PRESS RELEASE: UNIFEMGA MOURNS THE PASSING OF THE LATE CHIEF IMAM OF ILORIN

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji‘un

In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Beneficent. Praise be to the Lord of all worlds. Prayers and peace be upon our noble Prophet Muhammad (SAW), his family, his companions, and followers till the Day of Judgment.

The Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates’ Association (UNIFEMGA) receives with profound sadness the news of the passing of Late Shaykh (Dr) Muhammad Bashir Imam Solih, OON, the Chief Imam of Ilorin, a revered Islamic scholar, spiritual leader, and moral compass to the Muslim Ummah in Ilorin Emirate, Kwara State, and beyond, who passed away on Monday, 19th January 2026 after a brief illness.

Late Shaykh (Dr) Muhammad Bashir Imam Solih, OON, was a towering figure in Islamic scholarship and leadership, whose life was marked by unwavering commitment to the service of Allah (SWT), propagation of authentic Islamic teachings, promotion of peace, and fostering of unity among Muslims and adherents of other faiths. His exemplary character, humility, wisdom, and dedication to Da’wah endeared him to people across generations and social strata.

Throughout his lifetime, Late Shaykh (Dr) Muhammad Bashir Imam Solih, OON, played a significant role in strengthening Islamic institutions, mentoring young scholars, guiding community leaders, and offering fatherly counsel on matters of faith, morality, and societal harmony. His sermons and teachings consistently emphasized righteousness, justice, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence, values that remain critically important in contemporary society.

UNIFEMGA acknowledges with gratitude the immense contributions of Late Shaykh (Dr) Muhammad Bashir Imam Solih, OON, to the growth and stability of Islam in Ilorin and Nigeria at large. His demise is indeed a great loss not only to the Ilorin Emirate and Kwara State, but to the entire Nigerian Muslim community.

On behalf of the National Executive Council, Board of Trustees, and the entire membership of UNIFEMGA worldwide, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the Ilorin Emirate Council, the family of the deceased, the Ilorin Muslim community, the Government and people of Kwara State, and the Nigerian Ummah as a whole.

We pray that Allah (SWT), in His infinite mercy, forgives his shortcomings, accepts his good deeds as acts of ‘Ibadah, grants him Al-Jannatul Firdaus, and admits him among the righteous. May Allah also grant his family, associates, and the entire Muslim Ummah the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.

Indeed, the legacy of Late Shaykh (Dr) Muhammad Bashir Imam Solih, OON, the Chief Imam of Ilorin, will continue to inspire generations, and his noble service to Islam shall remain indelible in our collective memory.

Signed:

Mohammad Buari 

National President (UNIFEMGA)