The Ilorin Emirate Professors’ Association (IEPA) has expressed deep sorrow over the death of renowned Islamic scholar and academic administrator, Professor Badmas Olanrewaju Yusuf, describing his passing as a monumental loss to the Ilorin Emirate, the Muslim Ummah and the Nigerian academic community.
In a condolence message issued and jointly signed by the President of IEPA, Professor Abdul Kabir Hussain Solihu, and the Secretary, Professor Abdullahi Alanamu AbdulRahman in Ilorin on February 1, 2026, the association extended its sympathies to the family of the deceased, His Royal Highness the Emir of Ilorin, members of the Ilorin Emirate Council and the entire Muslim community, noting that Professor Yusuf’s life was marked by uncommon dedication to scholarship, faith and service to humanity.
Professor Yusuf, who was born and raised in Ilorin, died on Friday, January 30, 2026, after a brief illness at the age of 69. He was laid to rest on Saturday, January 31, 2026, following Janazah prayers at his family residence in Ojagboro, Ilorin.
The IEPA described the late professor as a distinguished scholar, prolific academic, mentor and tireless community leader whose contributions to Islamic scholarship and higher education spanned several decades.
He joined the services of the University of Ilorin in 1992 and served in various leadership capacities, including as Director of the Linguistic Immersion Centre, Dean of the Postgraduate School and Head of the Department of Religious Studies. Through teaching, research, academic administration and community engagement, he earned wide respect within and outside the university system.
Beyond the university environment, Professor Yusuf played prominent roles in Islamic education and public service. He served as Chairman of the Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Board, Provost of the Kwara State College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies, and was a member of the Presidential Committee on Hajj.
He also served as a pioneer commissioner at the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), where he contributed to shaping national frameworks for Hajj administration and pilgrims’ welfare.
The association noted that the late scholar’s influence extended deeply into the religious life of the Ilorin Emirate. He served as Chief Imam of the Hilal (Crescent) Jumu’ah Mosque, Imam Ratib of the Maimasa Family Mosque and Chairman of the Hijrah Organisation of Nigeria in Kwara State.
According to IEPA, his leadership in mosques and Islamic organisations reflected his lifelong commitment to nurturing Islamic values and mentoring younger generations.
IEPA stated that tributes pouring in from scholars, traditional rulers, Muslim organisations and public leaders have highlighted Professor Yusuf’s humility, intellectual depth, moral uprightness and unwavering dedication to community service. The association described his scholarly and spiritual leadership as instrumental to strengthening the fabric of the Ilorin Emirate and the wider Muslim community.
While praying for the repose of his soul, IEPA called on Almighty Allah to grant the late professor Al-Jannatul Firdaws and forgive his shortcomings. The association also prayed for comfort and fortitude for his family, the Emir of Ilorin and the entire Ilorin Emirate community, urging them to find solace in the enduring legacy of service and faith left behind by the deceased.
