Sheikh Sulaiman Faruq Onikijipa

Born to the Onikijipa family by Alhaja Aminat Faruq; the daughter of Fadilat Sheikh Sa’adullahi (the Imam of ancient Okekere Mosque in Oke-male, Ilorin) and Sheikh Umar Faruq, the son of Sheikh Abdullah Onikijipa and grandson of Sheikh Muh’d Qasim Onikijipa a son of Shaykh Muh’d Na-Allah of blessed memories), who migrated from the Kano and stayed in various places before he finally settled in Ilorin in the early 19th century.

Sheikh Sulaiman Faruq started his quest for knowledge under the tutelage of his father, where he was taught how to recite the first chapter (Surah) of the Holy Quran. Soon after he proceeded to another Islamic establishment to further fortify his basic learning under the supervision of a renowned scholar Sheikh Zakariyah Ataragba of the famous Agbaji quarters till about 1979 when he sought permission and blessings of his teacher and spiritual head to grant him leave to enable him further his Islamic education having mastered the basic discipline (Tarbiyah) in the Quran.

In 1979 Sheikh Sulaiman Faruq advanced in his Islamic education at Darul-ulum Arabic and Islamic school, Ilorin. A forefront and renowned Islamic Institution between 1979 and 1983, Sheikh took up basic Islamic study, including; Islamic legal studies (Fiqh), Islamic Phonology (Surfu & Nahu), and a host of others. Thus 1983 he had his first certificate in Arabic and Islamic education from Darul-ulum Arabic and Islamic School Ilorin.

Subsequently, in 1983 after Sheikh Suleiman Faruq obtained his first certificate from Darul-ulum Arabic and Islamic institution, Ilorin he proceeded to the Arabic training center Markaz Agege Lagos to further his education from 1983 to 1986. In 1986, Sheikh sat for his final test and brilliantly completed his Arabic and Islamic education.

He also has a Diploma and Higher Diploma in Islamic Religion from the Institution of the Religious and Behavioral Education Lagos (1998-2002)

Sheikh Sulaiman Faruq is a Doctorate holder in Human Services, from Columbus International University, Neutron, England, 2005, and was also awarded a Doctorate Fellowship by the Institute of Religious and Behavioral Education, Lagos, Nigeria, 2007.

Sulaiman holds a Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in Islamic Studies at Pebble University, Australia. Further to this, he also completed his PhD in Islamic Studies at Pebble University, Australia in the year 2020. He has attended several Seminars and workshops in several parts of Nigeria, Africa, Asia, Europe, and America.