By Sulyman Gobir
The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, is set to confer the prestigious traditional title of Sardauna of Ilorin Emirate on the Executive Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
The title, which translates to “Defence Minister” within the traditional hierarchy of the Ilorin Emirate, is regarded as one of the prominent traditional positions in the emirate.
According to a statement by the Personal Assistant to the Emir, Dr. Muritala Raheem, the Emir of Ilorin, who is also Chairman of the Kwara State Council of Chiefs and Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, and Muhammad Kamaldeen University, Ilorin, will preside over the turbaning ceremony.
The event is scheduled for Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at the Shehu Abdulkadir Hall, located within the Emir’s Palace, Ilorin. The ceremony is expected to commence at 10:00 a.m.
The statement notes that although the title of Sardauna has existed within the Ilorin Emirate, with Alhaji Umar Saro being the first holder, he was not formally turbaned into the position.
Governor AbdulRazaq’s turbaning will therefore mark the first formal installation and turbaning of a Sardauna in the history of the Ilorin Emirate, making the ceremony a significant development in the emirate’s traditional institution.
The conferment is also expected to further underscore the governor’s relationship with the traditional institution and his role in the affairs and development of Kwara State.
