The Emir of Ilorin, 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 following a rigorous selection process involving several respected Islamic scholars who vied for the prestigious spiritual position.
He succeeds the late Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Salihu, the 12th Chief Imam of Ilorin, who passed away on January 19, 2026, at the age of 75. The late cleric served as Chief Imam for more than four decades, having occupied the position since 1983.
The Emir expressed confidence in the ability of the new Chief Imam to provide sound spiritual leadership and guidance to Muslims across the Ilorin Emirate.
The statement noted that Sheikh Dasuki comes from a lineage of renowned Islamic scholars and religious leaders. 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, Sheikh Maliki bn Dasuki Agaka.
Before his appointment, Sheikh Dasuki was the founder and proprietor of Darul Bisharah Arabic and Islamic Studies in Airport, Egbejila, Ilorin. He also served as the Imam of Afsat Oloriegbe Memorial Mosque in Oko Olowo, where he led daily prayers and weekly Jumu’ah services.
Beyond his mosque duties, the cleric is widely known for his contributions to Islamic education and propagation. He presents the Al-Bisharah Islamic Foundation Ramadan programme on Radio Kwara and lectures at Darul Kitab College of Arabic and Islamic Studies in Gaa Akanbi, Ilorin.
Sheikh Dasuki’s academic credentials include a Bachelor of Arts degree in Islamic Shari’ah from Al-Azhar University, obtained in 2014. He also holds a diploma in Arabic and Islamic Education from Ahmadu Bello University and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Islamic Studies at Al-Hikmah University.
Praying for the success of the new Chief Imam, the Emir urged him to lead with wisdom, integrity and devotion, while wishing him good health and divine guidance in the discharge of his responsibilities.
The appointment marks the beginning of a new chapter in the spiritual leadership of the Ilorin Emirate, one of the most prominent Islamic traditional institutions in Nigeria.