The Emir of Ilorin and Chairman of the Kwara State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR, will on Friday, July 10, 2026, formally turban Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Dasuki Imam Fulani as the 13th substantive Chief Imam of the Ilorin Emirate.

The turbaning ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Emir's Palace in Ilorin and will commence at 10:00 a.m. The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Emir's spokesman, Dr. Abdulazeez Arowona.

Sheikh Dasuki, who was appointed Chief Imam on June 10, 2026, has since assumed office and officially begun his spiritual duties. He delivered his inaugural Jumu'ah Khutbah on June 19, 2026, during which he emphasised the values of piety, unity, peaceful coexistence, and communal harmony among Muslims and the wider society.

The new Chief Imam succeeds Alhaji (Dr.) Muhammad Bashir Imam Soliu, OON, the 12th Chief Imam of Ilorin, who passed away on January 19, 2026, following a brief illness.

A respected Islamic scholar and cleric, Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Dasuki comes from a distinguished religious lineage within the Ilorin Emirate. He is the 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, further underscoring his deep-rooted connection to the Emirate's religious leadership tradition.

He is an alumnus of Darul Kitab Wa Sunnah College of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Gaa Akanbi, Ilorin; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; Al-Azhar University, Cairo; and Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin.

Before his appointment, he founded and managed Darul Bisharah Arabic and Islamic Studies, located along Airport Road, Egbejila, Ilorin. He also served as the Imam of Afsat Oloriegbe Memorial Mosque, Oko Olowo, where he led daily prayers and weekly Jumu'ah services.

According to the Emir's spokesman, the formal turbaning ceremony will mark another significant chapter in the history of the Ilorin Emirate and its Islamic heritage.

While congratulating the new Chief Imam on his appointment, the Emir prayed for a long, successful, and divinely guided tenure. He urged members of the Muslim Ummah, Islamic scholars, traditional leaders, and residents of the Emirate to attend the historic event.

The Chief Imam of Ilorin occupies one of the most revered religious positions in Northern Nigeria and serves as the spiritual leader of the Muslim community within the Ilorin Emirate, playing a central role in religious affairs, Islamic education, conflict resolution, and community development.