The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has named the winners of the 39th National Qur’anic Recitation Competition as the country’s official representatives for international Qur’anic competitions in 2025.
The announcement was made by the NSCIA President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, after the competition concluded in Kebbi State on December 28, 2024. The event was organized by the Centre for Islamic Studies, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.
The representatives for memorization of the entire Qur’an with tafsir are:
– Male: Bilal Hamza Abubakar (Zamfara), Ismail Dahiru Nuhu (Plateau), and Nasiru Dahiru Atafowa (Bauchi).
– Female: Khadijah Aliyu Ubam (Nasarawa), Zeenat Olawumi Hamzat (Oyo), and Hafsa Yakubu Idris (Kano).
The NSCIA Secretary-General, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, reiterated that only the competition’s winners are eligible to represent Nigeria internationally. He warned against unethical practices, including attempts to represent other nations, emphasizing that such actions would face strict penalties.
Oloyede stated, “While dual citizenship is recognized, participants who competed as Nigerians cannot represent another nation in international competitions for the same year.”
The NSCIA remains steadfast in ensuring the integrity and proper representation of Nigeria on the global Qur’anic competition stage.
