COMRADE LUKMAN O. AHMED CELEBRATES AN ICON, THE NEW MUTAWALLE OF ILORIN DR MUHAMMAD ALIMI ABDULRAZAQ @ 65

COMRADE LUKMAN O. AHMED CELEBRATES AN ICON, THE NEW MUTAWALLE OF ILORIN DR MUHAMMAD ALIMI ABDULRAZAQ @ 65; 

The National Coordinator of Freedom Network Group, Comrade Lukman Olukayode Ahmed (Imam-Imale) has congratulated the New Mutawalle of Ilorin, Dr Muhammad Alimi Abdulrazaq on his auspicious birthday anniversary.

Without missing a words, you are proven to be a Quintessential Boss, Rare Manager of Financial Resources.

Comrade Lukman Olukayode Ahmed, described the celebrant as a fantastic role model for all youths to emulate.

The celebrant is one of the traditional title holders conferred by the Emir of Ilorin, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Ibrahim Zulkarnaini Gambari (CFR), is no other person than the new Mutawalle of Ilorin, Dr Muhammad Alimi Abdulrazaq, who marks his 65th birthday today, Saturday, July 31, 2021.

Though the title of Mutawalle of Ilorin is not hereditary and the Emir is not mandated by any law or custom to appoint any specific person, there is no doubt in the fact that Dr Muhammad Alimi Abdulrazaq deserves the title. 

His feet was found to be big enough to enter the shoes left behind by his pathfinding Father.

The professional accomplishments, philanthropic dispositions and other glittering personal qualities, which Dr Muhammad Alimi Abdulrazaq possesses rightly earned him the prestigious title held by his illustrious father from 1962 to 2020.

Dr. Muhammed Alimi Abdulrazaq, a distinguished legal practitioner, foremost technocrat,  erstwhile political titan and shrewd business man, was born in the historic City of Zaria, Kaduna State to the family of the pioneer Northern Nigerian Lawyer who doubled as the first Senior Advocate of Nigeria from Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Folorunsho Abdulrazaq (AGF) MA, LLB (TDC) SAN, OFR (1927-2020).

 

His lovely and humble Mother is Alhaja Raliat Abdulrazaq born in 1930), who hails from the Abayawo Quarters in Ilorin.

The celebrant is a Member of the popular Yerinsa family in the Idigba Quarters, 

Pakata, Ilorin.

The New Mutawalle of Ilorin attended the famous Capital School, Kaduna, from where he received his First School Leaving Certificate. 

His contemporaries at the Capital School included a former National Security Adviser and prominent Prince of Sokoto caliphate, Colonel Sambo Dasuki; and a former Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Prof. Abubakar Sambo as well as Ambassador Mariam Katagum, the current Honourable Minister of State in the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment. 

For his Secondary School Education, he was trained at the popular St. Gregory's College, Obalende, Lagos State, from 1968 to 1972.

Dr Muhammad Alimi Abdulrazaq proceeded to the School of Basic Studies of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. 

He had his pre-degree training at the school located in the city of his birth and where his father held the honourary chieftaincy title of Tafidan Zazzau (Zaria) from 1972 to 1973.

He was thereafter admitted for his degree programme at the Faculty of Law, Institute of Administration, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

 He pursued his legal training at the prestigious University between 1974 and 1977 at the end of which he was found worthy of the institution's LLB (Hons) degree. 

Among his course mates at the Premier University in the Northern part of the Country.

Dr. Muhammad Alimi Abdulrazaq proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos State where he was further grounded in Law between 1977 and 1978.

He was subsequently called to the Nigerian Bar.

This outstanding son of Ilorin also attended the School of Law, University of Hull, United Kingdom for both his Master's and Doctorate Degrees in Law. 

He ran the Two courses from 1982 to 1983 and between 1984 and 1986, respectively. He is the first son of Ilorin to hold a Doctorate Degrees in Law.

 His Ph.D thesis, which is on Human Rights Protection in Africa, was a groundbreaking intellectual work as it prescribed the framework for the establishment of the African Court of Human and Peoples Rights, which was subsequently commissioned by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) now African Union (AU).

Having qualified as a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, this great son of Ilorin Emirate commenced his exciting career as a Legal Officer with A. Abdulrazaq (SAN) & Co. which was established by his illustrious Father. 

He worked under the watchful eyes of his Father who ensured that he acquired all the basic practical skills between 1978 to 1986 during which he cut his professional teeth.

 From 1989 to 2005, 

Dr Muhammad Alimi Abdulrazaq served as the Principal Partner, House of Laws 

(Advocates & Solicitors), a law firm, which has branches in Lagos and Abuja respectively.

He returned to Abdulrazaq (SAN) & Co. in 2010 and has been the Managing Partner of the same law firm since then.

As a successful business man, the New Mutawalle of Ilorin served as the Director, Gateway Insurance Company Limited, Ilorin, from 1983 to 1989.

He was also a Director in the Kwara Investment Company between 1985 and 1986.

He also served in the same capacity in the Board of the defunct New African Merchant Bank Limited from 1992 to 1994.

As a lover of Education and in emulation of his Father who established and ran the then Ilorin College (now Government High School), Ilorin, before the institution was taken-over by the Kwara State Government.

Dr Muhammad Alimi Abdulrazaq also founded The Bridge House College, Ikoyi,Lagos. 

He first served as the Chairman, Board of Governors of the College from 2004 to October, 2005 and since September 2010 till date.

He was also the Chairman, National Iron Ore Mining Company, Itakpe, Kogi State from 2000 to 2005.

He was also the Executive Commissioner, Legal, Licensing & Enforcement in the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission   also served as a Member of the Technical Committee of the National Council on Privatization from 2011 to 2015. 

He was also on the Board of FirstBank Holding Company, Plc. 

In each of those privileges, available records confirmed that he assisted quite a relatively significant number of indigenes of Ilorin Emirate and Kwara State to secure employment and career progression.

Dr Muhammad Alimi Abdulrazaq was born into an enduring notable family that has excelled in the field of law, politics and public service right from the nation's pre-independence era through the various facets of her political experiences till this moment.

It was therefore not surprising when he started politics right from his days in the University. He was the Vice-President of the Students Union at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1975.

He was also a Gubernatorial Aspirant in the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) during the aborted Third Republic.

He was also a Gubernatorial Candidate on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State in 1999.

Apart from offering himself for elective offices, Dr Muhammad Alimi Abdulrazaq was a Special Assistant (Political) to Ambassador Babagana Kingibe,GCON, when the highly sophisticated politician ran for the nation's Presidency as well as when he became Vice-Presidential flagbearer to the late Chief Moshood Kasimawo Olawale Abiola in 1993.

      

The contributions of Dr Muhammad Alimi Abdulrazaq to National development transcended party politics.

He was the Founder of the Nigerian Council for Human Rights, which he also served as the pioneer Executive Secretary between 1983 and 1993.

He also a Co-Sponsored the groundbreaking Alhaji AGF Abdulrazaq Professorial Chair in Public Law, which was instituted at the University of Ilorin in 1999.

Dr Muhammad Alimi Abdulrazaq has also been a distinguished Patron to several organisations such as the Law Society of the University of Benin and the University of Ilorin's Law Society. 

He is also a Patron to the Ilorin Emirate Students Union(IESU) ,the National Association of Kwara State Students (NAKSS) as well as the Institute of Chartered Training Managers (ICTM) and Freedom Network Group (FENEG) which am the National Coordinator.

His exemplary professional remains a close friend to his primary school contemporaries including the current National Security Adviser (NSA) ,General Babagana Monguno and General Suleiman Wali.

 His friends also include Captains of industry like Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, Alhaji Muhammad Hayatudeen, Mr Tony Elumelu, Dr Wale Babalakin (SAN), Mr Wale Tinubu etc.

Dr Muhammad Alimi Abdulrazaq has a good number of indigenes of Ilorin as friends many of whom are his seniors and whom he consults closely. They include Alhaji L.A.K.Jimoh; 

the Za'ana of Ilorin, Engr.Yusuf Olanrewaju Sagaya, MFR, OFR; 

the Jarma of Ilorin, 

Alhaji Aliyu Kola Belgore, OFR; and Engr. Muzamil AbdulKareem, to mention a few.

Considering his huge investment in Education and the establishment of Bridge House College, Ikoyi, Lagos State and awards of scholarships to many indigenes of Ilorin and Kwara State.

Dr Muhammad Alimi Abdulrazaq has attracted quite a number of National and International recognitions. 

In 2016, the University of Hull in the United Kingdom awarded him the Distinguished Alumni laureate of the University in recognition of his intellectual endowments and legal scholarship.

 He was also conferred with the Distinguished Alumni Award of St. Gregory's College, 

Lagos State in 2003.

He was also last weekend honoured by the Kwara State chapter of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Alumni Association for his distinguished contributions to National development. 

Dr Muhammad Alimi Abdulrazaq is also an elected member of the Royal Institution of International Affairs and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

Dr Muhammad Alimi Abdulrazaq is happily married to Hajia Kafayat Foluke Abdul-Razaq, a distinguished banker, foremost technocrat and one-time Honourable Commissioner for Finance, Lagos State who is currently the Group Vice-Chairman of Transcorp Nigeria Plc and a member of the Governing Council of the Lagos State University, Ojoo.

 They are blessed with children who are doing very well.

I Comrade Lukman Olukayode Ahmed (Imam-Imale) therefore join other well-wishers across Nigeria and in Diaspora to wish the new Mutawalle of Ilorin a very gracious, peaceful and fruitful birthday celebration and I wish him successful reign and admonished him to remain steadfast, focused , in his commitment by providing good relationship in the Emirates Council and Kwara State as a whole.

Congratulations my Humble Mentor!

Signed;

Comrade Lukman Olukayode Ahmed (Imam-Imale) 

National Coordinator Freedom Network Group

31st July, 2021