The Ilorin Emirate and the entire Kwara State Muslim Ummah have been thrown into mourning following the passing of the 12th Chief Imam of Ilorin, Sheikh (Dr.) Muhammad Bashir Soliu (OON).

The news of his death was confirmed on Monday, January 19, 2026. Sheikh Soliu, a revered Islamic scholar and recipient of the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger, was widely regarded as a stabilizing force and a beacon of religious tolerance in the "State of Harmony."

Born in 1950, Sheikh Soliu ascended the throne of his forebears in October 1983, having been appointed by the 9th Emir of Ilorin, the late Alhaji (Dr.) Zulkarnaini Muhammadu Gambari. For over four decades, he led the Ilorin Central Jumaat Mosque, presiding over thousands of Friday prayers and numerous Eid festivals.

His tenure was marked by the massive physical transformation of the Ilorin Central Jumaat Mosque and the expansion of Islamic education within the Emirate. Just late last year, prominent leaders including the Governor and the Sultan of Sokoto had gathered in Ilorin for the unveiling of his biography, a testament to his enduring legacy.

As a spiritual leader, Sheikh Soliu was known for his "unpunctuated" dedication to peace-building and his role as the Chairman of the Kwara State Council of Ulamas. His death marks the end of a significant chapter in the religious history of the Ilorin Emirate.

Funeral arrangements (Janazah prayers) are expected to be announced shortly by the Ilorin Emirate Council, traditionally led by the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari.