub Adeyi (RLA) may Allah be pleased with him who shared in the vision of peace, unity, and progress for this city and its people. Ilorin has long been a beacon of hope and prosperity, and it is with great pride that I stand here, knowing that my family, along with so many others, has contributed to the growth and development of the IEDPU and its mission. We are, in many ways, the beneficiaries of a rich legacy — a legacy that we are entrusted to uphold and build upon for future generations.
It is also with great humility and reverence that I stand before you today, in cherished memory of my beloved brother, Engineer Abduraheem Abdulwahab. His contributions to the development of this Union were many and profound, including the establishment of IEDPU branches in Kano and Yola. His deep love for Ilorin was unparalleled, and his dedication to this noble cause leaves an indelible mark on the hearts of all who knew him. May Almighty Allah grant him eternal peace in al-Janatul Firdaus.
In the same breath, I must acknowledge my dear brother, Amb Sheikh Abdulaziz, a past President of this Union, widely known for his wisdom and commitment to our cause with his jingle "Ilorin and Others". Reflecting on these legacies, I am reminded of the path I endeavored to walk during my years of service.
With strong determination, I sought to make tangible and tangential contributions to the economic and social development of our beloved city. In this regard, I had the privilege of lobbying for the location of the Zonal Office of the Nigerian Pilgrims Board here in Ilorin, as well as the upgrading of our airport to international status. Indeed, one of our proudest achievements was securing approval to commence Hajj operations, alongside direct international flights from Ilorin to Jeddah in 1982. This was no small feat, and it marked a great success for our city, ensuring that Ilorin would have a direct connection to the holy land, further strengthening the bonds of our community with the wider Muslim world.
As the First Resident Ambassador in Lebanon, I had the privilege of playing a key role in bringing Emirates Airlines to Nigeria in January 2004 with the original intention of opening a direct Ilorin–Dubai route. Although, at that time, the passenger traffic and facilities and at Ilorin International Airport were not yet adequate to support this ambitious plan, our aspiration remains alive. We shall not relent in our efforts to make this route both possible and sustainable, insha Allah.
Allow me also to note that throughout my diplomatic career, wherever I was posted, I carried Ilorin with me — not only in my heart, but also in my actions. In every mission where I served, I worked to ensure that the sons and daughters of Ilorin found opportunities for employment, growth, and representation. Today, citizens of Ilorin continue to hold respectable positions in countries such as Saudi Arabia, the Central African Republic, Morocco, Lebanon, Syria, and others — a testament to our commitment to extending the reach and dignity of our community across the world.
At this moment, I wish to pay a heartfelt tribute to our distinguished Royal Emirate Ambassadors. They did more than represent Nigeria—they carried with honour the heritage and ethos of the Ilorin Emirate. These esteemed giant figures, Ambassadors Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, Garba Olododo Gobir and Abdulkadir Imam, have been our teachers, our mentors, our elders, our leaders—and, indeed, our guiding stars.
With steadfast devotion, they bore the Flag of Nigeria and the Emirate to the four corners of the world advancing our image, our dignity, and our good name. Their services have inspired generations, and their example will continue to be a wellspring of inspirations for many years to come and their memories will last a lifetime. The author of The Root counseled us to “find the good and praise it.” Today, we do both—for they are good, and they are deserving of our highest praise. But let us go further: let us find the good and emulate it. For they are worthy not only of admiration, but of imitation. Let their character, their commitment, and their courage be a model for us all. They have their rewards as promised by Allah in the Quran 16:97. May Almighty Allah reward them abundantly—both in this world and in the life hereafter.
Through the steadfast efforts of these honorable men—and of so many devoted citizens—Ilorin has moved with determination into the twenty-first century. Yet, as every generation learns, progress is never a destination; it is a constant obligation. We have come far, but we have far yet to go. The unfinished work before us calls not for rest, but for resolve. It falls to us—to all of us—to build upon the firm foundations laid by our forefathers and the distinguished leaders who carried this Emirate forward.
And so, at this moment, let us turn our attention to the tasks that demand both vision and action: To build the Ilorin of our dreams, we must first secure the foundation upon which all progress rests: peace. For without peace, there can be no development; without security, there can be no future worthy of our people. We must therefore join hands with our government to confront a national security challenge that has reached intolerable proportions. This is no task for one agency or one administration alone—it is a responsibility we share as citizens, as communities, and as a nation.
The government, for its part, must intensify the use of intelligence-led operations—deploying surveillance cameras, drones, and a well-equipped, state-of-the-art command center capable of safeguarding the lives and property of our people. But technology alone is not enough. We must also summon the will of our citizens, mobilizing every community to resist and defeat the forces of terror, insurgency, kidnapping, and banditry. For in the words that echo across our national history: “To keep Nigeria safe is a task that must be done.”
There is an urgent need to strengthen the education of our children—and, indeed, the education of all our people. It may interest you to know that one of the very first subjects taught at Oxford University in England is Arabic. That simple fact reminds us that the value of any tradition is measured by the value we give it. The value of a value is based on its. And we, in Ilorin—“Garin Alimi”—have long cherished the richness of Qur’anic learning. But if we are to honor that heritage, we must also modernize it.
The days of slate and ink have passed. In our Qur’anic and Arabic schools, we must equip our students with the tools of the modern world—computers, laptops, tablets—so that their learning is not only rooted in faith, but relevant to the future. And alongside Qur’anic instruction, we must offer vocational and professional training—skills that open doors to employment, that lift families, and that enable our youth to contribute meaningfully to the national economy.
Our preachers, too, must be well educated and well prepared—delivering, with wisdom and clarity, messages of peace, unity, love, and prosperity. Their teachings, and their quotations from the Hadith, must draw their strength and legitimacy from the Qur’an itself. For in education—as in every endeavor—we honor our past best when we prepare our people for the promise of tomorrow.
Providing meaningful employment for our women is not only essential to their personal development—it is vital to the progress of our entire economy. I recall, not long ago, a group of determined women and girls, some of them university graduates from Okelele came to me in frustration. They wished to work. They wished to stand on their own feet. Above all, they wished to fight the poverty that held them back.
Their courage moved me and their resolve demanded action. Consequently, last year, in response to their appeal, I launched a women’s employment initiative by establishing Okelele Adeyi Women Enterprises Ltd. Its purpose is clear: to open doors of opportunity, to provide training and mentorship, and to equip our women with the skills they need to shape their own future. These programs include entrepreneurship training, vocational instruction, internships, and apprenticeships—each designed to prepare them for essential sectors of our growing economy: agriculture, food production, transportation, and telephone and technology services.
Through these initiatives, our women will become not only more skilled, but more self-reliant—financially independent, economically empowered, and ready to contribute fully to the life of our nation. For when we lift up our women, we lift up the nation, every family, every community and indeed the future of Nigeria itself.
I am pleased to inform this 60th National Conference that, beginning next year, our annual gathering will take its place on the international stage as international conference with delegates from all over the world. This milestone is the result of our collective efforts to establish IEDPU branches beyond our borders. As you know, IEDPU–USA has already begun its work and is growing steadily.
This year, I travelled to London, Paris, Bern, and Geneva, meeting with our Ilorin citizens abroad and urging them to begin the groundwork for establishing IEDPU branches in the countries they now call home. This expansion is more than organizational growth—it is a testament to our shared commitment to carry the values of our community wherever we may be.
The Prison Yard in Ilorin City Center, a mere ten-minute walk from our city's heart, no longer reflects the ideals we hold dear. It has become a symbol of what we must leave behind. Though I have called upon our leaders to act, unfortunately there has been no response. Now, the time has come for us to lead. With the support of all who believe in progress, we will work to relocate this facility and reclaim this land for a modern healthcare center, recreational facilities, gardens and parks for our children and families. This is our moment to build a stronger, more vibrant future—for today and for generations to come.
Today, we give thanks to Almighty Allah for the blessings that have brought us here. Ilorin already stands as a place of promise—home to an international airport, respected universities, and communities that attract students and families from near and far. Opening tourism routes between Ilorin and Jebba will further boost our economy.
But we know Ilorin can rise even higher as commercial and tourism hub. To become a true mega-city—a center of opportunity and innovation—we must invest in the infrastructure that modern life demands. Working with international partners and investors, we can build efficient tram and bus systems, create vibrant shopping malls and centers, cafés, restaurants, and modern hotels. With reliable roads, clean water, steady electricity, and bold investments in renewable energy—solar and wind—Ilorin can join the ranks of emergent cities like Dubai and Doha. And together, we can build a city that our generation, and generations yet unborn, will be proud to call home.
Thank you for the privilege of speaking before you today. As you embark on these deliberations, I wish you conversations that are purposeful, discussions that are fruitful, and decisions worthy of the future we seek to build. May God bless the IEDPU, and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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