The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) has announced Sheikh Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar, OON, as its new president following the demise of its former leader, Sheikh AbdulRasheed Hadiyatullah. The decision was made through a unanimous endorsement by the council’s leadership in accordance with its constitutional provisions.
In a statement signed by Secretary General Malam Nafi’u Baba-Ahmed, the SCSN expressed confidence in Dr. Umar’s leadership capabilities, scholarly credentials, and dedication to Shari’ah principles. “The position of Vice President will be announced in due course,” the statement added, while calling for continued prayers and support from the Muslim community.
The council described the late Sheikh Hadiyatullah’s passing as a significant loss to Nigeria’s Islamic community and beyond, praying for Allah’s mercy and eternal rest for the departed leader.
Profile of the New President
Sheikh Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar brings a distinguished academic and professional background to his new role. Born in Kano in 1961, he initially studied Electrical Engineering at Ahmadu Bello University before transferring to the Islamic University of Madina, where he earned his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. in Islamic Studies with specialization in Hadith Sciences.
His career spans academia and Islamic finance governance, including:
- Lecturer at Bayero University, Kano’s Department of Islamic Studies
- Permanent Commissioner at Kano State Shari’ah Commission (2007-2010)
- Key architect of Nigeria’s non-interest banking system as Special Adviser to the CBN Governor (2010-2014)
Dr. Umar currently holds several prestigious positions in international Islamic finance, including membership in the Shari’ah Board of the Islamic Development Bank Group and deputy chairmanship of the CBN’s Financial Regulation Advisory Council of Experts.
An accomplished scholar, he regularly teaches Islamic sciences at Al Furqan Mosque in Kano and has published works on Hadith methodology. His leadership in drafting Kano’s Muslim Law of Personal Status under Emir Muhammad Sanusi II demonstrates his practical contributions to Islamic jurisprudence in Nigeria.
The council’s transition comes at a crucial time for Nigeria’s Muslim community, with expectations high for Dr. Umar to build on his predecessor’s legacy while addressing contemporary challenges facing Islamic institutions in the country.
