Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Saliu, the long-serving Chief Imam of Ilorin Emirate, has passed away at the age of 75, the Ilorin Emirate Council has confirmed. His death was announced on Monday, January 19, 2026.
Born in 1950 in Ilorin, Kwara State, Sheikh Saliu was a revered Islamic scholar, teacher, and community leader whose influence spanned decades. He hailed from the distinguished Alfa Omo family of Baboko in Ilorin, a lineage known for Islamic scholarship; his father, Imam Saliu Omo Onida Abdulkadir, previously served as the 7th Chief Imam of Ilorin Emirate.
Sheikh Saliu received his early Qur’anic education at Magaji Baboko Qur’anic School in Ilorin and later studied under prominent scholars, including Shaykh Abubakar Sakama and Shaykh Musa Nuhu Elere. He furthered his Islamic and Arabic studies at the Al-Mahad Al-Azhar Institute of Arabic and Islamic Studies in Ilorin, graduating in the mid-1970s.
He began his professional life as a primary school teacher in Ilorin before dedicating himself fully to Islamic education and leadership. He founded and expanded numerous Qur’anic and Islamic schools across Kwara, Kogi, and Oyo states, promoting religious knowledge and scholarship.
Decades of Spiritual Leadership
Sheikh Saliu was appointed the 12th Chief Imam of Ilorin on October 15, 1983, by the then Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji (Dr.) Zulqarnaini Muhammadu Gambari CFR, following the death of Imam Musa Ahmad. At 33, he was among the youngest to hold the office and became one of the longest-serving Chief Imams in Ilorin’s modern history, leading for over 40 years.
In this role, he was widely respected for his deep knowledge of the Qur’an and Islamic jurisprudence, his commitment to inter-faith dialogue, and his advocacy for peace, unity, and tolerance within the diverse communities of Kwara State and beyond. He regularly led Jumaat prayers, Eid services, and Ramadan tafsir sessions, both in person and, as during the COVID-19 pandemic, virtually.
He also served as Chairman of the Kwara State Council of Ulama, the Ilorin Emirate Council of Ulama, and the Council of Muslim Organizations, leveraging these positions to foster harmony and cooperation among scholars and believers.
Legacy and Tributes
During his tenure, Sheikh Saliu oversaw the expansion and renovation of major mosques and the proliferation of Islamic centres across Ilorin, reflecting both population growth and heightened religious engagement. His sermons and teachings were admired for their clarity, humility, and relevance.
Details regarding funeral and burial arrangements are yet to be released by the Ilorin Emirate Council as at press time.
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