When you find something worth writing about, you wouldn’t know how the words flow freely. Never having met a handsome lord, it is difficult to join in pouring out praise on a richly bejewelled man, trained from highly coveted school of philosophy, worked at specially distinguised realm, dressed in fragrant robes and living in an ivory palace. “If you devote yourself entirely to a noble pursuit, there is no way you cannot find beauty and fulfillment” – Daniel Gillies.
Harry S. Truman once said, “Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.” That quote is decades old, but it’s still a powerful and true statement today. If leaders want to live up to Harry’s expectations and read up on all things leadership, they’ve got their work cut out for them—there’s a vast collection of information to sift through. From learning about different leadership styles to cultivating a winning culture, embracing the heritage and embedded with the ascension of reality of life.
The effects of bad leadership can greatly outweigh the impact of great leadership. Lackluster leadership causes anguish, pain, disengagement, and loss of productivity to the generality of the led.
Sure, people who display bad leadership traits are generally good people and not inherently trying to cause harm. But, they are often blind to their negative traits. Emir of Ilorin – His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Kolapo Sulu-Gambari (CFR) is an epitome of leadership with the ability to inspire confidence in others.
He clearly and concisely communicates his message to motivate his people to greater heights of achievement. I have a philosophy that doesn’t any way appreciate mediocrity, people will do more for leaders they respect than they would do for anyone else. Great leaders are never self-serving. The Emir possesses a clear vision, he is courageous with integrity, honesty, humility and clear focus.
A simple definition is that leadership is the art of motivating a group of people to act toward achieving a common goal. He possesses the combination of personality and leadership skills to make others want to follow his direction. “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” – John C. Maxwell.
From the time immemorial, you have shown the world the unshakable trait of the progenitors of Emirship of Ilorin. Several attempts to mow you from the stool has been revealing your greatness more than anyone could have imagined; one with God is a majority.
Your leadership style means a lot. I admire your leadership and decision-making skills — I hope to continue learning from you. Accept my heartfelt tribute in celebrating your greatness! “Believing in yourself is not for you; it’s for every person who has touched your life in a significant way and for every person your life will touch the same way five minutes from now, or five centuries from now.”
—Jaye Miller
The Emir is a substance of hope, conduit of peace and pillar of excellence whose heart and mind set no limit. He has the mind that envisions the fact that he can do something, and he does it in a unique identity. “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
—Martin Luther King, Jr
Countless efforts to put his eminence to leaking the feet of betrayals but he usually motivates himself with what I recount from an esteemed and erstwhile President of America who once said, “Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much because they live in the grey twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.”
—Theodore Roosevelt.
In his 80th birthdate, I am confident to reiterate that Success is undefined yet, one’s destiny is to fulfill those things upon which one focused most intently. So choose to keep your focus on that which is truly magnificent, beautiful, uplifting and joyful.
Within the corridor of my knowledge, I wouldn’t want to mince words. It is unarguable that the Emir is the most educated man ever mounted the stool of Ilorin Emirship. In his reign, Ilorin has witnessed unequal development in all ramifications.
The stool of Emir of Ilorin belongs to the one of the three class of monarchs holding the title of “Shehu” in Northern Nigeria. The others are Shehu Usman Danfodio of Sokoto, Shehu El-Kanemi of Borno and Shehu Alimi Dan Janta of Ilorin.
Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari was turbaned as the Ciroman Ilorin by his late father and 9th Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Zulkarnaini Muhammadu Gambari in 1984, while in active service as the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division.
In his time, Ilorin has progressed beyond words, attainment of top Political offices in the country, Human Capacity development, Socioeconomic growth and creation of several institutions across the Emirates.
Tertiary institutions increased with the establishment of Al-Hikmah University, Kwara State University Malete and Muyideen College of education, Imam Hamzat College of Education, among other private- and government-owned establishments across the state such as International Aviation College and the Advanced Diagnostic Centre.
He initiated the renovation of Ilorin Central Mosque (constructed by his late father in 1979) to become a world class edifice and next to that of Prophet Muhammad in Medina, Saudi Arabia.
Until recently when he was redeployed to the University of Agriculture Makurdi, Benue State, the Emir had held sway as the Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State for 14 years (2001-2015).
He founded the Shehu Alimi Foundation for Peace and Development with 11-man Committee and made Sheikh Dr. AbdulKadir Oba-Solagberu its National President.
At this beffiting conjuncture, I am felicitating with the Mai Martaba Serikin Ilory – Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Kolapo Sulu-Gambari (CFR) on his monumental birthdate.
I, as the first Balogun Fulani of Ilorin Emirates Students Union, University of Ilorin sings in appraisal…
Emirate wa olùwà Maje Obaje, gbogbo ọmọ Ilorin olùwà Maje kàn su bu, àwa ọmọ Ilorin ao so rire…
BASHEER LUQMAN OLAREWAJU
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