The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) celebrates the highly respected Emir of Ilorin, His Royal Highness, retired Justice Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR, an icon of Arewa unity, progress and development at the ripe age of 85. His Royal Highness’s stellar achievements in life and service to Nigeria, Arewa and to human-ity in general included a distinguished career in the judiciary and now as Royal Father to the great Ilorin Emirate. His Royal Highness was also the Chairman of the committee that set up the ACF at the incep-tion of the imminent socio-cultural organisation and played a defining role in guiding the ACF to emerged as the foremost interest group in articulating, advocating, defending, and champi-oning the unity, progress and development of the Arewa states of Nigeria.The occasion therefore is good reason to celebrate His Royal Highness in recognition of his contributions to nation-building in Nigeria. For ACF, HRH belongs to that iconic category of fathers who gave their all to the people, especially as an exemplar in service to humanity, wor-thy of emulation by those who find themselves in position of authority and influence, especially during daunting political, social, and economic challenges. In all these, HRH has remained humbler, self-effacing dignified and, rightly so, quintessentially royal. His Royal Highness has remained a point of reference as an advocate of tolerance, peaceful co-existence and develop-ment, on which standpoints HRH has remained steadfast. It is therefore with immense gratitude to God Almighty that an ever grateful Arewa, Nigeria and the ACF celebrate HRH at 85 and wishes him many more years of good health and in the ser-vice of the people of Nigeria and humanity as a whole.
Prof T A Muhammad-Baba
National Publicity Secretary