Delegates from 17 countries across the globe are expected to attend the 2025 Ilorin Emirate durbar billed for June 8, 2025.
Delegates and government representatives are being expected from the United States of America( USA), United Kingdom(UK), Republic of Benin, Egypt and Morocco, amongst others.
This is even as the committee expressed appreciation to Kwara State government for what it called valued support.
The chairman of the Ilorin Emirate Durbar Committee, Engr. Sulaiman Alapansanpa, made this known at a pre- event press conference held at the Emir’s Palace, Ilorin on Monday.
The 2025 celebration is themed “Unity in Diversity – Ilorin’s Timeless Gift” and about 1,000 invited guests and 2,000 general guests are expected to grace the event.
The committee’s chairman confirmed and advanced historical reasons for the shift of the venue of the annual durbar event from the forecourt of the Emir’s palace to the Kwara Baseball Park in Adewole, Ilorin.
Alapansanpa said the shift of the venue of the event was with the approval of the Emir of Ilorin, Alh Ibrahim Sulu- Gambari.
He described the durbar as more than a cultural festival, calling it a celebration of Ilorin’s enduring peace, unity, and identity.
“The Ilorin Durbar is far more than a cultural event ,it is a living testimony to Ilorin’s rich heritage; a celebration of unity, peace, and enduring harmony,” he said.
Reflecting on the origins of the Durbar, he traced its roots back to 1830, after Ilorin’s victory over the combined forces of the Old Oyo Empire and the Baruba warriors.
He explained that the final battle was sealed at Ita Kudimoh, which later became the site of the first grand gathering to mark Ilorin’s triumph.
“These early gatherings were not parades of conquest but solemn affirmations of peace and healing, a blending of diverse peoples including Fulani, Yoruba, Hausa, Baruba, Nupe, Kanuri, Gobir and others,” he said.
This year, in what the committee described as a symbolic return to Ilorin’s historical roots, the Emir will ride through the historic path from Ita Ogunbo into Ita Kudimo before proceeding to the main event at the Kwara Baseball Park.
Alapansanpa who acknowledged the guidance of the Emir of Ilorin and the valued support of Kwara State government said: ” We deeply appreciate the Kwara State government, our numerous partners, security agencies, and community volunteers – whose tireless sacrifice and unwavering commitment remain the backbone of this festival”.
