Come Friday, March 18, personalities from all walks of life in Nigeria and abroad will throng the ancient city of Ilorin as one of the illustrious son, Dr. Alimi Abdulrazaq will be turbaned as the Mutawali of Ilorin by the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari*Alimi, as the chieftaincy title holder is fondly called, is of rich, noble ancestry, and of positive influence in Ilorin Emirate and indeed Kwara’s socio-cultural cum political history, being of the blood line of the Late AGF Abdulrazaq, who himself commanded respect for its outstanding feats in community and national development.
The Late AGF AbdulRazaq, first Mutawali of Ilorin, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, was first lawyer in the entire northern region. The late billionaire lawyer was also the President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.The coronation, no doubt, will be witnessed by the high heeled and the low class from across Nigeria as Dr. Alimi steps into the shoes of his “towering figure” father.Mutawali, meaning the “Chancellor of Exchequer” (Minister of Finance) of the Ilorin Emirate, is one of the most exalted in hierarchy of titles in the courts of the northern Emirates. Some eminent Mutawalis include the late President Musa Yar’Adua of Katsina Emirate; the Mutawallin Gwandu, Governor Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State; the Mutawalin Sokoto, Governor Aminu Tambuwal; and Mutawalin Borno, Kashim Imam, who is Chairman of TetFund.
The traditional significance of the Mutawali title perfectly depicts the eminent standing of Dr. Alimi, a legal scholar who was not only the first holder of PhD in law from the Emirate but is also known for his exemplary conduct, philanthropy and sterling contributions to socio-political development of the Emirate and nation in general.Alimi, elder brother to the incumbent Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq, is a shrewd businessman, accomplished lawyer, administrator and notable lover of education. He is the founder of the prestigious Bridge College, Ikoyi, Lagos and managing partner of AbdulRazaq, SAN & Co.He was educated at Ahmadu Bello University, where he earned his law degree, and an alumnus of University of Hull in UK, where he did his LLM and PhD in Law, both between 1982 and 1986.
He’s an alumni laureate of the Hull University.Alimi is also famous for his PhD thesis on Human Rights Protection in Africa, a groundbreaking scholarly work that formed the framework for the establishment of the African Court of Human Rights. He sits on the board of several blue chip companies. He is on the board of First Bank Holdco Plc.
He was also the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Kwara State in 1999.Alimi is married to Mrs Kafayat Foluke AbdulRazaq, who was first female Commissioner of Finance in Lagos State, a former non-executive director of Julius Berger Plc, and currently Group Vice Chairman of Transcorp Nigeria Plc