For nearly four decades, the National Qur’an Recitation Competition, organised by the Musabaqah Foundation for Qur’anic Recitation in Nigeria, has stood as one of the most remarkable religious and intellectual legacies in Nigeria. Established in 1986 by the Centre for Islamic Studies, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), to promote the memorisation and correct recitation of the Glorious Qur’an, the Musabaqah has played a vital role in preserving the divine text, producing thousands of qualified Huffaz and Qaari across the country, fostering unity among the Muslim Ummah from all regions and backgrounds.
The competition, which later grew into a national annual event supported by Muslim youth organisations such as the National Council of Muslim Youth Organizations (NACOMYO), has not only strengthened Islamic scholarship but also placed Nigeria on the global stage. Many winners of the competition have represented the country in international Qur’an competitions. This success is largely due to the unwavering support of Northern States’ governments, which have consistently hosted and funded the event over the years, providing generous financial rewards and academic opportunities to the winners.
For instance, the just-concluded 2025 edition of the Musabaqah, as the National Qur’an Recitation Competition is fondly called, was proudly sponsored by Borno State under the leadership of Governor Babagana Zulum. He generously allocated substantial funds to host the week-long event, ensuring that logistics, prizes, and other essential aspects were adequately taken care of.
The overall winners in both the male and female categories received ₦5 million each, brand new electric cars worth ₦35 million each, and fully sponsored Hajj slots. Winners in the other categories shared ₦50 million in cash prizes and received 10 brand new electric cars valued at ₦350 million, along with other consolation prizes.
Although Borno State hosted the event, other Northern governors, including those of Katsina and Yobe, also made generous contributions in support of the competition. Their combined efforts further amplified the remarkable commitment of Governor Babagana Zulum, which not only highlighted the value placed on Qur’anic education but also set a high standard for future hosts.
Interestingly, Jigawa State, which has a rich tradition of promoting Qur’anic studies, has already expressed a strong interest in hosting the next edition in 2026 in Dutse, signaling a continued and growing dedication among Northern governors to promote and sustain this vital competition. Such enthusiasm from these states reinforces the collective responsibility and support from Northern leadership to preserve and elevate the Qur’an memorisation tradition in Nigeria. This chain of committed hosts illustrates the critical role of state governments in making the Musabaqah a successful annual event.
Poor Media Visibility
Yet, despite its significance and the unwavering support from the Northern governors, the Musabaqah suffers from a major deficiency – poor media visibility. This annual event truly deserves national and international attention, but it rarely gets the coverage it deserves, except from few North-based media.
There is often no significant pre-event media campaign, and the main event typically records minimal presence of professional media outlets. According to our findings, the Musabaqah lacks a dedicated website, relying primarily on an active Facebook page for updates. Moreover, there is limited engagement from prominent Muslim influencers on social media.
Even when a dedicated hashtag is used to boost the event’s visibility, it rarely gains traction due to the absence of a coordinated online strategy. There is also little or no post-event follow-up or proper documentation. The result is a quiet and under-celebrated conclusion to one of Nigeria’s most impactful Islamic events—limiting its potential to inspire, unite, and educate the Ummah.
In sharp contrast, we see how international Qur’an recitation competitions in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and others gain traction and interest because of their coordinated media strategy, including with the use of audiovisual broadcast, real-time transmission, and vivid documentation of past editions on a dedicated website.
The Musabaqah should be elevated to the level of a reality-style show with structured audience engagement, turning participants into celebrated figures within the Muslim community. With proper media traction, the competition could become a powerful tool for da’wah, drawing both Muslims and non-Muslims closer to Islam and the Qur’an.
One major reason for this shortcoming is that the organising committee lacks the inputs of media and PR experts and it underfunds media engagement. While millions are spent on logistics, accommodation, security, transportation, and rewards for the winners, very little is budgeted for professional media engagement and coverage. Organisers rely solely on goodwill, tokenism, or free services from journalists and media outlets, many of whom cannot project the event with the prominence it deserves. Important stories of such gargantuan event end up getting buried in obscure columns, rather than on the front pages of national dailies, where they truly belong. This must change.
It is unfortunate that the poor media reportage of the Musabaqah reflects a broader pattern in how Muslim affairs are treated in Nigeria’s media landscape. Despite the presence of wealthy and influential Muslims who have the resources to invest in the media, Muslim narratives often receive inadequate coverage. A recent example is the widespread neglect of Muslim perspectives in reporting of the alleged Christian genocide in Nigeria, where the media largely focused on the Christian narrative.
This imbalance is not new; it has historical roots, tracing back to colonial-era media biases against Islam. Today, with most major media outlets owned and largely funded by non-Muslims, the popular axiom rings true: he who pays the piper calls the tune. Until this imbalance is addressed, critical Muslim issues, including vital events like the Musabaqah, will continue to be underrepresented in public discourse.
It is therefore important for the organisers of the Musabaqah and other Muslim institutions to understand that the media is not a luxury but a necessity. In an age where information is currency and narrative shapes reality, the Qur’an competition deserves to dominate the news cycle. The organisers must begin to see media visibility as part of the da’wah mission of the Musabaqah.
We at Muslim News Nigeria call on the organisers to allocate a significant media budget as an integral part of the event’s planning process. It is essential that they engage recognised Muslim-owned media platforms, including Muslim News Nigeria, which possess the passion, commitment, and professionalism to project Islamic stories effectively. These platforms understand the value of the Musabaqah and are best positioned to give it the visibility and respect it truly deserves.
It is important for the organisers to also collaborate with mainstream media, ensuring that stories, photos, and videos from the competition receive front-page and prime-time coverage. They should also hire social media influencers, video editors, and writers to document the event, highlight winners, and amplify the values of the Qur’an to wider audiences.
Improving the audio-visual quality of the event to meet broadcast standards is necessary so that even those at home and abroad could follow with ease and inspiration. Most importantly, the organisers should establish a dedicated website for the Musabaqah, alongside active social media platforms to complement the existing Facebook page. This digital presence will help in archiving past editions, sharing real-time updates, engaging a wider audience, and attracting more support and visibility for future editions.
Finally, establishing a research unit to track and showcase the progress of Musabaqah winners over the last 40 years, including their careers, impacts, and contributions to Islamic education, will be of great value.
While appreciating the support of the hosting state government over the years, the organising committee should repackage the annual event to actively seek partnerships with local and international organisations, including philanthropists and Islamic groups, to sponsor the media components of the event when public funds fall short.
Until the organisers treat the media as an essential partner, the Qur’an competition will remain underreported and underappreciated despite its immeasurable value to the Ummah and Nigeria at large. The Musabaqah is not just an event; it is a movement of faith, scholarship, and national pride. Let’s tell its story the way it deserves to be told. That begins with putting the media at the centre.
Nigerian Muslim Personalities of the Year 2024/2025
Global Muslim Personalities of the Year 2024/2025
Sponsored
