Historic Achievement: Ilyas Tochukwu Usman Becomes First Igbo Chief Imam at Abuja National Mosque


Professor Ilyas Tochukwu Usman from Ibagwa, Enugu State, who made history as the first Igbo Muslim to lead congregational prayers and to be appointed Chief Imam of the Abuja National Mosque. Usman will be taking on the responsibilities of leading the Juma’ah and daily congregational prayers, alongside his colleagues, in a rotational manner.

The South East Muslim Organisation of Nigeria (SEMON) disclosed this on Friday in a congratulatory message to Usman. The group described the appointment as a reflection of Usman’s dedication to Islamic scholarship and leadership. SEMON noted that the appointment is not only a significant personal achievement for the new cleric, but a “divine responsibility to lead the Muslim community in worship and service to Allah”.

The organisation highlighted the “inclusiveness” of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) under the leadership of Muhammad Abubakar, its president-general, and the Sultan of Sokoto. The group expressed optimism that Usman’s appointment would uplift the faith of Muslims from the south-east region and promote unity within the Nigerian Muslim population.

Prof. Ilyas is a product of University of Madinah and retired as the HOD Arabic Department from Nasarawa State University, Keffi. According to many, they said this appointment is very profound in Fiqh and Islamic jurisprudence.

According to report, he will now support the two active Imams, Prof. Ibrahim Makari and Prof. Muhammad Kabir in the rotational conduct of the Jum’ah and daily congregational prayers while the fourth Imam, Sheikh Ahmad Onilewura from southwest Nigeria is on sick leave and has not been leading prayers for a while. However, the Jum’ah khutbah at the National Mosque Abuja is always preceded by a short lecture presented in Nigeria’s three main languages (Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo) addressing the same topic.

The National Mosque, which can accommodate 25,000 worshippers, was built in 1984 and officially opened in 1991. Meanwhile, with the newly appointed Imam from the South East, the National Mosque of Nigeria now has three (3) active Imams. After the demise of the chief imam, Sheikh Musa Muhammad in 2015, the position of a Chief Imam was abolished.

On 9 October 2017, with approval of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, the Abuja National Mosque Management Board was dissolved under the chairmanship to of Alh. Yahaya Abubakar, the Etsu Nupe was also dissolved and in its stead a Sole Administrator, to be addressed as the Murshid of the National Mosque, was appointed in the person of Professor Shehu Ahmad Said Galadanci, CON as well as three Imams who were hitherto addressed as Deputy Chief Imams were appointed as coequal Imams of National Mosque to assist the Murshid.

They are Prof. Ibrahim Ahmad Maqari, Sheikh Ahmad Onilewura and Dr. Muhammad Kabir Adam. The Murshid assumed duty on 15th November, 2017, combining the post of Chief Imam and Administrative Head of the National Mosque. Prof. Galadanci doubles as the murshid (grand instructor, spiritual guide or general administrator). Formally, the board of the management is headed by Ibrahim Dasuki, the 18th sultan of Sokoto and president-general of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in April 1992 but presently, the management board is under the chairmanship of Yahaya Abubakar.

Read Also: The Nigerian Mosque: Abuja National Mosque

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