Qur’an recitation competition opens in Bauchi

The 2018 Annual Qur’an Recitation Competition has opened in Bauchi Monday.

Declaring the competition open, Governor, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar said that the state government has released N20 million for the smooth running of the event.

Governor Abubakar, who was represented by the Commissioner of Education, Professor Haruna Dan Wanka said that that the competition was introduced by the government to groom talents for both national and international competitions.

He added that the government was committed to sustaining the annual competition and was also making efforts to reform Tsangaya and Islamic schools across the state.

He called on wealthy individuals in the state to join hands with the state government in promoting the competition.

In his address,the Chairman of the Competition Committee, Dr. Zubairu Madaki, said that the N20 million was used for the purchase of prizes for the winners.

“Bauchi State Government approved the sum of N20 million for the purpose of purchasing prizes for outstanding performance by the competitors.

“There are 60 prizes in all and in a week’s time we will bring them here and give to the winners at the closing ceremony,” he said.

According to him, 240 people, drawn from each of the 20 Local government areas of the state are participating in the competition.

Madaki disclosed that, four brand new cars, four new tricycles, 24 new boxer motorcycles, 14 bicycles and 14 sets of brocade material will be won at the end of the event.

“These prizes are not meant to pay the competitors because you cannot pay for the Qur’an. They are meant to encourage them to be more diligent,” he said.

The competition chairman disclosed that first position winners in the last three competitions represented the country at international level.

He said that since the committee was inaugurated by the Governor about four years ago, a Bauchi indigines took the first position at the national competitions held in Lafiya, Ilorin and Katsina, respectively.

He added that the three winners represented Nigeria at international competitions in Kuwait, Algeria, Saudi Arabia among others and won prizes.

Madaki appealed to the state government to increase the amount spent on the prizes to encourage more participation.