The Senate President, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has congratulated the University of Ilorin on its 40th anniversary, saying the institution has, in the past four decades, produced several "vibrant minds", who are contributing to the development of the country through their various callings. In a goodwill message posted on his Facebook wall last Friday (October 23, 2015), Senator Saraki, who was two-term Governor of the University's host state - Kwara - said, "Over the last few days, the University of Ilorin, one of Nigeria's most prestigious institutions of learning, has been celebrating her 40th year of academic excellence.

"These past four decades have seen UNILORIN - as it is fondly called by all - journey from a new establishment with just (200) a handful of students in 1975, into an academic melting pot that has forged, formed, and planted fires in the minds of hundreds of thousands of students.

"Needless to say, the contributions of UNILORIN's past students to the Nigerian project cannot be underestimated. UNILORIN should also be proud to have produced vibrant minds like my successor Governor of Kwara State, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, Professor Isiaq Oloyede (immediate past Vice-Chancellor of the University and present Secretary of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs), Professor Abdul Rasheed Na'Allah (Vice Chancellor, Kwara State University), Dr. Sarah Alade, (former acting Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria), and Professor Charles Ayo (present Vice-Chancellor, Covenant University), among others.

"Over the years, its vibrant Faculties of Arts, Engineering, Science, Law, Education and others have also demonstrated that UNILORIN will continue to be at the forefront of academic discovery and innovation in Nigeria, Africa, and very soon, the world.

"Again, as I join all founding fathers, past and present administrative heads, students, staff, and Nigerians as a whole to celebrate the Better By Far University of Ilorin, I wish her many more years of vibrant and tremendous contributions to academia in Nigeria".