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Ilorin (listenⓘ) is the capital city of Kwara State located in the Western region of Nigeria. Although Ilorin is classified under the North-Central geopolitical zone, the city is considered a Yoruba city by all historical and sociological standards. As of the 2006 census, it had a population of 777,667, making it the 7th largest city by population in Nigeria.
Ilorin was founded by the Yoruba, one of the three largest ethnic groups in Nigeria, in the late 18th century. It became a provincial military settlement within the Oyo Empire until 1817, when the local Kakanfo (field marshal) named Afonja rebelled, supported by the Fulani Shehu Alimi, an itinerant Islamic preacher and teacher. Their alliance eventually broke down over the promise made by Afonja to Shehu Alimi during his quest to overtake the Oyo Empire and make Shehu Alimi the overseer of the Ilorin territory. However, Alimi's son Abd al-Salam eventually became the first ruler after the Demise of Afonja and Shehu Alimi and pledged allegiance to the Sokoto Caliphate in 1823. The Oyo Empire and its Borgawa allies marched against Ilorin circa 1835, trying to reclaim its former glory, but were decisively defeated; this marked the end of Oyo. Abd al-Salam led the jihad toward the sea but was ultimately stopped at Oshogbo in 1840 by the army of Ibadan.
Throughout the 19th century, Ilorin served as a major trade node between the Hausa/Fulani and the Yoruba. It strongly resisted British rule, but was occupied by the Royal Niger Company in 1897 and its lands were incorporated into the British Northern Nigeria Protectorate in 1900. With the subdivision of the country’s administrative regions in 1967, Ilorin became part of West Central (later Kwara) state.
The city retains a strong Islamic influence, although Christianity is now widely practised in the cosmopolitan part of the city due to the significant immigration of people from other parts of Kwara State and the rest of Nigeria.
Modern Ilorin is mainly inhabited by the Yoruba people, although its traditional ruler has a Fulani heritage.
Ilorin has an 18,000-capacity stadium and two professional football teams; Kwara United F.C. playing in the top-tier league of Nigeria Professional Football League (N.P.F.L) which is run by the League Management Company; and ABS FC in the second division which is Bet9ja Nigeria National league.
The city has the only standard baseball field in West Africa. It has also hosted several national handball competitions.
The political economy of Kwara State can be traced to 1967 when it was created. Since then the state has undergone various developmental efforts, mostly initiated by the federal government given the nature of the Nigerian state, a centralized federal system where development policies and programmes originate from the centre.
The state has a large area of rich agricultural land. The limestone and dolomite of Oreke, kaolin and clay at Idofian near Ilorin and other parts of the state, pure gold in Kaiama and the Patigi area, and the highly exportable rich tantalite deposit of Iporin make Kwara State rich in primary resources.
Initially, Kwara State had only a few major industrial companies, Global Soap (not more in operation), Detergent Industries Nigeria Limited and the International Tobacco Company. Successive administrations have attempted to attract industrialists to the state.
With such efforts, Ilorin has become the hub for cashew processing in Nigeria and Olam International has set up Africa's biggest cashew processing plant. The plant processes 100 MT of cashews every day and provides employment to over 2000 workers.
Recently established industries include Dangote Flour Mills, Tuyil Pharmaceutical company, KAMWIL, Golden Confectionate Food Industries, Chellaram Motor-Cycle Assembly plants, and Rajrab Pharmaceuticals.
Ilorin has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw). It has an annual rainfall which can range between 990.3 and 1,318 millimetres (39 and 52 in). The city has maximum temperatures varying between 33 and 37 °C or 91.4 and 98.6 °F, with the third month of the year, March, being the hottest. The minimum and maximum temperature, and also the relative humidity have increased between 1978 and 2017. The wind that blows is typically from points between southeast and northeast.
Ilorin operates a relatively well-developed intra-city public transport system, and the major roads within the metropolis are well constructed.
There are three different modes of available transit from one place to another in the city – the most popular being the conventional taxis. Car-hire services are also available in major hotels. Furthermore, there are commercial motorbikes, commonly called "Okada". A more recent arrival on Ilorin's roads are commercial tricycles, popularly called "Keke NAPEP" or "Keke" or "Keke Maruwa", some of which are given on loan to beneficiaries of the National Poverty Eradication Programme. Ilorin taxis are painted yellow and green.
Ilorin's central location makes it easily accessible to all parts of the country by air, road and rail. The state has a good network of roads, rail and air transportation facilities linking it with Nigeria's other industrial and commercial centres. Transportation is quite affordable in Ilorin for movement from one place to another for as low as one hundred naira.
There are scheduled daily commercial flights to and from Ilorin International Airport by Arik Air and Overland Airways. The now defunct Capital Airlines also operated from Ilorin. Current destinations include all of the major cities in Nigeria. The airport has also been re-designed and equipped as an international cargo airport.
Ilorin offers reliable road transport services to Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Oyo, Ekiti, Kogi, Niger, Kaduna and Plateau States. Similar services are available to and from Onitsha, Port Harcourt, Abuja, Aba and others.
A major expressway to Ibadan, numbered E1, is currently under construction by P.W. International. Ilorin is served by the railway and highway from Lagos (160 miles south-southwest), via Ibadan, which intersect in the city, and it has an international airport.
The city is a confluence of cultures, populated by the Yoruba, Fulani, Nupe, Bariba, Kanuri, Igbo and Hausa ethnicities across Nigeria, as well as foreign and nationals. There are large Christian and Islamic populations with a minority practicing traditional religions, and many ceremonial activities, mostly with religious aspects, take place in the city throughout the year.
The city has a host of ancient and modern churches with moderate to large congregations, such as the Catholic Church, Cherubim and Seraphim churches, Anglican, Methodist, Celestial Church of Christ, Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Emmanuel Baptist Church, First Baptist Church, and Zion Baptist church. Notable Pentecostal churches include Redeemed Christian Church of God, The Gospel Faith Mission International (Gofamint), Deeper Christian Life Ministry, and Living Faith Church. Seventh-day Adventists are also represented. Most Christian churches in the state started schools and introduced innovative ideas that were readily adopted by the Muslim schools.
There has been a Latter-day Saint congregation in Ilorin since 1992. In that year an LDS mission was organized in the city that year, but shortly later merged with the one in Enugu. Starting in 2016 additional LDS congregations were organized in Ilorin, which in 2018 was transferred to the new Nigerian Ibadan Mission, and had a district organized.
The first Ilorin central mosque was founded in 1820 in the Agbarere Area, popularly known as "Ile-Elewa", under the leadership of Sheik Imam Muhammad Munab'bau. This was followed in 1835 when another central mosque was built at Idi-Ape during the reign of the first Emir of Ilorin, Abdus-salam. However, more than a century later, this central mosque could no longer cope with the growth in the Muslim population of the city. For this reason, in 1974, the ninth Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Zulkarnaini Gambari, invited Grand Mufti Alhaji Mohammed Kamal-u-deen and the then present Wazirin Ngeri of Ilorin, Abubakar Sola Saraki, to co-ordinate the fundraising and construction of a new central mosque.
On 30 April 1977, the foundation was laid for the new mosque by the Emir of Gwandu on behalf of the Sarki Musulmi, Sultan Abubakar III. The new Ilorin Central Mosque was completed and officially opened in 1981 by the former president Alhaji Shehu Shagari. The Mosque was renovated, rehabilitated and expanded in 2012 with a majestic view. The newly redecorated mosque was recommissioned on 14 December 2012.
Planning for the rehabilitation, refurbishment and redecoration of the Central Mosque started in 2007 when Alhaji Ibrahim Zulu Gambari, CFR, the eleventh Emir of Ilorin, with assistance from Abubakar Bukola Saraki, the Turaki of Ilorin, and the former Governor of Kwara State, set up a technical committee headed by Alhaji Shehu Abdul-gafar on the rehabilitation and enhancement of the central mosque. The committee has invited expertise from specialists in mosque construction from around the world, especially from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Nigeria.
In addition to the general restoration and enhancement of the mosque, it now has a total of 99 domes of different diameters, 75 feet above the floor. The large dome is made of gold finish while the four big domes around are coated in green with reflective illumination. The mosque form is enveloped within a pyramid shape with a square base and 45 inclinations for the faces. It has four accessible minarets, each standing at a height of 150 feet. Moreover, all the dilapidated domes and minarets with mosaic finishing were restored and finished with cut-to-size marble. The exterior and interior are covered by special marble while the expanded courtyard was constructed with heat-absorbing granite (marble) finish. The doors and windows were replaced with specially designed ones befitting the new mosque concept.
The city also has a range of tourist attractions such as the Sobi Hill which is said to have offered protection to natives during intertribal wars in ancient times.
The Okuta is located in Asaju's compound, Idi-Ape Quarters. It is the stone on which Ojo Isekuse, one of the founders of the city, is believed to have used to sharpen his metal tools.
It was originally called "Okuta ilọ irin" (meaning stone for sharpening iron). It is from this tool, the city Ilorin derived its name. The stone was a deified object of worship and sacrifice offerings in the past.
Pottery is a major business in Ilorin.
The city has the biggest traditional pottery workshops in Nigeria. They are located in the Dada area of Okelele, Eletu in Oju-Ekun, Okekura, Oloje, Abe Emi and Ita Merin.
The traditional textile industry also thrives in Ilorin. In various parts of the city, aso-oke, textiles hand-woven on simple looms, are made in large quantities.
Aso-oke is purchased by traders and fashion designers from Kwara State, other parts of Nigeria and abroad.
The cultural center houses the Kwara State Council for Arts and Culture, its performing troupe, and a gallery with artworks and antiquities. Souvenirs of cultural and historical values are also available.
Metropolitan Park, a recreational park, is located on Unity Road. The Kwara State Stadium Complex has an Olympic-sized swimming pool with facilities for diving.
A purpose-built baseball park is located in the Adewole area of the city.
The Esie Museum is of much importance to the Nigeria's many cultures.
In Ilorin City, on 18 September 2019, a flood caused by a heavy downpour ruined valuables worth millions of naira. According to information obtained by The Nigerian Tribune, inhabitants of the state capital experienced great difficulty and losses as a result of the deluge, which began at 5:00pm and lasted until about 9:00pm.
Text from the Wikipedia article “Ilorin”, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.