Our History & Legacy

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV (Mirza Tahir Ahmad)

Fourth Khalifa of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community | Spiritual Visionary

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV, Mirza Tahir Ahmad (r.a.), was the fourth spiritual leader of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, serving from 1982 to 2003. The third son of Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmad and grandson of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, he was an erudite scholar who authored influential works on religious polemics, philosophy, evolution, poetry, and ecumenism.

He received his early education at Ta'leemul Islam High School, Qadian, and obtained the degree of Shahid (Religious Scholar) from Jamia Ahmadiyya in 1953. He further advanced his knowledge through higher education at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London University, combining Islamic scholarship with Western academic excellence.

Upon assuming the Khalifate in June 1982, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV embarked on transformative initiatives that expanded the Ahmadiyya Community globally. He inaugurated historic mosques, including the pioneering Masjid Basharat in Spain in 1982—the first mosque built in Spain in 500 years—and laid the foundation for the first Ahmadiyya Mosque in Sydney, Australia in 1983. He established humanitarian organizations including Humanity First and launched Muslim Television Ahmadiyya, the only 24-hour Islamic programming channel.

In 1988, under his visionary directive, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV oversaw the establishment of the Ahmadiyya International Martial Arts Association of Nigeria (AIMAAN). Recognizing the need for youth empowerment through discipline and character development, he tasked Prof. Mashhud Adenrele Fashola with leading the initiative to create a unique platform blending martial arts with moral and spiritual values, self-defense training, physical fitness, and community engagement.

During his khilafat, he launched the Waqf-e-Jadid scheme to spread Islam worldwide and the Waqf-e-Nau scheme to dedicate Ahmadi Muslim children to community service. Despite intensified state-sponsored persecution, he united and expanded the Community, eventually migrating to England to continue his leadership.

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV's legacy—combining spiritual wisdom, educational innovation, and humanitarian vision—continues to inspire the Ahmadiyya Community and remains fundamental to AIMAAN's founding principles and mission.

Prof. Mashhud Adenrele Fashola

Academic Leader | Pioneer Visionary of AIMAAN

Prof. Mashhud Adenrele Fashola is a distinguished Nigerian academic and development economist whose career spans nearly four decades in higher education. He earned his B.Sc. in Economics with First Class Honours from the University of Lagos in 1972, laying a strong foundation for a life of scholarship and leadership.

He pursued postgraduate studies at Erasmus University Rotterdam on a Netherlands Government Fellowship, where he obtained the Docrandus (Drs.) degree in Development Economics and Planning. He later completed his PhD in Economics at the University of Lagos, further solidifying his academic standing.

Prof. Fashola served as a Lecturer at the University of Lagos from 1975 to 2013, mentoring generations of students. He also served as a Guest Research Fellow at Erasmus University Rotterdam and held teaching appointments at Lagos State University. He is currently a Professor of Development Economics and Planning at Crown University International Chartered Incorporated Worldwide.

In 1988, while serving as Senior Lecturer at the University of Lagos and President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Organization (KHUDDAM), Prof. Fashola identified the need for structured youth development through discipline and character building. He partnered with Coach Nasir Yussuf, a gifted student and accomplished Taekwondo Grand Master, to establish organized martial arts training for Ahmadiyya youths.

This visionary initiative quickly gained momentum, drawing participants from across Nigeria and beyond the Ahmadiyya community. Under his guidance, the programme evolved into what became the Ahmadiyya International Martial Arts Association of Nigeria (AIMAAN), now one of Nigeria’s most respected martial arts bodies.

Prof. Fashola’s pioneering role in blending martial arts training with moral, spiritual, and intellectual development remains a defining pillar of AIMAAN’s philosophy and enduring success.

Grandmaster Yusuf Olanrewaju Nasir (Ghost Lee)

Chief Consultant & CEO, RY Consults International | 9th Dan Black Belt

Grandmaster Yusuf Olanrewaju Nasir, popularly known as "Ghost Lee," is one of the foremost pillars of AIMAAN and Nigerian martial arts history. Now in his 60s, he serves as the Chief Consultant and Chief Executive Officer of RY Consults International and RY Physical Health Center, where his expertise supports hospitals, health institutions, corporate security bodies, and quasi-governmental forces.

A 9th Degree (Dan) holder in both World Taekwondo and Shotokan Karate, Grandmaster Nasir combines academic excellence with decades of martial arts mastery. He holds university degrees and professional certifications in Economics, Physical Health, Psychology, Security, and Safety (Loss Prevention) and is an alumnus of the University of Lagos.

His martial arts journey began in the early 1970s with Kung Fu, progressed into Shotokan Karate, and culminated in Taekwondo in 1981. He later became one of the earliest Kukkiwon (World Taekwondo Federation) Blackbelt holders in Nigeria and gained membership in international martial arts bodies in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Turkey.

In 1988, following an invitation from Professor Mashhud Adenrele Fashola, then National Qaid of Ahmadiyya, Grandmaster Nasir introduced Taekwondo to Ahmadiyya members across Nigeria, leading to the establishment of AIMAAN. Under his leadership, the association produced some of the highest-ranking Taekwondo Blackbelts in the country.

Among his enduring contributions is the introduction of Taekwondo as a psychomotor subject in Islamic schools and organizations, making the art accessible to all ages and genders. He produced athletes, instructors, and referees who have served at both national and international levels. His expertise in physical combat, weaponry, and physical health also contributed significantly to Nigeria's corporate security sector and quasi-governmental forces.

As an author of Physical Health Perfection, Grandmaster Nasir continues to influence health and self-defence education. His legacy remains a cornerstone of AIMAAN's philosophy, structure, and continued growth.

Grandmaster Ibrahim Rafiu King

Third Generation Taekwondo Pioneer | AIMAAN Blackbelt College Founder

Grandmaster Ibrahim Rafiu King was born into the family of Mallam Adeyemi Ibrahim of Ijomu Oro in the Oro Kingdom of Kwara State. He belongs to the third generation of Taekwondo practitioners in Nigeria, following pioneers such as Senior Grandmaster Emmanuel Ikpeme and his coach, Senior Grandmaster Azubuike Onumonu.

He began Taekwondo training in 1981 and attained his First Dan Blackbelt in 1986 during the historic Kukkiwon-standard grading conducted by Korean instructors. In April 1990, he participated in Nigeria's first official referee course held at the Indoor Sports Hall of Kwara Stadium, emerging among the country's certified referees.

His association with AIMAAN began in 1991 under the mentorship of Grandmaster N. O. Yusuf, after which he played a central role in training members nationwide. Following the first official AIMAAN Blackbelt grading, he became instrumental in forming and leading the AIMAAN Blackbelt College, coordinating advanced training programs across Ibadan, Ijebu-Ode, Ojokoro, Somolu, Ijede, the University of Lagos, and other locations.

On 28th December 1997, he was awarded his Fourth Dan Blackbelt under the leadership of Senior Grandmaster Emmanuel Ikpeme, then a Sixth Dan holder, marking another significant milestone in his Taekwondo journey.

In the year 2000, the introduction of elective leadership saw him emerge as National Coach. Despite initial challenges, his tenure strengthened AIMAAN through constitutional drafting, standardization of certificates and badges, organization of training camps, and institutional stability. During his competitive years, he earned the nickname "Bullet" for his powerful Dolyo Chagi kick, a reputation that remains respected in Nigerian Taekwondo history.