Lagos state Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, former Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-Rufai and former minister of communications and digital economy, Prof Alli Isa Pantami will on Sunday 9 July, 2023 grace the book launch and retirement ceremony of Prof Ishaq Lakin Akintola, a professor of Islamic Studies at the Lagos State Univerity (LASU).
Prof Akintola will be retiring from lecturing after 39 years of active service at the university on Monday which concidented on his birthday.
The event which is billed to hold at the Combo Hall of the LTV8 by10am will feature Sanwo-Olu as Chief host, his deputy Dr Obafemi Hamzat as host while the Vice Chancellor of LASU, Prof Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello will be the hostess.
According to the chairman of the planning committee, Dr Busari Jamiu Muhammad, who spoke at the retirement and prebook launch press briefing in Lagos on Tuesday said the event will have in it, an award ceremony for deserving Nigerians who had imprinted their names in the book of honour.
He said the book “My Jihad: the autobiography of an Islamic eschatologist cum human rights activist” will be launched on the day.
Dr Busari said the book will be reviewed by the vice chancellor of Ahman Patego University, Prof Mahfouz Adedimeji while the chairman on the occasion is Mallam Yusuf Olaolu Ali (SAN).
He said the Keynote address will be delivered by El-Rufai.
The Chief Imam of Lagos, Sheikh Sulaiman Abu-Nuola is the spiritual father of the day and President of Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN), Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo is the father of the day.
Speaking to newsmen at the press briefing, Prof Akintola said the book, is his autobiography and it xrays his life as a lecturer and activist.
The Professor of Eschatologist said he is glad retiring actively after 39 years of service to the nation saying he will have more time for his activism in contributing his quota to national development.
Prof Akintola said the awardees on the day were carefully selected based on their contribution to national growth and development as he reveled that El-Rufai will be presented an Icon of Arewa Integrity award; Prof Pantami will get the Pride of Islamic scholar award; former Lagos Commissioner of 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 are Oniwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdul Rasheed Akanbi as Defender of the faithful while the Oniba of Ibaland Raji Asade will be honoured with the Defender of the Mandate award; Alhaji Thabit Wale Sonaike will get Hero of Badr award and Dr Ismail Adebola Akindle will also be presented with same award.
