Ilorin

Ilorin is one of the largest cities in Nigeria and is the capital of Kwara State. As of 2007 it had a population of 847,582. [http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?men=gpro&des=gamelan&geo=354618453 The World Gazetteer - Ilorin, Nigeria] . Retrieved February 18, 2007]

History

Ilorin was founded by the Yoruba, one of the three largest ethnic groups in Nigeria, in 1450. It became a provincial military headquarters of the ancient Oyo Empire and came under British rule later as part of the North Nigeria Protectorate.

Education

It is home to two of Nigeria's universities, the University of Ilorin [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_ilorin] , and the Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin.It is also home for the following educational institutions:

*Kwara State Polytechnic
*Colleges of Education
*College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies
*United Missionary Theological Seminary.
*School of Nursing and Midwifery
*National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization
*Agriculture and Rural Management Training Institute
*Michael Imoudu Institute for Labour Studies
*Federal training Center

City of Lawyers

Ilorin is a city in love with the wig and gown; its sons and daughters bestride Nigeria's bench and bar. The city has families who have produced lawyers and judges. Indeed the first lawyer to be given the silk in the whole of Nigeria's North is an indigene of this expanding city: Alhaji A.G.F. Abdulrazaq (SAN). He too has at least two lawyers in his family. One of the most respected judicial officers in the history of the Court of Appeal, Justice Mustapha Akanbi, who once heads the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), is from Ilorin. He retired as President of the Court of Appeal. His son is also a lawyer. The Belgore family has made notable contributions to the profession especially with Justice Alfa Belgore of the Supreme Court and Justice Babtunde Belgore, retired Chief Judge of the Federal High Court. Another judicial officer from the Belgore family is currently serving in the judiciary of The Gambia.

Ilorin's Emir, Alhaji Ibrahim Kolapo Sulu Gambari is a retired Justice of the Court of Appeal. Justice Saidu Kawu, retired Justice of the Supreme Court and Alhaji Aliyu Alarape Salma (SAN) are from Ilorin.The present Attorney general of the federation, Bayo-Ojo ,is also from ilorin. Other prominent lawyers in Ilorin include [http://www.yusufali.net/team/yusuf_ali_san.htm Yusuf Olaolu Ali (SAN)] , Wole Olanipekun (SAN).The U.N Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs, Prof. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari is from Ilorin.

ports

Ilorin has a 20,000 capacity stadium and a Premier League football professional team, The Kwara United Football Club.Golf's popularity has been on the ascendancy here with more and more of the “big men” catching the bug. Since golf and business go hand-in-hand, membership of the Ilorin Golf Club comprise of professionals, businessmen and bureaucrats for whom the premises of one of the better golf courses that this nation has is an ideal rendezvous.

Two years ago, the First Kwara Open Golf Championship drew the largest turnout of golfers ever recorded in any such tournament in Nigeria.

Media

Television and radio stations in Ilorin include NTA Ilorin, Kwara Television, AIT Ilorin, [http://www.radiokwara.com Kwara Radio] , and Fm Ilorin.

Commerce

The political economy of Kwara State can be traced to 1967 when it was created. Since then, the state has undergone various developmental efforts most of which were initiated by the federal government given the nature of the Nigerian state “a centralized federal system” where all development policies and programmes originates from the center.

Despite her strategic location as the gateway between the southern and Northern parts of the country, one cannot but wonder aloud about the paucity of industries in the state.The state also has a good network of roads, rail and air transportation facilities that easily links it with the nation’s other industrial and commercial centers.

Nature has also endowed the state with adequate vast and rich agricultural land for both road and exportable cash crops.

Similarly, the limestone and dolomite of Oreke, Idofian Kaolin and clay near Ilorin and other parts of the state, pure gold at Kaiama and Patigi area and with the highly exportable rich tantalite deposit of Iporin, Kwara State should be any investor’s dream.

But, despite all the above favourable conditions, the state can not boast of more than one or two “viable industries” Global Soap and Detergent Industries Nigeria Limited and International Tobacco Company among others”. It also tasks the mind to know that the state is endowed with industrialists with industries spread all over the country, yet the home base is empty of industries or other reasonable investments.

Successive Administrations in this state have made frantic efforts to attract industrialists to the state. Several meetings were held with Kwarans both in Lagos, Kaduna, among other, but with little response.But, all that may become a thing of the past now, for the dividends of democracy could not have been felt more in any other state than Kwara where in spite of the paucity of funds, Governor Bukola Saraki has made giant strides in his laudable efforts to improve the quality of lives of the people of the state.

This has been amply demonstrated in the legion of successes already recorded especially with regard to finance, Education, Health, Water and Rural Development, Agriculture and most especially industrial Development.The Governor may not have been moving at a blistering or hurricane speed that people had expected, notwithstanding, at the steady pace he had gone, he has definitely proved his mettle going by the number of projects he had initiated which even cynics, and doubting Thomasses, cannot but acknowledged.

Kwara state can now boast of numerous industries that sprung up since the inception of Governor Bukola Saraki’s administration. These industries include; Dangote Flour Mills; Tuyil Pharmaceutical company; KAMWIL; Golden Confectionate Food Industries, Chellaram Motor-Cycle Assembly plants, Rajrab Pharmaceuticals, just to mention a few.

The state Governor, always restated his administration commitment to encourage both local and foreign investors, adding that, the state government would continue to encourage investors by giving all the necessary incentives.One of such incentives, according to him, was 100 per cent waiver on statutory payments on land, which was also made available to the Dangote Industries Limited for the flour mill complex.

The state Chief Executive mentioned that there are existing industrial layouts in different parts of the state, according to him, these include the TPO 141 at south link road, TPO 158 A, at Ajasse-Ipo road and TPO 140 B and 140 A at Transit camp area in Ilorin metropolis. “All these, we are willing to give out to genuine investors free of statutory payments”.

Transport

Ilorin's central location makes it easily accessible to all parts of the country by air, road transport or rail.

Although the Ilorin International Airport has been re-designated and equipped as International Cargo Airport, there are scheduled commercial flights to and from Ilorin by Over land and Capital Airlines. Current destinations include Lagos, Abuja and Jos.

By road, Ilorin is equidistant to all major population centers north and south of Nigeria. The city offers reliable road transport services to Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Oyo Ekiti, Kogi, Niger, Kaduna and Plateau States. Similar services are available to and from Onitsha, Port Harcourt, Abuja, Aba and others.

Air, road or rail, whichever way you choose to come to Ilorin, you will be welcomed by streets kept spick-and –span through a private sector participation daily street cleaning programme.

The major roads in this city are generally good with relatively well-developed intra-city public transportation. Other roads that need repairs are gradually receiving the attention of the Kwara State Government.

There are three modes of transiting from place to place in the city – the most popular being the conventional taxis. Of course, car hire service providers are available in major hotels.

There are the commercial motorbikes commonly called “Express” in this place and the more recent addition on Ilorin roads, “Keke NAPEP”; imported commercial tricycles given on loan to beneficiaries in the National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP) introduced by the government of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Compared to other cities and state capitals in Nigeria, transport fares in Ilorin are cheap. While taxis charge N20 per drop, a ride on the tricycle currently costs N10 per drop. The commercial motorbikes charge more but would take you to the nooks and cranny of the city that the taxis and tricycles would not.

A major Expressway to Ibadan is currently under construction by [http://www.pw-limited.net P.W. International LTD]

Culture

The city is a confluence of cultures, populated by Yoruba, Hausa, Fulani, Nupe, Baruba, Igbo, other Nigerians and foreign nationals, its native cultures are struggling to survive with Christianity and Islam on the driving seats. Located on the fringes of the elite GRA, the degree-awarding United Missionary Theological College (affiliated with the University of Ibadan) produces many church ministers, teachers and theologians of all denominations. The College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies in Adeta Area, trains Muslims in various Islamic, Arabic and social science disciplines.Ilorin Township

Many ceremonial activities, some with religious aspects, take place in parts of the city throughout the year.

Ilorin presents the visitor with an impressive number of evocative tourist attractions such as the imposing Sobi Hill that was said to have offered protection to natives during inter-tribal wars in ancient times.

The Okuta Ilorin is located in Asaju's compound, Idi-Ape Quarters. It is the stone on which Ojo Isekuse, one of the founders of the city, used to sharpen his metal tools. It was actually called “Okuta ilo irin” (meaning stone for sharpening metals) and Ilorin is said to have derived its name from there. The stone was a deified object of worship and sacrifice offerings in the past.

Alfa Alimi's Mosque and residence is said to have been built in 1831. It was the first Juma'at Mosque in Ilorin.

Pottery is big business in Ilorin. The city boasts the biggest traditional pottery work-shops in Nigeria. They are located in Dada area of Okelele, Eletu in Oju Ekun, Okekura, Oloje, Abe Emi and Ita Merin.

Alive and vibrant also is the traditional textile industry. In various parts of the city, Aso-Oke, the wonderful textiles and hand-woven on simple looms are made in large quantities. Aso-Oke is patronized by traders and fashion designers from Kwara State, other parts of Nigeria and from abroad.

The cultural center houses the Kwara State Council for Arts and Culture, its performing troupe, and a gallery with artistic objects and antiquities. Souvenirs of cultural and historical values are also available.

Ilorin has a creation park formerly Amusement Park, now renamed Metropolitan Park is located on Unity Road, next to Guaranty Trust Bank. The Kwara State Stadium Complex has an Olympic-sized swimming pool with facility for diving among others. The only purpose-built Baseball Park in Nigeria is located in the Adewole area of the city.

The National Commission for Museum and Monuments has one of its centers in Ilorin with interesting cultural and ethnographic objects from Nigeria's many cultures.

External links

* [http://www.geocities.com/nigeriacities1/ A picture of Ilorin]
* [http://www.ilorin.org/index.php Ilorin Emirate]
* [http://www.ijeunilorin.net/ Ilorin Journal of Education]

References