President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, as the revered monarch marks his 85th birthday.

In a statement issued on Monday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu paid glowing tribute to the traditional ruler, commending his decades of service to Nigeria both on the bench and on the throne.

Alhaji Sulu-Gambari, a former Justice of the Court of Appeal, began his illustrious legal career following his call to the Bar in 1968.

He served as the pioneer Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice in the old Gongola State.

He was later appointed as a High Court Judge in Borno State in 1977 and elevated to the Court of Appeal in 1983.

The President described the Emir, who also chairs the Kwara State Council of Traditional Rulers, as a symbol of integrity and national unity.

President Tinubu also acknowledged the Emir’s national service as Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, and the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, describing his legacy in education as enduring and impactful.

He also extended warm congratulations to Barrister Adeniji Kazeem on his unanimous election as President of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society Worldwide, describing his emergence as a “well-deserved recognition of exemplary leadership and steadfast dedication to Islamic values.”

Kazeem, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State (2015–2019), was elected at the Society’s triennial delegates conference held in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

His election marks a significant generational shift within the over century-old Islamic organisation.

Joining the Emir’s family, the Ilorin Emirate, and the people of Kwara State in celebration, President Tinubu offered prayers for the monarch’s continued good health and strength, wishing him many more years of purposeful leadership.