ISHAQ AKINTOLA: Lagos set to host MURIC leader’s celebration of retirement from LASU, book launch

*As Sanwo-Olu, Hamzat, El-Rufai, Pantami, others attend

*As honour announced for ex-Kaduna Gov, Oniwo of Iwo, Banire, others

By BASHIR ADEFAKA

The stage is now set for hosting of the celebration of retirement from service and launch of the autobiography of Professor Ishaq Lakin Akintola, with the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, playing the chief host at the august event that will hold on Sunday July 9, 2023.

Expected at the event include the immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Alli Ibrahim Isa Pantami among other dignitaries, who will grace the retirement and book launch ceremony of the Professor of Islamic Studies from active service, after 39 years of brilliant contributions to education development in Nigeria and, particularly, as don of Lagos State University (LASU).

Prof Akintola’s retirement will be on Monday July 10, 2023 a date that, by fate, coincides with his birthday.

The DEFENDER reports that details of the all-important event were made known at a pre-event press briefing held at the national headquarters of Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) in Lagos on Tuesday.

According to the details, the retirement and book launch ceremony will hold at the Combo Hall of the LTV8, Ikeja, Lagos by10am featuring Governor Sanwo-Olu as chief host, Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat as host, while the Vice Chancellor of LASU, Prof Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, will be the hostess.

Addressing the pre-event press briefing, Chairman Planning Committee, Dr Busari Jamiu Muhammad, said the event had been planned to also include an award ceremony for deserving Nigerians considered to have imprinted their names in the book of honour.

He said the book, “My Jihad: The autobiography of an Islamic eschatologist cum human rights activist”, to be reviewed by Vice Chancellor of Ahman Patego University, Professor Mahfouz Adedimeji, will be launched at the ceremony, where erudite constitutional lawyer and Permanent Member of The DEFENDER Newspaper’s Advisory Board, Mallam Yusuf Olaolu Ali (SAN), will be Chairman of the Occasion.

According to Busari, who is incidentally the Chairman of MURIC in Lagos State, the keynote address will be delivered by ex-Governor El-Rufai, while the Chief Imam of Lagos, Sheikh (Engr) Sulaimon Oluwatoyin Abou-Nuolla will attend the Professor Akintola’s celebration of retirement and book launch as spiritual father of the day.

Also, the Deputy President-General (South), Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and President of the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN), Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo, will make a presence at the unputdownable event as the father of the day.

Professor Akintola, in his remarks at the press briefing, said the book, “My Jihad: the autobiography of an Islamic eschatologist cum human rights activist”, is his autobiography and that it x-rays his life as a lecturer and activist.

Ishaq Lakin Akintola, a professor of eschatology, a branch of theology concerned with final events in the history of the world or of humankind, said he was glad retiring “while I am still active upstairs and downstairs” after 39 years of service to the nation, saying at this time, he will have more chance of space and time for his activism in contributing his quota to national development.

Prof Akintola, who has now upgraded from director to executive director of MURIC, said Tuesday that the awardees on the event coming up on Sunday were carefully selected based on their contribution to national growth and development.

He disclosed to the press who-is-who and for what category of award with El-Rufai going to be honoured with an ‘Icon of Arewa Integrity’ award, Prof Pantami as the ‘Pride of Islamic scholar’ award, former Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Muiz Banire will be presented with ‘Hero of Badr’ award by the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) at the book launch and retirement ceremony.

Others to be honoured include the Oniwo of Iwo Land, Oba Abdul Rasheed Akanbi, who will be honoured as the ‘Defender of the faithful’ award, while the Oniba of Iba Land, Oba Raji Asade, will be honoured with the ‘Defender of the Mandate’ award and ‘Hero of Badr’ award will also go to the duo of Alhaji Thabit Wale Sonaike and Dr Ismail Adebola Akindele at the event.