A list of top ten richest Islamic clerics in Nigeria has been revealed in this article.
The article also highlights their contributions, sources of income, and impact on society.
In Nigeria, Alfas (Islamic scholars) hold significant influence within their communities, often serving as spiritual leaders, educators, and advisors.
Many Alfas have not only garnered respect and reverence but have also amassed considerable wealth through various ventures.
These Islamic scholars have achieved remarkable success through their diverse ventures, ranging from education and real estate to agriculture and media.
Their wealth not only signifies their business acumen but also their significant contributions to society through philanthropy and community development
Below is the list of top 10 richest Alfas in Nigeria in 2024 according to INTEL REGION
1. Sheikh Sa’ad Abubakar IV
Sultan Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar IV is the richest Sheikh in Nigeria today. He is also one of the richest kings in Nigeria and a first-class traditional ruler. He is highly respected in the northern part of the country.
The Sultan of Sokoto is also considered the spiritual leader of all the Muslims residing in Nigeria today. He has lots of assets, and investments and has occupied various revered positions in the country.
As of present, the Sultan of Sokoto is the chairman of the Nigerian Council of Traditional Rulers and the head of the Nigerian National Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).
2. Isa Patanmi
Isa Ali Ibrahim, popularly known as Isa Ali Pantami, is a Nigerian politician and Islamic cleric who served as the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy from 2019 to 2023.
Before his ministerial role, he was the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) of Nigeria from September 26, 2016, to August 20, 2019. He was subsequently nominated as a minister and sworn into office on August 21, 2019.
Pantami was a lecturer in Information Technology at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, before joining the Islamic University of Madinah in 2014 as Head of Technical Writing in the newly established Faculty of Computing and Information Systems.
Edutorial checked the claim that Dr. Isa Ali Pantami earned more as a professor in Saudi Arabia than a serving Nigerian minister, earning N45 million Naira.
3. Sulaimon Faruq Onikijipa
Onikijipa one of the well-known Muslim scholars or Sheikhs, affectionately called “Allimisikilai”. He runs a popular Morikaz in Isheri, Lagos State, and his Tafsir is regularly broadcasted on AIT.
Sulaimon Faruq Onikijipa is a distinguished orator, known for his humble, factual, and intellectually profound sermons.
Sheikh Sulaimon Onikijipa’s Tafsir begins on the first day of Ramadan and concludes on the last day of Ramadan.
4. Muyideen Ajani Bello
Sheikh Muhideen Ajani Bello is a renowned Nigerian Islamic cleric and scholar, widely recognized for his eloquence, deep knowledge of Islamic theology, and commitment to religious education.
Born in the mid-20th century in Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria, Sheikh Bello has become a prominent figure in the Muslim community both within Nigeria and internationally. He is 83-year-old.
Sheikh Muhydeen Ajani Bello was born into a devout Muslim family. His early education was steeped in Islamic teachings, and he quickly showed a profound aptitude for religious studies. He pursued formal education in various Islamic institutions, where he mastered the Quran, Hadith, Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), and other essential aspects of Islamic knowledge.
Sheikh Bello’s career as an Islamic cleric took off at age 10 as he began delivering sermons and lectures that resonated with a wide audience. His ability to articulate complex theological concepts in a clear and relatable manner earned him a significant following. Over the years, he has been invited to speak at numerous mosques, Islamic centers, and events around the world.
In recognition of his contributions, Sheikh Bello has received numerous awards and honors from various religious and educational organizations. His work remains a source of inspiration for current and future generations of Muslims around the world.
5. Sheikh Mojeed Eleha
He is the founder of Darul-Islam, is also one of the prominent Muslim clerics in Nigeria, known for his popular Tafsir sessions in Lagos. His mosque in the Isheri, Igando area consistently attracts large crowds of Muslims.
Despite being labeled “Ali-Sunnah” for his strict adherence to Prophet Muhammad’s teachings, Sheikh Mojeed Eleha is respected for his heartfelt honesty.
He oversees Darul-Islam Schools and Foundation in Isheri Olowora, Lagos, and established Daaru Nalm College on September 25, 2011. Additionally, his Tafsir is broadcast daily on TVC during Ramadan.
6. Sheikh Taofeeq Akewugba Gold
Sheikh Taofeeq Akewugbagold, often referred to as Akewu GBA Gold, is a well-known Islamic cleric based in Ibadan, Nigeria. He is recognized for his significant contributions to Islamic preaching and community service.
Akewugbagold’s early life and background details are somewhat private, but he has garnered widespread attention for his religious teachings and leadership within the Muslim community. He has been particularly influential through his radio and television programs, where he offers religious guidance and sermons.
One of the most notable and tragic incidents in his life occurred in April 2020, when his twin children, Taiwo and Kehinde, were kidnapped at gunpoint from his residence in Ojoo, Ibadan.
The abduction happened while Akewugbagold was recording a Ramadan lecture in a studio. This incident drew significant media attention and public sympathy, particularly because the twins were born after his wife had endured a 12-year period of infertility.
The children were eventually released after eight days, and Akewugbagold chose to forgive the kidnappers, urging the court to release them after they had spent 11 months in a correctional facility.
In addition to his religious work, Akewugbagold has served as the Chairman of the Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim Wing) during the administration of former Governor Abiola Ajimobi. His leadership in this role was crucial in organizing and overseeing the pilgrimage activities for Muslims in the state.
Akewugbagold continues to be a respected figure in the Islamic community, known for his deep knowledge of Islamic laws and compassionate approach to both his followers and adversaries.
7. Sheikh Ibraheem Yaqoub Zakzaky
Sheikh Zakzaky, a prominent Nigerian cleric, was born in May 1953 in Zaria, Kaduna State. His parents, Islamic scholars specializing in Qur’anic exegesis, supported their family through farming.
Zakzaky’s early education was rooted in Islam; he began by learning the Qur’an under his father’s guidance and attended another Qur’anic school in his neighborhood.
He and his brother also assisted their father on the farm. By age 14, Zakzaky had memorized the Holy Qur’an and then began studying other religious texts under various scholars.
From 1969 to 1975, Zakzaky attended the Zaria Provincial School, where he studied Arabic literature, followed by the School of Arabic Studies (SAS) in Kano.
In 1976, he enrolled at Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, earning a degree in Economics in 1979. However, his certificate was withheld due to his Islamic activism.
During his university years, Zakzaky was active in the Muslim Students’ Society (MSS), serving as Secretary-General and later Vice Chairman overseeing international affairs.
Today, Sheikh Zakzaky leads the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, commanding a following of over 20 million supporters. He gained further prominence in 2014 and 2015 following attacks by the Nigerian military on him and his followers.
8. Sheikh Usman Dahiru Bauchi
Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, born on June 28, 1927, in East Gombe, Nigeria, is a prominent Islamic scholar and the supreme leader of the Tijaniyyah Sufi order in Nigeria.
He hails from a lineage of Islamic scholars, with his father, Alhaji Usman, and his grandfather both being scholars who had memorized the Qur’an. His mother, Hajiya Maryam, also played a significant role in his early religious education.
From a young age, Dahiru Bauchi showed a profound interest in Islamic studies. He memorized the entire Qur’an under the tutelage of his father and later studied under several notable Islamic scholars, including Shaykh Tijani Usman Zangon-Bare-bari, Shaykh Abubakar Atiku, and Shaykh Abdulqadir Zaria.
His extensive education in Islamic jurisprudence, Arabic grammar, and Sufism laid the foundation for his later contributions to Islamic scholarship.
Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi’s influence extends beyond Nigeria, as he has traveled globally to spread Islamic teachings and has performed the Hajj pilgrimage over 50 times. He has been recognized for his expertise in Qur’anic recitation and tafsir (interpretation of the Qur’an). Over his lifetime, he established more than 1,500 Qur’an memorization centers, where over 140,000 individuals have memorized the Qur’an under his guidance.
Despite his religious prominence, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi has faced challenges, including an arrest in Saudi Arabia in 2009 due to doctrinal disputes among Nigerian Islamic groups.
9. Sheikh Habeeb Al-Ilory
Sheikh Habeebullah Adam Al-Ilory is a prominent Nigerian Islamic scholar and the current rector of the Markaz Arabic and Islamic Training Centre in Agege, Lagos.
He was born into a family deeply rooted in Islamic scholarship. His father, Sheikh Adam Abdullah Al-Ilory, was a revered Islamic scholar and the founder of the Markaz institution.
Sheikh Habeeb began his education under the tutelage of his father, where he developed a strong foundation in Islamic studies. He later furthered his education at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt, a renowned center for Islamic learning.
Upon completing his studies, Sheikh Habeeb returned to Nigeria, where he assumed leadership roles within the Markaz institution.
Under his leadership, Markaz has continued to thrive as a leading center for Arabic and Islamic education in West Africa. Sheikh Habeeb has been instrumental in modernizing the curriculum and expanding the institution’s influence across the region. He is also known for his fearless preaching and active involvement in various Islamic organizations.
Despite his significant contributions, Sheikh Habeeb has faced health challenges. In February 2022, he suffered a stroke while delivering a sermon in Ilorin, Kwara State, which required medical attention and a period of recovery.
Sheikh Habeeb is recognized for his dedication to Islamic education and his efforts to promote peaceful religious coexistence and address societal issues through his teachings and leadership.
10. Sheikh Abubakar Musa
Sheikh Abubakar Musa is a prominent figure in the Northern Nigeria Islamic community. He has built a substantial fortune through his Islamic banking ventures and extensive property holdings.
Sheikh Musa is also a sought-after speaker at international Islamic conferences, contributing to his impressive net worth.
He pursued his early Islamic education under the guidance of his father and other local scholars, focusing on the Quran and various Islamic sciences.
His commitment to learning led him to further his studies at renowned Islamic institutions, where he gained extensive knowledge in theology, jurisprudence, and Arabic literature.
Sheikh Abubakar’s dedication to Islamic scholarship earned him recognition as a leading figure in the Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), an influential Islamic organization in Nigeria.
He played a pivotal role in the organization’s efforts to promote orthodox Islamic teachings and to counteract un-Islamic practices within the Muslim community.
