National Integration: Shettima Urges Nigerians To Embrace Ilorin Model

Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged Nigerians to learn from the people of Ilorin, Kwara State in the nation’s search for national integration and genuine spirit of brotherly relationship.

Shettima stated this on Saturday during the 13th convocation of Al- Hikmah University, Ilorin, where he delivered the convocation lecture.

The vice president said Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State had for several decades remained a city of “tolerance with rich cultural heritage and scholarship heritage where people of diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds have cohabited together peacefully.

“This is the city where the Kanuri, the Yoruba, Fulfulde, Hausawa including the Gobir along with the Nupe, Baruba, Gwari and Kambari extractions are all proud to combine their Islamic names.

“Growing up in Maiduguri in the 70s and 80s, we always thought of Ilorin as an exotic place, a land of milk and honey, a paradise on earth.

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“In our search for national integration, national comfort and genuine spirit of brotherly relationship, Nigeria has a lot to learn from Ilorin,” he said.

On his lecture titled, “Addressing Nigeria’s Food Security Challenges Through Hi-tech Approach: The Role of Nigerian Universities”, the vice president charged Nigerian universities to take advantage of the growing influence of technology, research and innovation to produce graduates who will move directly into agriculture.

Shettima, who announced a scholarship of N25 million for indigent female students of the university, called for more investment in public schools to allow more people access to education.

“Prosperity will judge us harshly if we allow public schools to collapse in Nigeria,” he said.

The vice president was received at the Babatunde Idiagbon International Airport, Ilorin by Kwara State governor and chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

The deputy governor, Mr Kayode Alabi; speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Yakubu Salihu- Danladi; Senators Saliu Mustapha, Sadiq Umar, some members of the state executive council; and the chief executive of KAM Holdings Nigeria Ltd, Alhaji Kamaru Yusuf joined the governor in receiving the vice president at the airport.

Other dignitaries at the occasion included the inspector-general of police (IGP), Mr Kayode Egbetokun, who has just received his doctoral degree from the institution; founder of the university, Chief AbdulRaheem Oladimeji and vice chancellor of the university, Prof Noah Yusuf.