ILORIN, Nigeria (FN) — A socio‑cultural organisation in Kwara State has strongly opposed a proposal by the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu‑Gambari, to rename the University of Ilorin after Sheikh Alimi, founder of the Alimi dynasty.
The Kwara South Consultative Forum described the suggestion as “highly provocative” and insensitive to the ethnic diversity and historical plurality of the state. The Emir made the call during the university’s 50th anniversary celebration, sparking widespread debate across Kwara.
In a statement signed by its Secretary‑General, Adebayo Daramola, the Forum said the University of Ilorin belongs to the entire state and not to any single ethnic group or community. “The entire state of Kwara is the catchment area of the University of Ilorin. We are just not homogeneous enough in Kwara State for that idea to ever be muted,” the statement read.
The group warned against actions capable of reopening ethnic fault lines, noting that the location of the university in Ilorin does not translate to exclusive ownership by the host community. “The fact that the University is located in Ilorin does not confer ownership on the city. The privilege of being a host community should not be confused with exclusive ownership,” it said.
The Forum argued that Sheikh Alimi’s historical significance does not resonate with many ethnic groups in the state, particularly those of Ekiti, Ibolo and Igbomina extraction in Kwara South, as well as communities in Kwara North. “It will therefore be uncalled for to contemplate the imposition of a name that does not have statewide spread on our collective inheritance,” the group added.
As an alternative, the Forum suggested that proponents of the proposal consider establishing a private university named after Sheikh Alimi, citing the growing number of private tertiary institutions in Kwara South. It listed Landmark University in Omu‑Aran, Thomas Adewumi University in Oko, Abubakar AbdulRazaq Toyin University in Gamo, Summit University in Offa, Offa University, Lens University in Offa/Ilemona, and Lens Polytechnic in Offa as examples.
“So, we are advising you to take a cue from Kwara South by establishing a private university in the name of Sheikh Alimi if there is a strong desire to immortalise him,” the Forum stated.
The group also faulted the recent renaming of the Kwara State Government House as Ahmadu Bello House, saying it was done without adequate consultation with other ethnic groups, particularly those in Kwara South.
According to the Forum, if the Government House must be named after an individual, it should honour the pioneer military governor of Kwara State, late Brigadier General David Bamigboye (retd.), who played a foundational role in the state’s early development.
The Emir’s proposal and the Forum’s rejection highlight the delicate balance of ethnic and cultural identities in Kwara State, where Ilorin, Kwara South and Kwara North communities share political and educational institutions. Analysts warn that decisions on naming public institutions can carry symbolic weight, with the potential to either unify or divide diverse populations.
