By Toyeeb Omotayo
Arrangements are being perfected towards an hitchfree public presentation of a biographical compendium entitled “Ilorin Emirate Frontliners” which is a book on leading indigenes and notable residents of Ilorin Emirate.
A statement by the author of the book and National Secretary, Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU),Mallam Abubakar Imam,said that the public presentation of the book would hold very soon in Ilorin,the Kwara State capital.
While explaining that the book is an attempt at documenting, preserving and celebrating the careers, achievements and contributions of over 300 distinguished indigenes and residents of Ilorin Emirate, Mallam Imam added that the Central Planning Committee for the event, which is chaired by the IEDPU’s National President, Alhaji Aliyu Otta Uthman,fsi,has commenced its work in earnest.
Speaking on why he embarked on the project, which took him five years of hard work, Mallam Imam,who is also the Deputy Editor of UNILORIN BULLETIN,the official weekly news publication of the University of Ilorin,said that his decision was encouraged by the need to preserve the pedigrees and contributions of selected accomplished indigenes of Ilorin Emirate for the younger and future generations to emulate as he also explained that the work is equally intended at establishing the contributions of Ilorin Emirate to national and human development for posterity.
The IEDPU’s Chief Scribe, who added that the publication of the book is also informed by consistent public demands from many of his compatriots, which arose from his periodic articles on some of those eminent figures, thanked His Royal Highness, the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman, Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR,for not only approving the project but for also writing a captivating forward to the book.
Mallam Imam,who is also the Secretary-General of Ilorin Emirate Staff Association, University of Ilorin, similarly thanked the IEDPU’s National President and members of the Union as well as leaderships and members of all the sister sociocultural organisations and individuals featured in the book for their support during the process of gathering information and thereafter as he equally appreciated the relations of deceased statesmen and women covered in the book for their cooperation.
On the scope of the book, Mallam Imam said that the work is the first of its kind on such a large number of the people of Ilorin Emirate across its history and written by an indigene of the community. He also explained that those featured in the book were carefully selected from the five Local Government Areas constituting Ilorin Emirate and across sexes, ages and professions.
Mallam Imam, therefore, sought the prayers and cooperation of stakeholders and the generality of all the people and residents of Ilorin Emirate, which the book projects, to ensure that the event is successfully held.
