By Patience Ogbo/
The 34th National Qur’an recitation competition declared open by the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on December 27, ended last Sunday with 352 children participating in the event held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.
The youngest participant was a 6-year-old boy and the youngest girl was eight years old.
Umar Kabir from Kaduna State was announced as the winner of the 34th edition – male category, while Kano clinched the female prize won by Diya’atu AbdulKadir Sanni who became the 12th winner from Kano State in the female category out of 28 participants.
The turban of the overall male winner, Umar Kabir, was done by the Special Guest of Honour, the Emir of Bornu.
The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mr Femi Hamzat; his wife, Oluremi Hamzat, and Alhaji Muyideen, an Islamic scholar among other Islamic Scholars and dignitaries were present at the closing event.
The opening event was also attended by the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the Chairman of Police Service Commission (PSC), Alhaji Musiliu Smith, the Vice-Chancellor of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, and the Pro-Chancellor of the institution, Oba Riliwanu Akiolu of Lagos among other national figures.
States from northern Nigeria have emerged winners in past competitions with only Kwara State from the western region which has won the male event once in 1999.
Lagos State won six out of the 60 prizes across the six categories for males and females while Oyo State fielded the youngest reciter a 6-year-old child prodigy who took part in the 40 Hizb (2/3rd) category.
He was described as a Haafidh (complete memorizer), who was yet to attain the maturity to take part in the 60 Hizb (whole Qur’an) category.
In addition to the excellence of recitation, the competitions measure the theoretical and practical application of Tajweed, understanding of the meanings of selected verses and Tafseer (explanations) of same. In essence, the winners are not just excellent reciters but potential scholars with a reasonable knowledge of the language of the Qur’an.
The award for the overall winner, male and female included a brand new Nissan Primera in addition to a trip to ‘Umrah for category winners and their parents. Scholarships are also part of the rewards for the overall male and female winners.
One of the scholars, Nojeem Jimoh, said, “I am aware that the amount of money spent on organising these competitions has attracted attention in certain quarters, but personally, I was delighted to see a Muslim event give rewards which are at par with Big Brother Nigeria.”
The Centre for Islamic Studies at Usmanu Dan Fodiyo University is the brain behind the programme and the first competition took place in Sokoto in 1986.
The Lagos event was the 34th for male competitors and 28th for female participants.
The just-concluded edition was the second of such hosted by Lagos – the first being in 1992. The other two hosts from the Southwest are Oyo (1989) and Ogun (1996).
Kano State has proven to be the home of the Qur’an recitation in Nigeria. The first five editions of the male events were won by delegates from Kano State (1986-1990), while four of the first five of the female editions were also won by participants from Kano State.
Kano alone won 12 of the 33 male editions held before now, while Kano females had also won 11 of the previous 27 female versions.
Amina is the commonest names among female winners over the years (four out of 27). While there is no dominant name among the male winners (Muhammad x2 and Ahmad x2), by the time middle and surnames are factored in, then boys with Muhammad as part of their names have won the male events 11 times. (11/34).
Winners from Nigeria have won the world-series eight times between 1988 and 2019, and the current 2019 World Champion is a past winner of the Nigerian event – male events only.
Winners from Nigeria have taken 2nd position in the World Series 13 times between 1988 and 2019.
Winners from Nigeria have also taken 3rd position in the world editions three times between 1988 and now. These last three points show not just the quality of the Nigerian events, but that of the Judges as well.
RESULTS
6th category (2 hizbs)
Males
5- Plateau
4- Kwara
3-Kaduna
2- Anambra
1- Lagos
6th category (2 hizbs)
Females
5- Ogun
4- Anambra
3- FCT Abuja
2- Lagos
1- Kaduna
5th category (10 hizbs)
Males
5- Gombe
4- Katsina
3- Borno
2- Zamfara
1- Kano
5th category (10 hizbs)
Females
5- Kano
4- Jigawa
3- Lagos
2- Taraba
1- Gombe
4th category (20 hizbs)
Males
5- Lagos
4- Niger
3- Borno
2- Adamawa
1- Bauchi
4th category (20 hizbs)
Females
5- Lagos
4- Kaduna
3- Plateau
2- Kwara
1- Borno
3rd category (40 hizbs)
Males
5- Lagos
4- Kano
3- Kaduna
2- Plateau
1- Jigawa
3rd category (40 hizbs)
Females
5- Oyo
4- Gombe
3- Kaduna
2- Adamawa
1- FCT Abuja
2nd category (60 hizbs)
Males
5- Jigawa
4- Zamfara
3- Borno
2- Gombe
1- Kaduna
2nd category (60 hizbs)
Females
5- Yobe
4- Katsina
3- Adamawa
2- FCT Abuja
1- Zamfara
1st category (60 his+ tafsir)
Males
5- Plateau
4- Gombe
3- Zamfara
2- Niger
1-Kaduna (Gwarzon Shekara)
1st category (60 his+ Tafsir)
Females
5- Gombe
4- Borno
3- Zamfara
2-Katsina
1-Kano (Gwarzuwar Shekara)
0