By NABILU BALARABE

Ibrahim Nasir of Bauchi and Zainab Mohammad of Kano have won the 38th National Qur’anic Recitation competition held in Damaturu, Yobe.

Nasir and Mohammed, competed in memorisation of the full Qur’an with commentary and different modes of recitation, scored 82.7 per cent and 85.4 per cent, to clinched male and female categories, respectively.

Prof. Abubakar Yalwa, Director, Centre for Islamic Studies, Usman Danfodio University (UDU), announced the result at the end of the one-week competition.

In his remarks, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu commended Yobe government and the Musabaka Foundation of the Danfodio University for hosting and organising the competition successfully.

Represented by Dr Abdullahi Umar-Ganduje, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Tinubu advocated for the establishment of Qu’ranic recitation laboratory to enhance reading of the Holy Book in the country.

He urged Muslims to establish more Qur’anic schools, saying that, “Qur’an is the solution to numerous problems of mankind”.

Also speaking, Gov. Mai Mala Buni announced a donation of 18-seater bus to the foundation and two Hajj seats to the winners.

He said his administration held Qur’anic knowledge in high esteem, adding that he recently donated 115,000 copies of the Qur’an to organisations and Islamic schools in the state.

The governor charged the gathering to pray for peace in the country, and eschew any act of discrimination on the basis of ethnicity or religion.

Buni also called on the citizenry to pray for President Tinubu to succeed, saying that if the President succeeds, Nigeria would be great.

Highlights of the occasion include presentation of N10 million cheques to the winners of the competition by Buni and Tinubu as well as the turbanning of Nasir as national hero by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar lll. (NAN)

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