By Basheer Luqman Olarewaju, anipr.
Sheikh Mujtabah Yusuf Bature, the illustrious Ajanasi Agba of Ilorin, stands as a monument of intellectual excellence and moral fortitude, a symbol of hope and a champion of light in the governance of the Ilorin Emirate.
This paragon of wisdom, a luminary among the learned, has scaled yet another summit of academic excellence, a PhD from the revered University of Ilorin. This feat speaks not just of his tenacity, but also his undying thirst for knowledge and his unrelenting commitment to illuminating the path for those who follow.
Sheikh Mujtabah’s rise to prominence has been a manifestation of his inherent greatness, a testament to the power of determination and the glory of perseverance. He has steered the ship of intellectualism with the steady hand of a seasoned mariner, unyielding in his pursuit of the truth, unwavering in his quest for enlightenment.
In him, we see the embodiment of the finest virtues of our Emirate culture and heritage, an amalgamation of the wisdom of our past and the promise of our future. His teachings are a fount of inspiration, a shining beacon to which our hearts gravitate.
Indeed, my acquaintance with Sheikh Mujtabah Yusuf Bature dates back to my early forays into the world of knowledge, and it has been a privilege to witness the blossoming of his brilliance over the years. It was with the utmost sincerity and profound admiration that I authored my earlier piece on the September 30, 2020, a tribute to the epitome of human greatness that he is which I titled, “As Alhaji Mujtabah Yusuf Bature becomes Ajanasi Agba of Ilorin”.
From his kindness and humility, to his scholarly prowess and unflinching pursuit of truth, Sheikh Mujtabah is a paragon of virtue, a lodestar for all who seek guidance on the path of righteousness.
It was in the hallowed halls of the Madrasah Shadallah Shadiyat, Oke Apomu, where the seeds of my adulation for Sheikh Mujtabah were first planted. Under the tutelage of Uztaz Aliy Abdulrazaq Malaidi, I had the honor of encountering this titan of learning, a man whose wisdom and compassion radiated with the incandescent light of a thousand suns.
His impact on my life has been indelible, a guiding force that has shaped my journey and inspired me to seek the same heights of greatness that he has scaled.
And while I may be but a humble student in the grand scheme of things, it is with immense gratitude and unbridled admiration that I pen these words today. For Sheikh Mujtabah Yusuf Bature’s example is one that transcends the limits of time and space, a shining beacon of hope in a world that often appears devoid of it.
As he ascends to the highest echelons of academia, let us all join hands and celebrate his achievements, for they are a testament to the boundless potential of the human spirit.
Indeed, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Dr Ibrahim Sulu-gambari, deserves our utmost gratitude and praise for his role in fostering Sheikh Mujtabah Yusuf Bature’s journey to intellectual excellence. Under his benevolent leadership, the people of Ilorin are blossoming like a spring meadow, their potential unfolding with each passing day. It is through the Emir’s visionary guidance and unwavering support that Ilorin’s sons and daughters are being elevated to greater heights of achievement, their horizons ever expanding, their lights ever shining.
Basheer writes from Ile Fara, Adangba.
