Emir of Ilorin appoints Bashir Dasuki as new Chief Imam
By NASRUDEEN ABBAS
“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,” the statement read.
The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, has appointed Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Dasuki as the new Chief Imam of the Ilorin Emirate.
The appointment was announced on Wednesday in a statement issued by the Emir’s Personal Assistant, Abdulraheem Muritala.
According to the statement, Sheikh Dasuki emerged successful after a rigorous selection process involving several prominent Islamic scholars who vied for the revered spiritual position.
The newly appointed Chief Imam succeeds the late Alhaji (Dr.) Muhammad Bashir Imam, OON, the 12th Chief Imam of Ilorin, who passed away on January 19, 2026 at the age of 75, leaving behind a legacy of religious leadership and service to the Muslim community in Ilorin and beyond, having served from 1983 until his death and was regarded as one of the most influential Islamic leaders in Kwara State.
Aged 42, Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Dasuki, the 13th Chief Imam of Ilorin, comes from a distinguished lineage of Islamic scholars. He 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.
Announcing the appointment, the Emir expressed confidence in Sheikh Dasuki’s ability to provide spiritual guidance and leadership to the Muslim community across the emirate.
“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,” the statement read.
It noted that the new Chief Imam comes from a lineage of Islamic scholars. He 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.
Before his appointment, Sheikh Dasuki was the founder and proprietor of Darul Bisharah Arabic and Islamic Studies, Airport Egbejila, Ilorin. He also served as Imam at Afsat Oloriegbe Memorial Mosque, Oko Olowo, Ilorin, where he led daily and weekly Jumu’ah prayers.
The statement further highlighted his contributions to Islamic education and propagation. He is 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.
Sheikh Dasuki studied Islamic and Arabic education at various institutions, including Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt, where he earned 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 currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Islamic Studies at Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin.
The Emir offered prayers for the new Chief Imam, wishing him a successful tenure marked by wisdom, good health and divine guidance.
