 When Alhaji Shehu Shagari was in power (he is also a poet, remember "Wakar Nijeriya" ),he invited fellow Hausa poets to Argungu and honoured them and of course Malam Akilu was among them.Malam Akilu was also a recipient of a national honour as well as an honorary doctorate degree from Bayero University, Kano.Another thing that further earned the poet respect was his acceptance of modernity.