* The former NAHCON chief and UNILORIN ex-Dean will be buried Saturday in Ilorin
The Nigerian Muslim community has been thrown into mourning following the death of Prof. Olanrewaju Yusuf Badmas, a respected Islamic scholar, accomplished academic, and prominent figure in Nigeria’s Hajj industry.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, reacted to the news of his passing on Friday, expressing profound sadness over the demise of the eminent scholar.
In a statement signed by the University’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Kunle Akogun, Prof. Egbewole revealed that the distinguished scholar, who joined the University of Ilorin in 1992 and served as Director of the Linguistic Immersion Centre, passed away on Friday, January 30, 2026, after a brief illness at the age of 69.
Describing Prof. Badmas as a hardworking and exemplary academic and administrator, Prof. Egbewole said his contributions to the University, Islam, and humanity were significant and enduring.
“His life was a model worthy of emulation,” the Vice Chancellor said, sympathizing with the scholar’s family, friends, colleagues, and students, and praying to Allah to overlook his shortcomings and grant him Al-Jannatul Firdaus.
According to a statement from the Ilorin Emirate Council, delivered by Dr. Abdulraheem Muritala, Ph.D., the body of the late Prof. Badmas will arrive in Ilorin on Friday, January 30.
The Janazah (funeral) prayer and burial will take place on Saturday, January 31, at 10:00 a.m. at his family residence, Maimasa Compound, Ojagboro, Gambari Area, Ilorin.
The family and the Emirate Council have requested prayers for the late scholar, asking Allah to forgive his shortcomings and grant him eternal peace in paradise.
Distinguished Service in Hajj and Education
Prof. Badmas served as a member of the Presidential Committee on Hajj, the first board of the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON), and as Pioneer Commissioner for Operations, Inspection, and Licensing.
Until his death, he was a Lecturer in the Department of Religions at the University of Ilorin, where he also held key roles including Head of Department, Director of the Unilorin Immersion Centre, and Dean of the Postgraduate School.
He was fluent in Yoruba, Hausa, Arabic, and English, and made notable contributions to Islamic education and community development.
In Kwara State, Prof. Badmas held numerous leadership positions, including Chairman of the Kwara Muslim Pilgrim Board, two-term Provost of the Kwara College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies, and Chairman of the Governing Board of the College until his passing.
Colleagues and former students remember him as a teacher of teachers, a great mediator, and a source of pride and inspiration.
At the College of Education, Oro, he was celebrated for his erudition and eloquence in English, leaving an indelible mark on generations of students.
May Allah accept his return, overlook his shortcomings, and admit him into paradise. Prof. Yusuf Lanre Badmas’ legacy as an academic, Islamic scholar, and leader will be fondly remembered across Nigeria and beyond.
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