Ilorin, the capital of Kwara state, is predominantly an Islamic town in north central Nigeria. It is also famous for its rich Islamic cultural heritage, features which stand out this ancient town among its contemporaries in Nigeria.

A manifest aspect of the cultural endowments of Ilorin is the annual traditional celebration of Ramadan fasting. It  is one of the many  occasions which  showcases  the richness of Ilorin culture, traditions and  customs  of the  Islamic faith.

It is also easily noticed that people jealously preserve, observe   and protect it against western civilization. The Ramadan fasting period, which has been sustained for time immemorial is an occasion which often brings together sons and daughters of the Ilorin  emirate to felicitate and fraternize with one another in appreciation of the uniqueness of its Islamic culture and traditions.

Weekly Trust observed that at the frontage of the Emir’s palace, the permanent venue of the celebration, the people of the emirate and its environs converge in thousands for the annual ritual which formally announced the end of the Ramadan fast, which is followed by the Eid-el-Fitri Sallah celebration. It has always been observed in pomp and pageantry and this year’s celebration was no exemption, as it was coloured with the traditional durbar celebrations and a visit to the state Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed by the Emir. 

Shortly after the completion of proceedings at the praying ground, the governor paid a facilitative homage to the Emir on the successful completion of the 2013 Ramadan fasting and celebrations.

The traditional end of Ramadan celebration was graced by prominent indigenes of the emirate as well as the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Zulu Gambari who was full of life and effervescence, flanked by his numerous chiefs and subjects who stormed the venue in large numbers.

It was not only an occasion to unite and solidify the cord that binds members of the emirate together, but also a day to display the Islamic culture and tradition of Ilorin as a centre of Islamic learning and abeacon of light to Islam and Muslims in Nigeria.

Therefore, the occasion witnessed recitation of the Holy Quran, glorification of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), lectures and traditional "waka" performance to the delight and satisfaction of the people.

Those who attended the ceremony at the early hours of Wednesday told Weekly Trust that missing their night sleep was a worthwhile sacrifice just to witness the glamour of the light. They were, however, not disappointed especially with the traditional "waka" performance that spiced the event.

The programme commenced with the  Quranic recitation/exhibition with younger reciters competing with one another and displaying their memorizing skills. Thereafter,  winners emerged and were presented with gift items ranging from LCD TV, copies of Quran and  Islamic native attires, among  others.

Sheikh Abdulwahab Abdulkareem,  the Chief Imam of Affanta Oshogbo Banni Al-Ilorin who delivered the lecture at the occasion emphasized that the holy Quran is the keystone of Ilorin culture and tradition which dates back to 19th century. 

He stressed the need for all and sundry to ensure that the Islamic culture, traditions and customs are shielded against western civilization.

His words, "Ilorin has been lucky to be blessed with prominent Islamic scholars who were the brains behind the city’s exceptional erudition. The past scholars worked very hard to establish a culture of excellence in Islamic and Arabic studies which have made Ilorin a predominantly Islamic city and placed the city ahead of its contemporaries in the present-day Nigeria".

He tasked present Islamic scholars to emulate the past clerics whom he said launched Ilorin on a solid Islamic foundation, just as he challenged the younger ones to strive hard to acquire western and Islamic education in order to sustain the erudition identified with the emirate. 

Beside the lecture, the occasion provided an avenue for sons and daughters of the community under the aegis of Ilorin Emirate Descendants’ Progressive Union (IEDPU) to bare their minds on varying issues that affect their socio-cultural and political lives.

Delivering IEDPU’s remarks during the annual traditional end of Ramadan celebration held in Ilorin on Wednesday, Alhaji Usman Moyosore called on security agents to be proactive as the state warms up for the local government elections scheduled for October 26, so that miscreants would not be allowed to hijack the elections.

The union similarly frowned at the sale of sachet water for N10 as against N5 in neighbouring towns and states and called on the Emir to intervene in the matter. Moyosore added that the union is concerned about the blockage of major roads in the town during ceremonies despite repeated complaints.

 "We should not do anything that would hurt our neighbours", he stressed.

He commended the efforts of state government on road construction, even as he urged the administration to rehabilitate all those roads that are in deplorable condition. He also appealed to the Federal Government to look into the cases of some collapsed bridges in Ohan and Moro in Asa and More LGAS respectively.

The state Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Alhaji Saka Onimago who represented Governor Ahmed felicitated with the Emir and the entire the emirate on the successful completion of the Ramadan fast. He pledged that government would not relent in its efforts to bring about genuine development to Ilorin emirate and the state in general.

In his remarks, the Emir of Ilorin, ended the programme by reiterating his call for all sons and daughters to love one another and be their brothers’ keepers stressing that there would be more development in an atmosphere of peace and harmony.