Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, the 11th Emir of the Ilorin Emirate, was born on Monday, April 22, 1940 into the family of late Hajia Aishat Sulu-Gambari and Mohammed Sulu-Gambari
His mother, Nma, as she was popularly known was the grand daughter of the late 7th Emir of Ilorin, Shehu Shuaibu Bawa-Allah dan Zubairu (1915 – 1919), daughter of the late 8th Emir of Ilorin, Shehu AbdulKadir Dan Bawa-Allah (1919 -1959) wife of the late 9th Emir of Ilorin, Shehu Zuluqarnaini Gambari CFR, (1959-1992) and sister of the late 10th Emir of Ilorin, Shehu Aliyu AbdulKadir (1992-1995).
He is a direct descendant of Islamic scholar and Jihadist, Sheikh Salih Ahmad Janta popularly known as Alimi, one the flag-bearers of the 1804 Usmaniyah jihad culminating to the creation and fusion of Emirate system of traditional administration as well as spread of Islam across the nation.
The Emir is the most educated king in terms of western education. He is attended Offa Grannar School after he finished from the Native Authority School 1956.
He studied in Oakham Schools England and City Westminster College and finished in 1963 and moved to Middle Temple School from 1964 to 1967 and in 1966, he attended the prestigious University of London up to 1969 then Nigeria Law School in 1969 and by this time, he had already bagged LLB, B.L., LLM from University of London.
On March 16, 1976, the Emir became the first Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, old Gongola State. Justice Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari was on 1st January 1977, announced as the Ag. Judge of the High Court of Bauchi, Borno and Gongola States.
He was later appointed the presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division.
In 1984, his father, Mohammed Sulu-Gambari appointed him as Ciroma.
Following the death of his maternal uncle, the 10th Emir, Aliyu AbdulKadir in 1995, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari mounted the throne of Emir of the Ilorin Emirate.
Notable among his children are Abubakar Bature Sulu-Gambari SAN with his Chamber in Lagos; Aisha Sulu-Gambari; and Waziri Sulu-Gambari.
The Ilorin Emirate witnessed significant growth and developments under his watch.
Since his ascension of throne in 1995, the Emirate had produced: two Chiefs of Staff, various ministers, Senate president, Chief of Naval staff, Chief of Defence staff, Chief Justice of Nigeria, two Chairmen of Governors Forum, three different governors, Pioneer chair of ICPC, uncountabke Grand Khadis of the state’s Sharia Court and so on.
