Kaduna, Kano bag best Qur’an reciters of the year award

No fewer than 352 Muslim youths from across the 36 states of the Federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, participated in the just concluded 34th edition of National Quran Recitation Competition organised by the Musabaqah Foundation for Quranic Recitation in Nigeria/Centre for Islamic Studies, Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto in collaboration with the Muslim Community of Lagos State.

The just-concluded edition of the competition was the second of such hosted by Lagos, the first being the 7th edition in 1992.

The yearly National Qur’an Recitation Competition was incepted in 1986 bringing Muslim youths who have committed the Quran to memory together from all the states of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Umar Kabir from Kaduna State emerged as the winner of the male category and Kano State won the female category through Diya’atu AbdulKadir Sanni.

The hosting state, Lagos won six out of the sixty prizes on offer across the six categories for males and females. While Oyo State presented the youngest male reciter, six years’ old and Lagos presented the youngest female reciter, eight years old.

Part of the endless chain of rewards for the overall winners is brand new Nissan Almera car, a trip to ‘Umrah for themselves and their parents, as well as scholarships.

Shehu of Bornu, Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi, crowned the overall male winner while the wife of Lagos Deputy Governor, Alhaja lateefat Oluremi Hamzat, crowned the overall female winner.

The state Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo Olu, who was represented by his deputy, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, said the competition is a lesson to the youth to keep working hard and be ready for challenges.

Hamzat urges the participants not to only memorise the Qur’an but to live by it in all ramifications.

He also emphasised on the teachings of the Quran in the aspects of peaceful coexistence.

Governor Mohammed Inuwa of Gombe State, represented by his Commissioner for Education, Dr. Habibu Dahiru, said the competition would promote good values among children and youths. The governor, who was represented by the Gombe Commissioner for Education, Dr Abu Dairu, said the competition would also boost interest in learning.

“It will enhance the zeal for fundamental and spiritual benefits. “We are committed to the promotion of the competition because of the mental and spiritual benefits,” he said.

The President, Muslim Community of Lagos State, Prof. Tajudeen Gbadamosi, said the competition has brought together young Muslim men and women from all over the country who memorised all or parts of the Quran. This has emphasised the unity of the country and of the Ummah.

“The competition is a celebration of the bond of faith and bond of the country. “The significance of these bonds cannot be over-emphasized, especially at a time like this when internal forces threaten to divide our beloved country.

The guest speaker, Prof. Murtala Bidmos, said, “Nigerians must work together in unity in order to build a greater nation.”He urged governments to end poverty and deficit in education.

Participants from across the states featured in six categories comprising memorisation of the whole Quran with Tajweed and Tafsir, memorisation of the whole Quran with Tajweed theoretically and practically, memorisation of 40 consecutive Hizbs (chapters) of the
Glorious Quran with Tajweed practically.

Also, other categories are memorisation of 20 consecutive Hizbs of the Glorious Qur’an with Tajweed theoretically and practically; memorisation of 10 consecutive Hizbs of the Glorious Quran with Tanghim and Tajweed theoretically and practically and memorization of Juz’ Amma or any two consecutive Hizbs of the Quran with Tajweed practically.