IEDPU USA Celebrates Emir Sulu-Gambari On 30th Coronation Anniversary

..Says he has provided visionary leadership and Royalty With Class

New York, NY — The Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU) USA 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 on Tuesday in New York by Media and Publicity Secretary of the group, Abdulrazaq Fulani and obtained by Daily Hibiscus news, the association described this as a milestone that marked three decades of enlightened leadership, judicial legacy, and cultural stewardship by a monarch whose life embodies the dignity and depth of the Alimi dynasty.

Part of the statement read,”The Ilorin Emirate, established by Shehu Alimi, is part of the Sokoto Caliphate and is known for its multi-ethnic composition. Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, the 11th Emir of Ilorin, ascended the throne on August 28, 1995, and was formally coronated and presented with the Staff of Office on November 11, 1995, at 11:11 a.m… His appointment as the 11th Emir followed the demise of his uncle, Mallam Aliyu AbdulKadir. He is the son of the 9th Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Muhammad Zulukarnain Gambari, and a maternal grandson of the 8th Emir, Sheikh Abdulkadir Shuaib Bawa. The Emir was born on April 22, 1940, into the Fulani-Alimi dynasty. He became the Ciroma of Ilorin on November 30, 1984. The Ilorin Emirate was founded in the late 18th century. It became the capital of a kingdom that was a vassal state of the cosmopolitan city after a rebellion led by Kakanfo Afonja, aided by Mallam Alimi’s son, Abdu al-Salam, who became the emir of Ilorin around 1829, pledging allegiance to the Sokoto Caliphate.

Before his ascension to the throne, Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari had a distinguished legal career. He served as the Solicitor-General of the old Gongola state and later became a Justice of the Court of Appeal, serving in various divisions, including Lagos and Ibadan. On January 1, 1977, he was appointed as the Acting Judge of the High Court in Bauchi, Borno, and Gongola states, becoming the youngest judge in Nigeria at that time. After 18 months, he was appointed a Substantive Judge of the High Court of Borno State. In 1983, he was promoted to a Judge of the Court of Appeal and served in Ibadan for eight years, followed by a transfer to the Lagos State division as the Presiding Justice in 1991, a position he held until he was appointed Emir. He is the first university graduate to sit on the throne of the Emir of Ilorin since the establishment of the empire. He has the National Honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR), awarded in 2000.
Emir Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari is described as a respected jurist and outstanding statesman.”

Emir Sulu-Gambari is renowned for his humility, generosity, and dedication to the welfare of his subjects. He played a fatherly role, providing accommodation for many Ilorin indigenes, particularly students, in Maiduguri while serving as a Judge of the Borno State High Court. He encouraged the formalization of the Ibadan Branch of the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU). The Emir has supported efforts to rehabilitate drug addicts in Ilorin Emirate and has also donated land to the Nigeria Police for the building of a new Police Training School in Ilorin. He has been recognized for his leadership, support for the people and government, and his ability to handle public matters with tact and diplomacy. He is regarded as a frontline promoter of peace across Nigeria.
Under Emir Sulu-Gambari’s 30-year reign, Ilorin has experienced notable advancements across various sectors. The city has achieved increased national prominence, experienced harmonious population growth, and attained a heightened status, marked by the construction of new landmarks. His reign has been described as peaceful and prosperous, with significant changes in the social, political, economic, and cultural standards of the emirate.

He has fostered an environment where tradition and progress coexist, creating a legacy of unity and development. The Emir initiated the upgrade and renovation of the Ilorin Central Mosque, initially constructed by his late father, transforming it into a world-class Islamic edifice and a focal point for religious life in the emirate. He has served as Chancellor for several universities, including Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (2001-2015), and currently serves as Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano (since March 2, 2024). During his reign, tertiary institutions such as Al-Hikmah University, Kwara State University, Malete, and Muhyideen College of Education were established. As Chairman of the Kwara State Council of Chiefs, His Royal Highness has played a pivotal role in shaping policy, promoting unity, and representing Ilorin’s interests at the national level. The Ilorin Emirate Durbar, which he has sustained since its resuscitation in 2018, is a significant cultural event that boosts tourism and local commerce. UNESCO inscribed the Ilorin Grand Durbar on its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in December 2024, further enhancing its global appeal.

In the area of philanthropy the association said as part of institutional legacy, the Emir established the Shehu Alimi Foundation for Peace and Development (and related initiatives) to formalize philanthropic work that advances education, interfaith harmony, and community welfare across Kwara State. Widely described as scholarly, measured, and conciliatory, HRH Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari blends traditional religious authority with the temperament of a retired senior jurist: thoughtful deliberation, respect for the rule of law, and a persistent focus on education and community wellbeing. During his reign, the Ilorin Emirate has consistently been credited with maintaining relative stability, implementing investment-friendly policies, and making efforts to modernize palace institutions while safeguarding its cultural heritage. His stewardship of the Shehu Alimi dynasty has reinforced Ilorin’s identity as a bastion of Islamic scholarship, Yoruba-Fulani harmony, and civic pride.

“On behalf of the Ilorin Emirate Descendants’ Progressive Union (IEDPU) United States Branch, North America, we salute His Royal Highness, Mai’martba Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari CFR, for thirty years of steady, scholarly, and service-oriented leadership. His reign bridges judicial excellence and traditional custodianship, and his commitment to education, peace, and development serves as a model for contemporary leadership. As a union, we are proud to celebrate this milestone and partner with the palace to expand educational and cultural projects that honor his legacy.

“As we mark this historic 30th anniversary, IEDPU USA calls upon all sons and daughters of Ilorin to reflect on the enduring legacy of His Royal Highness. Let us recommit ourselves to the ideals he champions: unity, education, service, and the preservation of our noble heritage.
Long Live His Royal Highness, Mai’martaba Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu Gambari CFR!
Long Live the Ilorin Emirate!” the statement concluded