Date: 2021-12-09

The Emir of Ilorin, His Royal Highness, Alh. Ibrahim Zulu Gambari has given a royal blessing to the educational intervention tagged Countryside Emerging Leaders Fellowship (CELF).

Represented by the Secretary of the Alangua/Magajis Forum of the Ilorin Emirate, Alh. Umar Kayode Sidiq, the Emir, during a courtesy visit to the 2021 fellows on Thursday, assured the organisers of the programme of his support and royal blessing.

The royal father, who expressed his enthusiasm with the programme, also commended the Kwara state government for supporting the 2021 edition of the fellowship.

"For quite sometime, we have not had anything such as CELF. I therefore commend the Kwara State Government ably led by Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq for its support towards making this year's edition very colourful," the Emir said through his representative.

Representative of His Royal Highness, Emir of Ilorin, Dr. Ibrahim Zulu Gambari speaking during a courtesy visit to the CELF camp He added, "A community development intervention such as CELF is worthy of being supported by all and sundry. And on behalf of the Ilorin Emirate, we assure the organisers and fellows all year-round support and royal blessings."

Also speaking during the visit, Chairman of the Alangua/Magajis Forum and Alangua Opolo, Alhaji Zuluqorinaini Abdulraheem encouraged the fellows to cultivate the habit of reading, saying that it would make them to be better informed about new ideas and new perspectives. Alhaji Abdulraheem advised the fellows to take advantage of the fellowship and be more committed towards giving back to their communities.

In his remarks, the National Publicity Secretary of the Ilorin Emirate Youth Development Association (IEYDA), Alhaji Muhammad Uthman Jagunma commended the efforts of the convener, Mallam Lawal Olohungbebe and his team for the initiative and pledged the support of the association to the fellowship. He thereafter announced prizes for the outstanding fellows, including food items and packs of water.

Among the delegations of the Ilorin Emirate were Magaji Esinrogunjo, Alhaji Amosa Esinrogunjo; Alangua Owode, Alh. Umar Kayode Sodiq; Balogun Baree, Alhaji Ibrahim Muhammed and executive members of the Ilorin Emirate Youth Development Association(IEYDA).