By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
IBADAN – The ancient city of Ibadan will on Sunday, September 21, 2025, witness a historic Islamic event as Sheikh Abdul Rasaq Abdul Azeez Ishola is officially turbaned as the Grand Mufti of Yorubaland, Edo, and Delta State.
The investiture, which is scheduled to take place at Liberty Stadium, Ibadan, by 10 a.m., will draw some of the nation’s most influential political and religious leaders.
According to the organisers, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), will serve as the Chief Distinguished Guest of Honour at the occasion. The Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde, is also expected as the Distinguished Guest of Honour.
The ceremony will be presided over by Shaykh Al-Imam Jamiu Kewulere, the President-General of the League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland, Edo, and Delta States, who will serve as the Chief Conferrer of the investiture.
Other eminent Islamic leaders billed to co-conferrer the turbaning include:
Shaykh Al-Imam Abd’Ganiy Agbotomokekere, Grand Chief Imam of Oyo State and Grand Patron of the League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland, Edo, and Delta States.
Shaykh Sikirullahi Babalola, President of the League of Imams and Alfas, Ogun State, and Vice President-General of the League.
Shaykh Al-Imam Musa Rabiu Animashaun, Grand Chief Imam of Osun State and Vice President-General of the League.
Shaykh Al-Imam Sulaimon Oluwatoyin Nola, Grand Chief Imam of Lagos State and Vice President-General of the League.
Shaykh Al-Imam Hameed Aladesewa, Secretary-General of the League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland, Edo, and Delta States.
Also lending spiritual weight to the event will be Sheikh Mohammed Habibullah Abdullah El-Ilory (OON), the Director of the prestigious Arabic and Islamic Training Centre, Agege, Lagos (Markaz), who doubles as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
READ ALSO:Mudir Markaz Clarifies Misinterpretations of His Recent Lectures
Historical Significance of the Grand Mufti of Yorubaland, Edo, and Delta State
The position of Grand Mufti of Yorubaland, Edo, and Delta State holds deep historical and religious importance. In Islamic tradition, a Mufti is a jurist qualified to issue authoritative legal opinions (fatwas) on matters of faith, law, and social conduct. In Yorubaland, Edo, and Delta State where Islam has been deeply rooted for centuries, the role of the Grand Mufti evolved as a unifying authority to guide Muslim communities across the South-West, Edo, and Delta State ensuring that Islamic scholarship, spiritual leadership, and community affairs align with both religious principles and societal needs.
While the League of Imams and Alfas traditionally leads congregational and communal worship, the Grand Mufti provides broader guidance on jurisprudence, interfaith dialogue, and moral direction for Muslims in the region. This makes the turbaning of Sheikh Abdul Rasaq Abdul Azeez Ishola not just a ceremonial honour, but also a reaffirmation of Yoruba Muslims’ commitment to unity, knowledge, and peace.
Prominent Islamic scholars and traditional rulers across Yorubaland and beyond are also expected to grace the occasion, which will mark a new chapter in the region’s religious and cultural history.
READ ALSO:Lagos Hunts for Talents Through Schools Arts; Crafts Competition
The Liberty Stadium, an iconic venue for landmark events in Oyo State, is already being prepared to host the thousands of worshippers, dignitaries, and guests expected to witness the turbaning ceremony.
