FCC CHAIRMAN, PROF SHUAIB OBA ABDULRAHEEM RECOMMENDS ILORIN HERITAGE FOR PEACE AND NATIONAL UNITY

From KEHINDE EMMAN, Ilorin

The Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Professor. Shuaib Oba Abdulraheem,has called on Governments, International Community and different ethnic groups in Nigeria and in the World at large to avail themselves of Ilorin heritage as veritable tool for peace and national unity.
.  Professor. Shuaib Oba Abdulraheem said this can be achieved by emulating the prevailing peaceful coiexistence among the various ethnic groups in the ancient city,Ilorin which also doubles as the Capital of Kwara State since its creation in 1968 and despite series of metamorphosis Kwara had undergone as a State
 .  Professor Abdulraheem who was a former ViceChancellor of the University, 1997-2002 made the call on  while speaking at a book launch at the University of Ilorin Center for Ilorin Studies (CISL).
 .  The chairman, who was represented by his younger brother, Professor Hamzat Abdulraheeem who is also the Chief Imam and the Director of the Kwara State University, Malete's Centre for Documentation and Ilorin Culture said the peaceful atmosphere in Ilorin should be a test case for nationnal leaders, monarchs and international researchers.
 . According to him, Ilorin that is located between the North and South is dominated by major ethnic groups like Yoruba, Fulani, Tapa, Nupe and Hausa.
  He said many other tribes had settled in the city and living together with their hosts in peace and harmony.
 . He noted that if all these ethnic groups could live together in peace and harmony, there was no reason why other communities should not live in peace with other ethnic groups.
  Professor Abdulraheem recommended the book, "Centre for Ilorin Studies' Book of Readings” to all researchers on Ilorin history and culture.
    The Federal Character Commission Chairman said Ilorin had grown over the years to become a melting point for many ethnic groups from both Southern and Northern Nigeria even before the amalgamation of the country in 1914.
   The Ex- Vice Chancellor of the 'Better By Far' University stressed that the unique position and location of Ilorin had made it a bridge city of culture, customs and peaceful coexistence.
 . Professor Abdulraheem, a former vice chancellor of University of Ilorin, said that Ilorin had adopted Islamic religion, customs and culture.
 .  He said that the various ethnic groups had learnt to keep the peace and promote socio-economic, political and educational lives of the city.
. According to him, the tolerance nature of Ilorin as a capital city and the tolerance of its people have made the town the bedrock of peace and harmony required for national growth and development.
 The Dean of the Faculty of Arts of the university, Prof. Zakari Oseni, who reviewed the Book, commended the initiative  of the Centre for publishing the Book.
  He said the book was a collection of over 18 literary works of scholars on Ilorin, its people, Islamic and Arabic studies, Monuments, historic events and documentation.
  Oseni noted that the centre had become a study centre for post graduate students across the globe.
  He said the Centre had acquired over 75 books and literary works on Ilorin, its notable indigenes, historical photographs, landmarks, biographies of past Emirs, Baloguns and Magajis in the town.
  In his welcome address, Professor AbdulGaniyu Oladosu, Director of the Centre, said the Centre was established to preserve the heritage of the University's host community.

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