The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ilorin Branch, has announced that its 2025 Annual Bar Dinner and Award Night will be held in honour of Senator Saliu Mustapha, marking the first time in the branch's history that the event is being dedicated to a non-lawyer.

The dinner, scheduled for 20 December 2025 at the Arca Santa Arena, Ilorin, is expected to attract leading legal practitioners, academics, and key stakeholders in the justice sector.

In a statement signed by the Publicity Secretary of the branch, A.O. Ahmed-Aliagan, the NBA said the honour is in recognition of Senator Mustapha's "consistent goodwill, steadfast support and enduring relationship with the Ilorin Bar."

Senator Mustapha, who represents Kwara Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly and holds the traditional title of Turaki of Ilorin Emirate, has, over the years, provided institutional and personal support to the branch, the association said, adding that his contributions have strengthened the activities and cohesion of the Ilorin Bar.

The NBA also announced a list of distinguished personalities to be honoured at the event for their contributions to the legal profession and the wider society. They include retired jurist, Justice Hannah Ajayi; law professor and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mubarak Adekilekun; Abdulsalam Yunus, SAN; Lukman Fagbemi, SAN; and Ghazali Shafiu, Officer-in-Charge of Monitoring.

A special philanthropic award will also be presented to Alhaji Tajudeen Ajibola Ibrahim Eleku, a business leader and prominent figure in the construction industry, in recognition of his contributions to humanitarian causes.

According to the statement, the 2025 Bar Dinner will serve not only as a social gathering but also as a platform to reflect on professional values, celebrate institutional memory, and strengthen bonds among members of the Ilorin Bar and its partners.

"The Bar Dinner remains a forum for celebrating tradition and honouring service," the statement said, urging members and stakeholders to attend what it described as an eventful and memorable evening.