BY Sule ALIYU, Bauchi
MALAM Amir Yunusa from Bauchi Local government has emerged the overall winner of the just concluded 32nd edition of the Bauchi State Qur’anic Recitation Competition (Musabaqah).
In the female category, Malama Nafisa Usman from Darazo Local government took the first position in 60 hizbs category respectively.
The winners who were turbaned by the new Emir of Katagum Alhaji Umar Kabiru Umar at the colourful ceremony held at the Secretariat of Kirfi LGA, the headquarters of Kirfi Local government in Bauchi state, scored 96.6 percent in Tajweed and tafseer category of 60 hizbs.
Represented by the Emir of Dass, Alhaji Othman Bilyaminu Othman, Emir Umar congratulated the winners of the competition, advising them to strive towards achieving similar success during the National Qur’anic Recitation Competition schedule for Katsina State this year, saying that his emirate council would continue to support and encourage the memorization and recitation of the Glorious Qur’an and lauded the organizers and initiators of the Competition for fairness and justice they exhibited in the conduct of the Competition.
He equally thanks the Bauchi state government for the tremendous financial support rendered towards the successful conduct of the Competition.
The overall winners, they were followed by Nazib Ahmed Yusuf from Bogoro Local Government Area and Amira Muhammad Sani from Katagum Local Government Area of the state in 60 Hizbs of the Holy Qur’an without tafsir.
The Triumph reports that, this year’s weeklong annual event at state level altogether, 60 participants from 225 drawn from the twenty Local Government Areas of Bauchi state were adjudged winners in six categories of the competition made up of 2, 10 and 40 Hizb of the Holy Qur’an, and 60 Hizb male and female categories, as well as 60 Hizb of both male and female with and without tafsir. 240 participants were penciled down for the competition with 12 from each of the 20 LGAs.
The competition at its conclusion however found six of the 225 participants in default of the rule and regulations governing it who were drawn from Bauchi (two), Misau, Jama’are, Toro LGAs, and Kirfi the host of this year’s event whom the Chairman of the competition judges committee, Mallam Mansur Isa Yelwa said they will definitely be penalized.
Twelve judges drawn from different Local Government Areas, some of whom along other judges from past annual events will conduct two-week training for selected participants preparatory to the national level of the competition billed to commence in Katsina from February 2, 2018.
Speaking during the closing ceremony of the weeklong event in Kirfi, Governor Muhammad Abdullahi Abubakar Esq. congratulated the Qur’anic recitation competition committee, Judges, Participants, Officials of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, and other stakeholders for the successful conduct of the event.
Abubakar reiterated commitment to uplift religious affairs in the state.
The governor gave the objectives of the competition which include promoting peace and knowledge, honesty, love for one another, and above all the fear of Allah Subhabahu Wa-Ta’ala.
Abubakar, while acknowledging the performance of the 20 LGAs in the completion at local level, and participation at state level in all categories, said that it will go a long way in preparing the youths mentally and spiritually as future leaders of the country.
According to him, the importance of reading and memorizing the Holy Qur’an in the light of the Muslims Umma, especially the teeming youths cannot be over-emphasized, considering the role they will play in shaping human behavior and establishment of cohesive and peaceful society.
Represented by his Special Adviser on politics, Hon, Kawu Labaran, the governor attributed the series of prevailing crisis around the globe to wrong conception of the teaching of religion and distorted method of impacting knowledge to the youths.
He therefore called on the Ulamas, community leaders and other stakeholders to ensure compliance with the methods and ways the Noble Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (PBUH) and his companions in impacting moral values in the minds of the youths.
Governor said, “As you are aware, moral education and societal generation are the collective responsibility of not only the government, but the entire society”, and appealed to all to start thinking, initiating policies, programmes and ideas on the way forward to solving social problems in the society.
Abubakar assured that his administration will welcome positive ideas from individuals and communities geared towards promoting peaceful co-existence and development of general education in the state.
The governor also assured that his government is ready to partner with any organization found to be useful and organized in promoting not only Islamic education but general education in the state.
He implored the competition committee members to ensure that further training is given to the selected representatives during the camping period for the national stage of the competition slated for Katsina next month.
“I also implore upon those to represent the state at the national competition to behave orderly and abide by the rules of the competition and to emerge victorious in all the categories so as to maintain the good tempo recorded by the state”.
Abubakar similarly appealed to religious leaders and other stakeholders in the state to continue enlightening the general public on the need to exhibit religious tolerance and peaceful co-existence among the diverse groups of people, and pray for the socio-economic development of the state and the country at large.
The sum of N53 million was released by the Bauchi state government for the conduct of Qur’anic recitation competition at state and national level participation to the committee saddled with the responsibility, Dr. Zubairu Abubakar Madaki said.
Madaki explained that N17 million out of the fund released to the committee was spent on the purchase of 4Cars, 24 Motorcycles and other items, which were presented to participants as gifts at the just concluded competition, stressing that some of the local governments failed to fill their quarters.
He said that the balance of N36 million was saved for the forthcoming national competition in Katsina state this year.
The Chairman State Qur’anic Recitation Competition Committee, Dr. Zubairu Madaki announced that next year’s completion at state level will be staged at Azare, headquarters of Katagum Local Government Area.
He further explained that 60 participants, who excel in the male and female categories, were rewarded with 4 cars, 4 Keke NAPEP, 24 motorcycles, 14 sewing machines and 14 bicycles depending on their levels, while the remaining 180 participants were awarded consolation prizes.
Dr. Zubairu Madaki commended the wife of the state governor, Hajiya Hadiza Muhammad Abubakar and the State Grand Khadi, Alhaji Ahmad Rufa’i, The state APC Party Chairman Alhaji Uba Ahmad Nana Garkuwan Ningi for the support of prizes and books of Holy Qur’an provided to the organizing committee of the event.
The Chairman of the occasion and the Emir of Dass, Alhaji Othman Bilyaminu Othman who also presided over the opening ceremony of the completion expressed delight with the financial and moral support the state government is giving to the annual event and wished the tempo will be maintained.