Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), United States Branch, has joined the global Ilorin community in celebrating the 30th coronation anniversary of His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari CFR, the 11th Emir of Ilorin.
In a statement issued in New York by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Abdulrazaq Fulani, the union described the occasion as a significant milestone reflecting three decades of enlightened leadership, judicial legacy, and cultural advancement under the revered monarch.
According to the statement, the Ilorin Emirate, established by Shehu Alimi and part of the Sokoto Caliphate, has maintained its multi-ethnic identity and rich heritage under Emir Sulu-Gambari’s reign.
The Emir, who ascended the throne in August 1995 and was presented with the Staff of Office on November 11, 1995, succeeded his uncle, Mallam Aliyu AbdulKadir.
A descendant of the Alimi dynasty, he became the Ciroma of Ilorin in 1984 before rising to the throne.
The statement recalled that before his ascension, Emir Sulu-Gambari had a distinguished legal career, serving as Solicitor-General of the old Gongola State, a Judge of the High Court in Borno, and later as a Justice and Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal in Ibadan and Lagos.
He was the first university graduate to become Emir of Ilorin and received the national honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) in 2000.
The IEDPU USA highlighted the Emir’s humility, generosity, and compassion, noting his support for Ilorin indigenes especially students during his judicial service in Maiduguri.
The union commended his contributions to youth rehabilitation, his donation of land for a Police Training School in Ilorin, and his commitment to peace and social development across Nigeria.
Under his 30-year reign, the statement noted, Ilorin has experienced growth in education, infrastructure, and cultural prominence.
The Emir initiated the renovation of the Ilorin Central Mosque into a world-class Islamic landmark and has served as Chancellor of several universities, including Nnamdi Azikiwe University and Bayero University, Kano.
His tenure also coincided with the establishment of tertiary institutions such as Al-Hikmah University and Kwara State University.
As Chairman of the Kwara State Council of Chiefs, the Emir has played a central role in promoting unity and representing Ilorin’s interests at national forums.
The IEDPU USA also celebrated his revival of the Ilorin Emirate Durbar in 2018, which has since become a major tourism event and was inscribed by UNESCO in 2024 as an element of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The statement further noted that through the Shehu Alimi Foundation for Peace and Development, the Emir institutionalized philanthropy, focusing on education, interfaith harmony, and community welfare.
His reign, the union emphasized, combines traditional authority with the intellectual depth of a seasoned jurist, characterized by wisdom, moderation, and commitment to the rule of law.
Concluding, the IEDPU USA praised His Royal Highness for thirty years of steady, scholarly, and people-centered leadership that bridges judicial excellence and traditional custodianship.
The union reaffirmed its commitment to partnering with the Ilorin Emirate to promote educational and cultural projects that sustain the Emir’s legacy of unity, peace, and progress.
