December 27th, 2024
Senator Saliu Mustapha, the Turaki of Ilorin Emirate and Senator representing Kwara Central, has pledged to construct a 3,000-capacity ultramodern pavilion with a VIP section at the forecourt of the Emir’s Palace, Ilorin.
Dubbed the Sulu-Gambari Ultramodern Pavilion, the project, valued at a whopping N500 million Naira, is set to redefine the cultural and socio-economic landscape of the Ilorin Emirate.
The Senator announced the pledge during the 59th Annual Conference of the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), where he served as a Special Guest of Honour.
This visionary project aligns with the long-standing aspirations of the Emirate, championed by the Durbar Committee under the leadership of Engr. Yahaya Alapansapa, who had initiated the idea at the 2023 Durbar and launched an appeal for its realization.
The Turaki was represented at the event by a former President of the IEDPU and a former Director of the DSS, Alhaji Aliyu Uthman Baba-Otta, fsc.
Clarifying the scope and intent of the project, the Senator’s media aide, Nasif Sholagberu, disclosed that Senator Mustapha had sought and secured the consent and blessings of His Royal Highness, the Emir of Ilorin, to embark on this transformative initiative.
“The Emir’s forecourt serves as the heartbeat of the Emirate’s communal life, It is the venue for a plethora of high-profile events, including the IEDPU Annual Conference, the Ilorin Durbar, the IEYDA Annual Lecture and Empowerment Programme, among others. For years, organisers of these events have had to incur exorbitant costs, running into millions of Naira, to rent makeshift pavilions. Ironically, these costs are often borne by the Senator himself, together with other illustrous sons and daughters of the Emirates.”
“The pavilion, once completed, will not only eliminate these recurring expenses but will also create a lasting legacy of convenience and dignity for the people of the Ilorin Emirate. Beyond the IEDPU, it will benefit the Emirate’s diverse stakeholders, offering a central venue for cultural, social, and developmental activities.
“The Sulu-Gambari Pavilion is not merely a structure; it is a solution, It will save the Emirate millions of Naira annually, enhance the prestige of our communal events, and serve as a sustainable source of revenue for the Palace. This initiative underscores the Senator’s enduring commitment to the development of Ilorin Emirate and his resolve to address pressing communal needs in a strategic and impactful manner,” Sholagberu said.
The pledge has already drawn widespread acclaim, with many describing it as a bold and timely intervention that will resonate across generations.