Diaspora Group Drives Grassroots Change in Ilorin Emirate with Bold Focus on Youth, Health, Education

 

A United States-based branch of the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU) is spearheading a series of life-changing projects across Kwara State, with a focus on education, healthcare, and youth empowerment.

Speaking at a media briefing in Ilorin, Chairman of the IEDPU USA Board of Trustees, Abubakar Mohammed, and the chapter’s President-General, Tajudeen Alaya, said their mission is anchored on a sense of duty to their ancestral homeland—not mere charity.

“This is more than philanthropy—it’s our responsibility,” Mohammed said. “We may live abroad, but our hearts and commitments remain rooted here.”

The Union’s education drive is a cornerstone of its intervention, with scholarships already awarded to hundreds of secondary school leavers and plans underway to sponsor 2,000 candidates for WAEC and NECO exams across the Ilorin Emirate’s five local government areas.

“Education remains the bridge between poverty and prosperity,” the Union stated. “We are investing in the future—one child, one exam, one opportunity at a time.”

In addition to scholarships, the Union has supported schools with furniture, textbooks, and teaching materials. Beneficiaries include public schools like Adeta and Pake, as well as Kwara State University, where resource materials have been donated.

The Union is also extending its influence into the area of youth empowerment through a newly formed Business and Investment Group. This initiative is designed to promote entrepreneurship, provide financial literacy, and support skill acquisition programmes for young people.

“We are linking youths to master craftsmen in carpentry, mechanics and welding,” Alaya said. “These are not just trades—they are pathways to dignity and daily bread.”

According to the Union, apprentices will receive stipends while trainers will also be supported to ensure sustainability. This hands-on approach, they say, is aimed at creating self-reliant youths who can compete in both local and global markets.

“Why are we outsourcing labour when we can train our own people right here?” Mohammed asked. “Every road, every house is built by someone with skills. Let our young people take pride in that.”

On the health front, the group has concluded plans to launch its first medical outreach in collaboration with the Ilorin Emirate Medical Doctors Group. The initiative will focus on preventive care and provide services to underprivileged communities with limited access to basic health facilities.

“Healthy communities are the foundation of sustainable development,” Alaya explained. “We must bring healthcare closer to our people.”

Other completed projects include the installation of solar-powered boreholes in Malete, Okaka-Oja, and Ilota, as well as financial assistance to families affected by the 2021 rainstorm disaster in Ilorin.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, IEDPU USA also supported the Emir of Ilorin’s Palliative Initiative and continues to provide Ramadan food relief to vulnerable families.

The group is also calling for a redefinition of role models among Nigerian youth, urging society to highlight everyday professionals who make honest contributions to national development.

“Young people need to see real role models—not just social media celebrities,” Alaya said. “Let’s put the spotlight on carpenters, nurses, teachers—those who build, heal, and teach.”

IEDPU USA members are also taking personal initiatives, including funding scholarships, organizing food drives, and supporting vocational training—all with the aim of creating sustainable impact.

“This is what real change looks like,” Mohammed said. “We’re not waiting for billion-dollar grants. From London to Ilorin, our members are already lifting people.”

The Union urged governments, non-governmental organisations, and well-meaning individuals to partner with them in expanding the scope and reach of their work.

“No one group can transform the Ilorin Emirate alone,” Alaya added. “But if we act together with sincerity and purpose, we can reshape the story of our people for generations to come.”

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