Razaq Bamidele
The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, was on Monday, October 21, conferred with Doctor of Letters Honoris Causa, by the prestigious Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, in Ekiti State.
The Number One Muslim Leader, who was on his way to the event arrived Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital in the South Western zone of Nigeria for the Founder’s Awards and Convocation ceremony of the university touched down at Akure Airport about 1.30pm, and walked into warm reception jointly put together by Ekiti State Chapters of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and League of Imams and Alfas.
At the Airport to receive the Sultan was a combined team of Muslim and Hausa/Fulani communities led by President-General, League of Imams and Alfas, South West, Edo and Delta, Sheikh Jamiu Kwewulere Bello, assisted by Sariki Hausa of Ekiti State, Alhaji Abdullahi Muhammed Sani, former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Taye Lawal and the state NSCIA Chairman, Alhaji Yakubu Sanni.
The Muslim Leader was driven from the Akure Airport in a long convoy of very enthusiastic members of ethnic and religious people into the waiting presence of Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who received him at the Government House Ado Ekiti before he moved to his lodge.
In his entourage were, the Waziri of Sokoto, Prof. Sambo Junaidu, Galadima of Sokoto, Alhaji Attahiru Aliyu and former Head of Service of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed.
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He was not alone in the honour. Other prominent members of the society also honoured were, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, frontline politician and former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and a notable oil and gas magnate, Professor Anthony Adegbulugbe. They were also decorated with similar honourary awards.
Also in attendance to felicitate with the Amirul Mu’mineen of Nigeria, Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar, were the Deji of Akure Kingdom, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, the Attah of Aiyede Kingdom, Ekiti State, Oba Alhaji Abdulmumini Adebayo Orishagbemi, President-General, League of Imams and Alfas, South West, Edo and Delta, Sheikh Jamiu Kwewulere Bello, Chairman, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Ekiti State, Alhaji Yakubu Sanni, among others.
The event, where the four dignitaries were honoured was the 10th Founder’s Day Awards and Seventh Convocation Ceremonies of the institution in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital.
Just like Sultan of Sokoto was decorated as Doctor of Letters, Obi of Onitsha got similar honour, while Tinubu was honoured by the institution due to his love for democracy, his political acumen and for being a believer in true federalism. He was decorated with honorary Doctor of Public Administration.
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In his entourage were the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola (Osun), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun) and Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Adegboyega Egbeyemi.
Awards have become second name to Sultan Abubakar, a retired General of the Nigerian Army, has received several honourary degrees in over 10 universities including Crescent University Abeokuta, Nigeria. He is also the current Chancellor of the University of Ibadan.
The honourary awardees were subsequently inducted into the alumni association by the founder of the institution, Chief Afe Babalola.
Other dignitaries who graced the occasion included the Registrar and Chief Executive of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Is-haq Oloyede and many eminent scholars of universities from far and wide