‘Dan-Iyan of Ilorin’: Kale Kawu succeeds father By Abdulrahman Abdullahi Kayode

It takes honour, respect, scholarship and exemplary leadership to achieve an outstanding feat amidst a likely spectacular people who’re not only guided by ethno-religious virtues and honour but accomplished careers across spheres of life.

That’s the case of Engr. Sulaiman Bolakale Kawu Agaka, FNSE, FNIPE, an accomplished engineer, a community developer and a thorough-bred Ilorin man. That Engr. Kale Kawu as fondly called, is a man of many excellences is to state the obvious, but of everything that defines this God-fearing individual, it is the love he has for his people, the Ilorin Emirate and the people of Kwara that is supreme.

In recent times, the historic city of Ilorin has played host to several well-meaning and prominent Nigerians: from political leaders to leaders of thought, captain of industries and business tycoons and amongst others, following the series of turbaning ceremonies of the recently appointed nine (9) traditional title holders by the Emir of Ilorin, HRH, Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Zulu-Gambari, CFR.

Here are the recently turbaned titles: the Shetima, the Turaki; the Grand Mufti, the Seriki Malami and most recently is the Tafida of Ilorin.

Like every other illustrious sons of the Emirate, Engr. Sulaiman Bolakale Kawu Agaka, FNSE, would be officially turbaned as the Dan-Iyan of Ilorin on Friday 11th March, 2022, at the Emir’s Palace, Ilorin, by 9am prompt.

Recall that the title of Dan-Iyan of Ilorin was a creation of the immediate past Emir of Ilorin, HRH. Sheikh Aliyu Babaagba Abdulkadir, who was the Emir of Ilorin between 1992 and 1995. However, the first holder of the honourary traditional title was Alhaji Ibrahim Folorunsho Kawu Agaka. Alhaji Agaka, was an accomplished palace technocrat who served as the Principal Private Secretary (PPS) to the 9th and 10th Emir of Ilorin. He was also a Prince of Ilorin from the Shitta ruling dynasty.

As history would have it, the new holder of the title is Engr. Sulaiman Bolakale Kawu Agaka, and one of the children of his predecessor. This in turn makes him the only Prince of Ilorin amongst the nine new traditional title appointees of the Emir of Ilorin.

But as a man of grit and gravitas, the name of the new Dan-Iyan is not new to the people of Ilorin particularly among his contemporaries. Kale Kawu is a member of Third-Estate, a leading sociocultural group from the Emirate. He is a hardworking and patriotic technocrat and the current Director of Project at the Rural Electrification Agency (REA). He has been of tremendous assistance to the people of Ilorin Emirate. Apart from his huge human capacity development impact in the lives of hundreds of old and new entrepreneurs from Ilorin and Kwara at large, in contracting business, so many communities have also benefited from his office through supply and installation of electrical infrastructures. He is also an humble and generous personality who has bequeathed, in anonymity, philanthropic gestures on many people of Ilorin Emirate, Kwara State and Nigeria by extension.

But, unsurprising is his succession as Dan-Iyan to his late father to those who follow the trend of events in Ilorin Emirate. In spite of being a modest and self-effacing but a “visionary and always sought after personality”, Kale Kawu has distinguished himself as an Electrical Engineer of higher repute in his early fifties (50s) and would no doubt continue to live up to the meaning of his well-deserved title.

Abdulrahman Abdullahi Kayode GreatKay is the Secretary, Media and Publicity Subcommittee, Dan-Iyan of Ilorin Royal Turbaning Ceremony Committee.