To become a Professor in any field of learning, particularly at the University of Ilorin, has never been a joke. It requires extraordinary hardwork in the realms of teaching, research and community service. In addition to this, such efforts must also be mingled with uncommon integrity and extraordinary probity.

This is one of the reasons, which makes the 50 years old citadel of learning the nation's most sought-after. It is also making the University a pace-setting ivory tower and truly better by far.

So, I am always excited whenever I come across any compatriot, especially from the University's host community, Ilorin Emirate, attaining the pinnacle of his or her academic calling at a relatively young age. I see such an individual as the face of our community and a flag bearer of what the community is known for right from its foundation-a fountain of knowledge.

One of the emerging prides of Ilorin Emirate in the field of scholarship is a legal luminary and teacher, Professor Abdulrazaq Owolabi Abdulkadir. He became a Professor of Law at the age of 41.

This learned gentleman was born in Ilorin on June 30, 1982. He hails from Ile Agba, Isale Guniyan, Guniyan Quarters, Alore, Ilorin.

Prof. Abdulkadir, a specialist in Maritime Law who is set to deliver the University's 280th Inaugural Lecture at the University Auditorium on Thursday, May 8, 2025; is one of those born without a silver spoon. He has, however, emerged as a shining example of one of those who became role-models, in their own rights, through consistent hardwork and deliberate struggle to recreate themselves for the betterment of humanity.

Other prominent indigenes of Guniyan Quarters, Ilorin, include the admirable National Missioner of Ansarul Islam Society of Nigeria, Shaykh Abdulmumini Hanafi Ayara; a former Special Adviser to the former Governor of Kwara State, Hon. Yekeen Ilobu; a former Chairman of Moro Local Government Area Council, Alhaji Issa Adara; and the current Vice Chairman of the Council, Alhaji AbdulRazaq Adara; a prominent teacher and leader at the famous Arabic Training Centre (Markaz), Agege, Shaykh Suleiman Guniyan and Alhaji Tunde Issa, a God-fearing retired topnotch of the National Population Commission.

Others include a veteran nurse and former National Vice President of Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), Dr Saliu Arowona Adebayo; a retired patriotic topnotch of the Kwara State Rural Electrification Board, Engr. Sulaiman Oba Ilobu; and the late Engr. Shuaib Olanilorun, to mention a few.

After his primary education at Al-Adabiyyah Primary School, Ilorin, which was established by the late National Missioner of the Ansarul Islam Society of Nigeria, Shaykh AbdulRaheem Aminullahi Al-Adabiy (Oniwasi-Agbaye), Prof. Abdulkadir was educated at Moro Local Government Secondary School, Oloru, from 1991 to 1996. He also attended the Kwara State College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies, Ilorin, between 1997 and 2000 from where he earned a Diploma certificate.

He thereafter proceeded to the University of Ilorin for his Bachelor's degree in Law which he successfully ran from 2001 to 2004. Prof. Abdulkadir quickly followed it up with his one year mandatory training at the Nigerian Law School at the end of which he was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2006.

In the course of the two courses, Prof. Abdulkadir was one of the young members of his classes. Yet, he did not disappoint. He was not only studious but also gave a very good account of himself. He made Second Class Upper Division in each of the two programmes, a performance that confirmed his brilliance.

In pursuit of more learning and professional accomplishments, Prof. Abdulkadir was also at the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, from 2008 to 2011. He consequently bagged his Master's degree in Law with A+ from the Great Ife.

Prof. Abdulkadir capped his academic training with a doctorate degree. He did by obtaining his Ph. D. from the famous International Islamic University, Malaysia in 2014. He completed his doctorate in less than 24 months.

Having been called to the Nigerian Bar, this unassuming legal personality commenced his brilliant career as an NYSC member at Juwon Semudara & Co., Okitipupa, Ondo State, from 2006 to 2007. He thereafter joined Olasupo Ashaolu, SAN & Co., Ilorin in 2007. He worked at the Chambers till 2010.

Because of his unquenchable desire to participate in the baking of young lawyers, Prof. Abdulkadir left lucrative private practice to join the services of the University of Ilorin as a lecturer. He rose through the ranks at the University to become a Professor of Law in 2023. This was achieved a decade after his joining the University.

As a teacher, Prof. Abdulkadir has taught many lawyers who are now doing well in private practice, public sector, academia and in corporate establishment.

Prof. Abdulkadir does not only teaches, he also publishes. He has either singlehandedly or jointly published no fewer than 50 intellectually-stimulating articles in respected local and international journals. He has also benefited from about 10 learned conferences held within and outside the country.

In the realm of thesis supervision, Prof. Abdulkadir has also done quite well for himself and the nation's University system. He has supervised 16 master dissertations. He has equally supervised no fewer than four doctorate theses as a mark of his exemplary scholarship and academic leadership.

Despite his tight schedules, Prof. Abdulkadir equally finds time for community service. He is the Legal Adviser to the Ilorin Emirate Staff Association, University of Ilorin. He is also a prominent member of the Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria (MULAN). He has equally been an active member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). In both MULAN and NBA, Prof. Abdulkadir has held influential leadership positions.

As a lecturer, he has been trusted with several critical positions by the authorities of the University of Ilorin. He has served on a number of committees at Departmental, Faculty and University Levels since 2014.

He was a Level Adviser as he currently serves as Sub-Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin. He is serving under the watchful eyes of the hardworking Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Nimah Modupe AbdulRaheem. Prof. AbdulRaheem, a daughter of the second Grand Kadi of the Kwara State Shariah Court of Appeal, Ilorin, the late Justice Mutalub Ahmad Ambali, OFR, FISN, is also Ilorin Emirate's first female Professor of Law.

In his own right, Prof. Abdulkadir is a man of history. He is the first product of his alma mater, Moro Local Government Secondary School, Oloru, to become a Professor. He is also the first Professor from Guniyan Quarters, Ilorin.

He also has the privilege of being the first Professor of Maritime Law from Ilorin Emirate and Kwara State at large. What's more, Prof. Abdulkadir equally occupies the first chair in that specialisation at the University of Ilorin.

By his date of birth, Prof. Abdulkadir appears to be eminently qualified to be described as the youngest member of the respected Ilorin Emirate Professors' Association (IEPA). He could also be similarly rated among the youngest Professors currently in the services of the University of Ilorin.

Prof. Abdulkadir, who teaches at the UNILORIN's Department of Private and Public Law, is happily married. His wife is Hajiya Rukayat Taiye Aiyelabegan from the popular Aiyelabegan Compound, Agbaji Quarters, Ilorin. The marriage is blessed with very promising children.

As Prof. Abdulkadir delivers his Inaugural Lecture titled "Radicalism, Rascality and Resentment in the Ebb of Marine and Blue Economy" under the Chairmanship of the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, it is my wish that indigenes of Ilorin Emirate, particularly youth-friendly ones, would converge on the University Auditorium to witness the academic ritual to be offered by probably the youngest Inaugural Lecturer in the annals of the University and most especially from the Ilorin Emirate.

I can tell you for free that the much-anticipated Prof. Abdulkadir's Inaugural Lecture is the first of its kind on Maritime Law to be delivered in Kwara State. It is probably going to also be one of the earliest to be delivered all over Nigeria.

On my part, I am looking forward to the date. I will be there, Insha Allahu. I hope everyone reading this will also find time to be at the event as it is important for all to be a witness to history.

Imam is National Secretary, Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union.