By Shuaib Sadiq
The 37th Annual Quranic Recitation Competition has opened in Gusau, Zamfara on Friday.
The competition being attended by reciters from 28 states of the federation is organised by the Center for Islamic Studies of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.
The event was declared opened by Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno who served as chairman of the week-long competition.
Zulum lauded the efforts of Gov. Bello Matawalle for hosting the competition in spite of the biting economic realities and security challenges faced by Zamfara.
He extolled virtues of the Matawalle whom he said deserved the title he bears, “Khadimul Quran”.
“The sheer drive towards enduring efforts to promote the Holy Quran among the youths is an indication that the Governor’s commitment to the government and people of Zamfara to the well-being of the society is not in doubt,” Zulum said.
According to him, the myriad of challenges facing the country can be eased if the muslim ummah embraced the power of the Holy Quran.
Zulum donated N10 million for the successful conduct of the week-long event.
The chief host of the event, Matawalle outlined the importance of the competition which included translation of the words of the Almighty Allah into practice.
Matawalle said that the importance of the Holy Quran in the lives of the Muslims and the guidance it serves were major takeaways expected from the event.
He commended the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for a well organised ceremony.
Matawalle, however, appealed to the participants, mostly young men and women not to see the competition as an affront to one another but as a service to humanity.
Chairman of the LOC and Deputy Governor of Zamfara, Sen. Hassan Nasiha said the event was hosted for the third time through the invaluable support of Matawalle.
Nasiha also commended the members of the LOC for their hard work and assured of a free, fair and a memorable event.
The Vice-Chancellor of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Prof. Lawal Bilbis commended the government of Zamfara for accepting to host the 2022 competition.
Bilbis said it was an indication of the readiness of the state to continue uplifting the status of the Holy book of Allah.
He called on the competitors to consider their participation as a contribution to the promotion of the virtue of the Holy Quran.
The Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Garbai Al-Amin El-Kanemi described the annual competition as a unifying factor among Nigerian Muslims.
He called on Muslims, beyond the recitation, to apply the teachings of the Holy Quran in their daily lives.
The Guest Speaker, Sheikh Ibrahim Ahmad-Maqari commended Matawalle for his untiring efforts, describing him as a “Governor who came to power in the state at a very difficult time.”
Ahmad- Maqari, who is also the Chief Imam of the National Mosque spoke on the need to protect the centers of Quranic studies across the Islamic communities in the country.
He advocated compulsory contributions to an endowment for the upkeep of such Islamic centers and also for support to the vulnerable persons.
Ahmad-Maqari also called for the certification and adoption of a modern curriculum for the informal and semi-formal Quranic centres located across Islamic communities in the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the overall winner would represent the country in the forthcoming international edition of the competition.
(NAN)
