Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, former Senate President Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, and Ambassador Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki-Gambari have announced donations totalling ₦450 million in support of Muhammed Kamalud-Deen University, Ilorin, and activities marking the centenary of Az-Zumratul Adabiyyatul Kamaliyyah School of Arabic and Islamic Studies.
The donations were announced on Sunday during the grand finale of the 100th anniversary celebration of the school, held at Muhammed Kamalud-Deen University in Ogidi, Ilorin, Kwara State.
Governor AbdulRazaq announced a total contribution of ₦180 million, comprising ₦50 million in his capacity as Sardauna of Ilorin, ₦50 million on behalf of the AbdulRazaq family, and ₦50 million from the Kwara State Government to support research and educational advancement at the university.
He also directed the university management to identify 30 deserving students for scholarships, with each beneficiary to receive ₦1 million, bringing the scholarship commitment to ₦30 million.
The governor was represented at the event by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Alhaji AbdulRazaq Jiddah.
Saraki, the Baba Adinni of Ansarul Islam Society of Nigeria, announced a donation of ₦150 million in support of the centenary activities and the continued development of the university and its associated institutions.
Delivering a goodwill message at the event, the former Senate President described Az-Zumratul Adabiyyatul Kamaliyyah as one of the defining institutions and enduring identities of Ilorin and Kwara State.
According to a statement by his Press Officer on Local Matters, Abdulganiyu Abdulqadir, Saraki said the centenary was a rare milestone that reflected the institution’s enduring contributions to knowledge, faith and service.
He noted that the school had grown into a fountain institution from which other establishments, including Ansarul Islam Society and Muhammed Kamalud-Deen University, had emerged.
“From this Arabic and Islamic School, we now have a great society, the Ansarul-Islam Society to which I am, insha Allah, the Baba Adinni, and we have a university to which I am also associated,” Saraki said.
He paid tribute to the late Sheikh Kamaludeen Al-Adabiyy, whose intellectual and spiritual legacy, he said, continues to sustain Ilorin’s reputation as a centre of Islamic scholarship.
Saraki also commended successive Khalifahs and administrators of the Adabiyyah institutions for sustaining and expanding the vision of the late scholar.
Beyond the centenary donation, Saraki has continued to support students of Muhammed Kamalud-Deen University through an existing scholarship programme with an annual commitment of ₦35 million. The programme supports 100 students from 100 level through 400 level and forms part of his broader interventions in the institution, alongside infrastructural projects.
The former Senate President urged indigenes of Kwara State and friends of the state to provide sustained support for the institutions, noting that their development would benefit religion, society and the country.
In a separate contribution, Ambassador Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki-Gambari donated ₦120 million to Muhammed Kamalud-Deen University in commemoration of the centenary celebration.
The donations announced by the three prominent figures amount to ₦450 million, excluding Saraki’s existing annual scholarship programme.
The celebration attracted prominent traditional rulers, Islamic scholars, political leaders, academics and other dignitaries from across the country.
Among those present were the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, who served as the royal father of the occasion; the Emir of Kano, His Royal Eminence Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero; and the Emir of Ilorin, who was represented by the Magaji Are of Ilorin.
Also present was Dr Awa Ibraheem, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ICMA Professional Services and Pro-Chancellor of Fountain University, Osogbo, who chaired the occasion.
Other dignitaries included the Kwara State PDP governorship candidate and Dan-Iya Ngeri of Ilorin, Engr Sulaiman Bolakale Kawu; former PDP National Chairman and Tafida Ngeri of Ilorin, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje; and Kwara State PDP Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Issa Bawa.
The gathering brought together Islamic scholars, traditional rulers, academics, political leaders, members of the Adabiyyah community and other stakeholders to commemorate a century of Arabic and Islamic education and celebrate the legacy of Sheikh Kamaludeen Al-Adabiyy.
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