* Ansar-Ud-Deen Missioner, Grand Mufti Ilorin, JAMB Registrar, Yusuf Ali, others attend janazah of former NAHCON Commissioner
A former National Commissioner of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and National Chairman of the Hijrah Ummatul-Islamiyyah of Nigeria, Professor Lanre Yusuf Badmas, has been buried in Ilorin, Kwara State, amid tributes from Islamic leaders, traditional rulers, academics, and public officials across the country.
Professor Badmas died on Friday at the age of 69 at an undisclosed hospital in Lagos after a brief illness.
His death was announced on Friday by the Personal Assistant to the Emir of Ilorin, Dr Abdulraheem Muritala, via his official Facebook page.
The Janazah prayer was held on Saturday at his family residence in Maimasa Compound, Ojagboro, Gambari area of Ilorin, in line with Islamic rites.
The prayer was led by the Imam Imale of Ilorin, Sheikh Abdullahi Abdulhamid, shortly after 11:00 a.m., with assistance from the Imam Gambari, Sheikh Sulyman Abdulazeez, and the Ajanasi Agba of Ilorin, Sheikh Mujitaba Bature.
The burial attracted dignitaries from within Kwara State and across Nigeria.
Those in attendance included the Grand Mufti of Ilorin, Sheikh Sulyman Farooq Onikijipa; the National Missioner of the Ansaru Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh AbdulRahman Ahmad; former Grand Khadi of the Kwara State Sharia Court of Appeal, Justice Idris Haroon; and the Malami Ubandoma of Ilorin, Sheikh Abdulkadir Oba Sholagberu.
Others were former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali; the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Ishaq Oloyede; and the Kuliyan Ngeri of Ilorin, Professor Yusuf Olaolu Ali (SAN).
Also present were the Zanna of Ilorin, Engr. Yusuf Lanre Sagaya; the Ciroma of Ilorin, Abubakar Bature Sulu-Gambari (SAN); and former Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Mas’ud Adebimpe, among others.
He Was a World-Class Islamic Scholar, Emir of Ilorin Says
In a condolence message issued through his Press Secretary, Dr Abdulazeez Arowona, the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman of the Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, expressed deep sadness over the demise of the scholar.
The monarch described the late Professor Badmas as a world-class Islamic scholar and cleric whose influence and impact extended beyond Ilorin, praying Almighty Allah to forgive his shortcomings, accept his good deeds, and grant him Al-Jannatul Firdaus.
Professor Badmas Was an Academic Titan – Emir of Sokoto
Similarly, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, expressed profound sorrow over the passing of the late professor, describing him as an academic titan whose loss would be deeply felt across Nigeria, Kwara State, and the Muslim Ummah.
While noting that death is an inevitable decree of Allah, the Sultan said the demise of Professor Badmas represents a significant blow to Islamic jurisprudence and scholarship in the country.
“Professor Lanre Badmas was a great friend, a brother, and a highly accomplished scholar in both academic and Islamic knowledge. His contributions to education, peace, and unity initiatives in Nigeria will not be forgotten anytime soon. He was truly a great man,” the Sultan said in a statement issued by his Media Team.
NAHCON Boss Mourns Prof. Badmas’ Pioneering Leadership in Hajj Operations
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NAHCON, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, also mourned the deceased, describing him as a distinguished Islamic scholar and the pioneering Commissioner for Operations of the Commission.
According to him, Professor Badmas played a critical role during NAHCON’s formative years, helping to build the Department of Pilgrims Affairs into a strong operational pillar that continues to serve Nigerian pilgrims during Hajj.
He noted that the late scholar served with distinction as the inaugural Commissioner for Operations, providing visionary leadership that laid a solid foundation for effective Hajj operations in Nigeria.
Throughout his tenure, Professor Badmas demonstrated exceptional professionalism, institutional integrity, and scholarly depth, offering valuable counsel that shaped key policy frameworks and operational strategies still in use today.
The NAHCON Chairman described him as a man of rare calibre, whose guidance significantly enhanced pilgrims’ welfare and spiritual preparedness, adding that his legacy would continue to inspire the Commission’s commitment to service excellence.
On behalf of the Board, Management, and Staff of NAHCON, Professor Usman extended heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased, the Kwara State Government, his colleagues, and the entire Muslim Ummah, praying Allah to grant him the highest place in Jannatul Firdaus.
Hijrah Organisation Hails Late Chairman’s Legacy in Islamic Education and Community Development
The Hijrah Organisation of Nigeria also announced the passing of its National Chairman, describing his death as a profound loss to the organisation and the wider Muslim community.
The organisation said Professor Badmas lived a life devoted to the service of Islam, Da‘wah, Islamic education, and the strengthening of Muslim institutions nationwide.
Under his leadership, Hijrah recorded notable progress in community development, youth mentorship, and the promotion of authentic Islamic teachings, earning respect within and beyond the Muslim community.
Described as a scholar, mentor, and unifier, the organisation noted that his voice of wisdom, balance, and scholarly depth would be sorely missed, urging Muslims to take solace in the enduring legacy he left behind.
The family has appealed to the Muslim Ummah to continue to pray for Allah’s mercy upon the late scholar and for strength for all those he left behind.
* With additional information from Daily Trust
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