By Abubakar Imam
The Director, Centre for Ilorin Studies (CILS), University of Ilorin, Prof. Issa Olarongbe Sanusi, has said that one of the key reasons behind the establishment of the Centre was to nurture aspiring scholars, particularly on issues that have to do with the history and cultural heritage of the people of the Ilorin Emirate and their neighbours.
Prof. Sanusi, who is the fifth Director of the Centre, stated this last Friday (January 23, 2026) while addressing students of the Department of History and International Studies, Kwara State University, Malete, who were at the CILS for a three week internship programme.
The programme ran between Monday, January 5 and Friday, January 23, 2026,
The four visiting KWASU students are Issa Azeezat Oluwadamilola, Ajibola Funke Opeyemi, Abdulkareem Kareemah and Afolabi Safurat Yetunde.
The Director, who commended the KWASU students for their readiness to learn, said that the Centre is always prepared to serve as a mentorship platform for students to enable them gain deeper insights into Ilorin histography, indigenous knowledge system and contemporary historical research.
He explained that such exposure would continue to enhance the students’ writing, analytical, and critical thinking skills.
Prof. Sanusi added that the opportunity would also prepare participants to become not only graduates but also innovators, researchers and cultural ambassadors.
The Director said that the programme was an opportunity of promoting collaborative relationship between the CILS and KWASU and most especially between the University of Ilorin and KWASU.
Prof. Sanusi added that it would also promote institutional synergy in fostering academic excellence, supporting community-based research and producing well-rounded graduates who are equipped with both theoretical and practical skills.
On the programme, the Director said that it provided opportunities for close interaction between the students and senior scholars, researchers, and administrative staff of the Centre, saying that the visiting students were guided in the use of historical records, manuscripts, and oral traditions to document Ilorin’s rich cultural heritage.
Prof. Sanusi used the opportunity to encourage students of other universities within and outside Kwara State to take advantage of the availability of quality materials at the Centre to learn more.
While he said that the Centre would continue to acquire more resources, Prof. Sanusi encouraged friends of the University to donate relevant materials to it in order to improve its stocks.
