By Ibrahim Shuaibu
The Kano State Government has given N2.5 million each to the overall winners of the National Qur’anic Recitation Competition (NQRC).
A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Mr. Hassan Musa Fagge and made available to THISDAY on yesterday, said the participants keenly contested in the six categories of the competition for both male and female right from 2 Hizb with practical Tajweed up to 60 Hizb with Tafsir.
The 35th NQRC ended in Kano with Muhammad Auwal Gusau from Zamfara State emerging best in the male category while Nusaiba Shu’aibu Ahmed from Kano State took the first position in the female category.
The two overall winners received a cash prize of N2.5 million each from state government.
In his address during the closing ceremony held at the Convocation Arena of the Bayero University Kano, the Governor Of Kano State Dr.Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, represented by the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, who is also the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the competition, said a total of 180 males and 190 females from all the 36 States of the federation and FCT participated in the 9-day competition.
“Our administration has made it as part of its cardinal responsibility to improve Islamic education especially as it relates to Qur’anic recitation and memorisation at all levels. That is why we established the first ever Kano State Qur’anic and Islamiyya Schools Management Board, which has today achieved a lot in the promotion of Islamic education,” Gawuna said.
He also assured the organisers of the competition of the continued support of the state government to the NQRC and appreciated the immense contribution of Usmanu Dan Fodio University Sokoto for conducting and managing the annual Qur’anic recitation competition in the country.
Also in his address, the Sultan of Sokoto, who is also the President of the Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, explained that the NQRC, which is aimed at bringing out the benefit of reciting the Qur’an is growing stronger every year.
The Sultan, therefore, commended the government of Kano State for being a good host and pledged the Sultanate commitment towards enhancing Qur’anic recitation and memorisation.
Other highlights of the event included the donation of N10 million to the LOC of the competition by the chairman of the occasion, Mr. Abdussamad Rabi’u.
