The representative of Sokoto State, Nura Abdullahi and that of Yobe State, Aishatu Abdulmutallib have emerged overall winners of the 37th National Qur’anic Recitation Competition held in Gusau, Zamfara State
The winner from the male category, Nura Abdullahi was crowned as hero of the year by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III.
In the same vein, Aishatu Abdulmutallib of the female category was crowned as hero of the year by the wife of the Zamfara State Governor, Hajiya Aisha Mattawalle at the closing ceremony of the competition in Gusau on Saturday.
Announcing the result, the Chairman of the panel, Prof. Yalwa said: Tthe hero of the male category, Abdullahi emerged winner with 97.9 points, followed by Abdullahi Sadiqu-Sadiq from Zamfara State with 96.9 points as the second and Salish Abdullahi of Niger was third with 95.9 points.
Muhammed Kabir of Kebbi took the fourth position with 94.7 points, Faruk Kabir of Kano State came fifth with 94.0 points and Usmanu Abubakar emerged sixth in the category.
The chairman also announced the female category results as follows;
Aisha Abdulmutallib of Yobe with 96.4 points first and Maimuna Hussaini from FCT with 94.1 points second.
Similarly, Aisha Kabir of Gombe State emerged third position with 93.5 points as well as Zainab Habib of Kano State, fourth position with 92.9 points.
The representative of the Special Guest of Honour, President Muhammadu Buhari, @ProfIsaPantami with the Governor of Zamfara State & His Highness, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Saad Abubakar III at the closing ceremony of the "37th National Qur'anic Competition" in Gusau, Zamfara pic.twitter.com/zBJZ2RKCWb
— Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim, CON (@ProfIsaPantami) December 24, 2022
The rest were: Fatima Mustapha from Kaduna State took fifth position with 92.5 points, while the sixth position went to Fatima Ahmad of Nasarawa State with 92.3 points.
President Muhammadu Buhari called on Nigerians to hold themselves responsible for making the country economically and politically better.
Buhari, represented by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Professor Isa Ali Pantami, said each citizen is responsible for bringing changes in the nation’s socio-economic and political problems.
Although leaders had a greater role to play more than others, every Nigerian needs to act right to achieve a better society.
The president also called on leaders at all levels to exhibit justice, fairness and kindness when dealing with their subjects, while the followers are to respect leaders and remain law-abiding citizens.
He added if followers respect the rule of law a better Nigeria would be achieved.
He then commended the Sultanate Council and Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto, for introducing and sustaining the Qur’anic Recitation Competition across the federation for the period of 37 years.
And equally commended the Zamfara State Government and people of the state for according hospitality to the Young people of God that visited the state to participate in the competition.
Also speaking the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, said the Sultanate Council will collaborate with Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto, to ensure that thousands of reciters delve into further research and study of the Noble Qur’an.
The Sultan added they should ponder more into Qur’anic study as a means of returning peace and stability to the country.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion and Emir of Wase in Nasarawa State, Alhaji Jibirin Bala called on the participants to make good use of their time in reading and memorising the glorious Qur’an.
According him, Qur’an is the source of peace and stability as such, the need to study it at this time is very critical for divine intervention for the return of peace in the country.
“I equally want to use this opportunity to condole and commiserate with the state and the families of all the victims who lost their lives or sustained injuries as a result of different attacks by bandits in the state,” he said.
Declaring the competition closed, Gov. Bello Matawalle of Zamfara said there was the need for the youths in the state and country as whole to commit to the study of the Holy Book.
Matawalle said all the participants in the competition were successful for being rewarded by God.
He implored those who lost to put more efforts for future chances and for the winners to double their efforts so as to complete at the international levels.
“While thanking the National Musabaka Committee for the opportunity to host this year’s competition, I am assuring you of the state’s readiness to host the competition again if given the chance,” Matawalle assured.
Source: NAN and Vanguard Newspaper
