By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
THE Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has formally announced the result of the 39th edition of the National Qur’an Recitation Competition held in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State between 20 and 28 December 2024.
The NSCIA, under the leadership of its President-General, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, made the announcement in a statement on Thursday signed by the Secretary-General, Professor Is-haq Oloyede.
According to the statement, the competition, which featured six categories, was organised by the accredited agent of the NSCIA on all Musabaqah-related matters, i.e., the Centre for Islamic Studies, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, on behalf of the entire ummah in Nigeria.
The council announced the results of the six categories of the competition (for both females and males) and the respective winners. It affirmed the winners’ “exclusive eligibility as the qualified candidates to represent Nigeria at international competitions in the respective categories.”
The candidates are Rumaisa’u Dahir Ibrahim (Gombe), Bukhari Sunusi Idris (Kano), Fatima Abubakar Lawan (Kano), Nuhu Muhammad (Gombe), Zainab Yazid (Katsina) Mustapha Muhammad Nasir (Kebbi), Khadijah Aliyu Ubam (Nasarawa), Bilal Hamza Abubakar (Zamfara), Zeenat Olawumi Hamzat (Oyo), Ismail Dahiru Nuhu (Plateau); Hafsa Yakubu Idris (Kano) and Nasiru Dahiru Atafowa (Bauchi).
Others include Khadija Ibrahim Aliyu (Kaduna), Abdussalam Rabiu (Katsina), Fatima Musa Ahmad (Borno), Ahmad Zakariya Salisu (Yobe), Hafsat Ahmad Abubakar (Plateau), Musa Aminu (Sokoto), Aishatu Suleiman Isgogo (Kebbi), Lawal Jafar (Sokoto), Khadijah Musa (Kaduna), Jabir Dahiru Ibrahim (Jigawa), Jameelat Opeyemi Tijani (Kwara) and Muhmmad Babagana Aji Kolo (Borno).
The others are Sumayyah Umar Sheik (Niger), Mahmud Bashar (Jigawa), Rukayya Aminu Yakubu (Jigawa), (Issa Abdul-lateef (Kwara), Hauwa’u Muhammad Bala (Plateau), Abdulmajeed Idris (Edo), Fatima Bello Abdullahi (Cross River), Mohammed Sani Hassan (Ebonyi), Zainab Muhammad Hussaini (Edo), Musa Jafar (Enugu), Fatima Abubakar Sadiq (Akwa Ibom) and Abdulganiyy Abdulsabur Umar (Edo).
The NSCIA, in the statement noted that: “The Centre for Islamic Studies, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, is the only national coordinating body for the oragnisation of musabaqah in Nigeria.
“While the right to dual citizenship of any participant in the musabaqah is incontestable, it is improper for any candidate who has participated as a Nigerian in this year’s competition to purport to represent any other nation at any of the international Qur’anic competitions for the same year on the excuse that such nation does not field a candidate(s).”
It added: “The Council shall not hesitate to initiate severe penalties against any person involved in any sharp practice that can misrepresent the Nigerian nation at any of the international Qur’anic competitions.
“Finally, the Council appreciates all participants at the musabaqah and the donors of vehicles, pilgrimage and other highly valued prizes for the competition winners and prays that Allah will reward them abundantly.
“The Council expects that all the winners will continue to be worthy ambassadors of Islam and the Ummah in both learning and character.”