The Ilorin Emirate is set for a historic religious event as the official turbaning ceremony of its 13th Chief Imam, Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Dasuki (Imam Fulani), takes place on Friday, July 10, 2026.
The ceremony, approved by the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, will be held at the Emir’s Palace in Ilorin and is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m.
Sheikh Dasuki was appointed the 13th Chief Imam on June 10, 2026, following a rigorous selection process involving respected Islamic scholars and key stakeholders within the Emirate. He succeeds the late Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Saliu, the 12th Chief Imam, who died in January 2026 at the age of 75 after more than four decades of service, having assumed office in 1983.
At 42, Sheikh Dasuki becomes one of the youngest clerics to occupy the revered position. He comes from a distinguished lineage of Islamic scholars, being the grandson of the eighth Chief Imam of Ilorin, Sheikh Ibrahim Dasuki Imam Fulani Agaka, and the son of the 10th Chief Imam, Sheikh Maliki bn Dasuki Agaka.
His academic credentials are equally impressive. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Islamic Shari’ah from Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt, and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree at Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin.
Ahead of his formal installation, Sheikh Dasuki delivered his maiden Jumat Khutbah on June 19, 2026, earning widespread praise for his eloquence, confidence, composure and commanding presence. Addressing the Muslim faithful, he described his appointment as a divine blessing rather than a reflection of personal superiority.
“I am not perfect,” he told worshippers. “Whenever you see me going astray, do not hesitate to guide me back to the right path. Your prayers, support and cooperation will make my assignment as Chief Imam easier and more successful.”
He also urged Muslims to remain steadfast in truth, honesty, justice and integrity in their personal and public lives.
Before his elevation, Sheikh Dasuki had established himself as a respected Islamic scholar and educator. He is the founder and proprietor of Darul Bisharah Arabic and Islamic Studies, served as the Imam of the Afsat Oloriegbe Memorial Mosque, and is widely recognised for his Islamic teachings through Radio Kwara’s Al-Bisharah Islamic Foundation programme. He also teaches at Darul Kitab College.
The turbaning ceremony is expected to attract a large gathering of Islamic scholars, traditional rulers, political leaders, government officials and dignitaries from across Nigeria.
For more than two centuries, the office of the Chief Imam has remained a pillar of religious leadership and Islamic jurisprudence in the Ilorin Emirate, providing spiritual guidance and fostering unity within the Muslim community.
The Emir of Ilorin has expressed confidence in Sheikh Dasuki’s ability to uphold the rich religious heritage of the Emirate, praying for a tenure marked by wisdom, peace and divine guidance.