JUST IN: Emir of Ilorin appoints new Chief Imam

The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, has appointed Sheikh Muhammad Dasuki as the new Chief Imam Fulani of the Ilorin Emirate.

The appointment was announced in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Emir’s Personal Assistant, Abdulraheem Muritala, a copy of which was obtained by PUNCH Online.

According to the statement, Dasuki emerged successful after a rigorous selection process involving several prominent Islamic scholars who contested for the revered spiritual position.

The new Chief Imam succeeds Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Salihu, who died on January 19, 2026, at the age of 75. The late cleric served as the 12th Chief Imam of Ilorin from 1983 until his death and was widely regarded as one of the most influential Islamic leaders in Kwara State.

Announcing the appointment, the Emir expressed confidence in the ability of Sheikh Dasuki to provide spiritual guidance and leadership to the Muslim community across the emirate.

The statement read, “The appointment follows a rigorous selection process in which Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Dasuki Imam Fulani emerged victorious among several distinguished scholars vying for this prestigious spiritual leadership position.

“Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Dasuki is a grandson of the 8th Chief Imam of Ilorin, Sheikh Ibrahim Dasuki Imam Fulani Agaka, and the son of the 10th Chief Imam of Ilorin, Sheikh Maliki bn Dasuki Agaka,” the statement added.

It further highlighted the cleric’s contributions to Islamic education and propagation before his elevation to the position.

“Prior to his appointment, Dasuki was the founder and proprietor of Darul Bisharah Arabic and Islamic Studies, Airport Egbejila, Ilorin.”

“He also served as the Imam leading daily and weekly Jumu’ah prayers at Afsat Oloriegbe Memorial Mosque, Oko Olowo, Ilorin,” the statement added.

It added that the new Chief Imam is also a presenter of the Al-Bisharah Islamic Foundation Ramadan programme on Radio Kwara and teaches at Darul Kitab College of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Gaa Akanbi, Ilorin.

Details of his academic background showed that Sheikh Dasuki studied Islamic and Arabic education at various institutions, including Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Islamic Shari’ah in 2014.

He also holds a diploma in Arabic Islamic Education from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and is pursuing a Master’s degree in Islamic Studies at Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin.

Offering prayers for the new Chief Imam, the Emir wished him a successful reign marked by wisdom, good health and divine guidance.