Stephen Olufemi Oni Ilorin

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has congratulated the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman of the Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR, on the occasion of his 86th birthday.

Prof. Egbewole, in a statement issued by the University’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kunle Akogun, described the Emir as a unifying leader and a remarkable statesman whose reign has brought innumerable positive developments to the Emirate and Kwara State at large.

The Vice Chancellor, who is also a Member of the Body of Benchers (BOB), said that the Emir has made several significant marks in regional and national development and particularly in the realm of jurisprudence as a legal luminary and a former Justice of the Court of Appeal before his historic emergence as the 11th Emir of Ilorin in August, 1995.

Prof. Egbewole was particularly

• Declares women empowerment a priority

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Kwara State Government has called for accelerated action for women development as it commemorates the 2026 International Women’s Day, noting that women empowerment is not just a gender issue but a priority to the administration.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Chief (Mrs) Opeyemi Oluwakemi Afolashade, made this call during a programme held at the Ministry, stating that the theme, “Accelerated Action: Empowering Women, strengthening Communities” reminds all that empowering women is the responsibility of everybody which needed to be carried out with utmost urgency.

The Commissioner noted that evidence around the world has shown that when women are empowered, communities prosper, economies grow stronger, families become stable and governance becomes inclusive and responsive.

Chief Afolashade also reiterated the commitment of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to ending all forms of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) by strengthening the response system, supporting survivors, expanding awareness campaigns across the state and collaborating with stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of laws and accountability for perpetrators.

The Commissioner stressed that in protecting women and children, the state government has reviewed its Action Plan on the elimination of Female Genital Mutilation, inaugurated the State Technical Working Group on GBV in collaboration with United Nations Population Fund, paid the counterpart fund for the Nigeria for Women Program-Scale Up Project and continues to support the economic needs of women through the Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP).

Chief Afolashade commended the First Lady of Kwara State, Amb. Prof. Olufolake AbdulRazaq, for providing skills acquisition, start up grants and financial support for women entrepreneurs as well as establishing the Ajike People’s Support Centre.

The Emir of Shonga, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Haliru Ndanusa Yahaya, who was represented by Hon. Umar Shaba, commended the state government for its effort in empowering women, stating that women are strong drivers of economic development when given the opportunity.

Also, the Olojoku of Ojoku, His Royal Highness Oba AbdulRazaq Adegboyega, who was represented by Sir Ayodele Sijuwole, encouraged women to support each other in attaining set goals and objectives.

The Alangua Adewole, Alhaji Yusuf Yakubu, noted the need for continuous women empowerment, saying empowering women is tantamount to building a nation.

In his goodwill message, the Chief Executive Officer, Save The Future of Children Initiative (SAFIN), Mr Olufemi Oyedeji, appreciated the state government for championing women inclusive governance, stressing the need for sustained efforts to better protect women and children across the state.

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The University of Ilorin has recorded yet another feat, as 16 of its Law graduates made First Class Honours at the recently concluded Bar Final Examinations of the Nigerian Law School.

This is in addition to 58 others who made Second Class Upper in the examinations.

The University’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kunle Akogun, disclosed this in a press statement he made available to newsmen in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

According to Mr Akogun, “this is the first time in the history of the University and its Faculty of Law that such a large number of its graduates would make First Class in the Final Bar Examinations, saying the closest to this was in 2023 when 10 of its Law graduates bagged the First Class grade.

He pointed out that the feat is “a direct impact of the administrative style of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, who has invested so much in the service delivery efforts of the University.”

Mr Akogun further quoted the Vice Chancellor as saying that the performance of the Law graduates “is a thing of joy not only for the Faculty of Law but also for the University in general.”

Prof. Egbewole said that he had “always expected the Faculty to make record-breaking achievements, as it remains one of the best Faculties of Law in Nigeria in terms of staffing, facilities and service delivery.”

The Vice Chancellor, who is the latest Member of the Body of Benchers, noted that the feat reflects not only the individual industry, brilliance, discipline, and resilience of the Law graduates, but it is also a reflection of the strong academic foundation and culture of excellence nurtured at the University.

While commending the 16 First Class graduands for writing their names in gold, Prof. Egbewole praised all other graduates of the Faculty who also passed the Bar exams with various grades.

The Professor of Jurisprudence and International Law described the accomplishment as a “proud moment for the University and reflection of its ceaseless commitment to academic and professional excellence”.

Prof. Egbewole, who is also the Secretary-General of the Association of West Africa Universities (AWAU), encouraged the graduands to continue to serve as good ambassadors of the University in all their future endeavours.